I'd like to think i'm not a complete idiot, but my service manual is confusing me. My starter is cranking and sometimes not actually turning the motor over. I've already replaced the solenoid, and pulled the primary cover and verified that the pinion gear fully extends to the fly wheel when the starter is activated. So... this leads me to the overunning clutch. I'm confused as to where it actually is. None of the part diagrams list the part specifically. I assume its between the starter and inner primary case. and not on the pinion gear. I want to replace the parts but I don't have much experience with Harley's.

 

I played with it some more. It seems as though maybe the clutch is in the pinion gear. I can spin it right without turning the starter shaft, but it turns the if i turn it to the left. Sometimes it doesn't catch or free wheels to the left as well.

 

You're on the right track, the clutch is in the drive unit (pinion gear).

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/130630603599?lpid=82

 

can the drive unit or pinion gear come out without pulling the starter? Or is it better to pull the starter apart and the solenoid?

 

I saw a video that made pulling the primary and chain off, look real easy.

 

It is..

 

So Texas, is it gonna work out in my favor to pull the primary drives and chain? or do i need to pull the whole starter out?

I'm kind of thinking while i'm this far, i'd like to change the inside primary case for a new one.

 

First off I was referring to your question about pulling the clutch hub/ engine sprocket/ primary chain assembly. It all comes out at the same time.

Since yours is an '88 then I assume you have the tapered shaft on the transmission. You will need a puller to get the clutch hub loose and it is a lot of fun putting it back while making sure you don't push woodruff key out of place. I recommend gluing it in place.

To be honest I don't remember enough about the earlier starters to answer your question.

Why do you want a new inner primary?

 

Well, since you asked. Along with the fact that the previous owner stripped the bolt holes on the case for the solenoid, I accidently grabbed to long of bolts out of the bolt bin and ran a 1 1/4 bolt THROUGH the inner primary case. breaking off chunks of aluminum inside. Is it a big deal? Not really. I guess it may leak oil. But when I replaced the solenoid I had to switch to allen head bolts because i couldn't get the socket on the bolt heads for the larger size bolts.