Starter Grinding Issue?
No need to replace the clutch basket.
I installed the Rivera a few years back and it's still running strong.
http://www.jpcycles.com/product/603-...kaAu4UEALw_wcB
Rivera 10-84 ring gear kit helped but didn't cure it, what did cure it was a new compensator, the cup and spring pack was worn and weak,
had no problems or noise while running, just starting.
I used a JP Cycles comp that was $99 for a '90 FLH, looked surprisingly good for the price, over 40k on it now with no problems so far.
If yours seems to be the problem, you can get just the cover and spring for $50 for the '99, or if the sprocket and other parts are worn, the whole unit for $210
http://www.jpcycles.com/catalog/2014...?entrypage=532
Rivera makes good products also and would trust that one.
Not that big of job, it bolts to the back of the clutch drum that needs pulled off, Hardest part is the allen bolts are lock tighted in and come out hard all the way, air impact makes it easier
You should have compression releases on that engine, make sure they are working. If it doesn't have the factory preset Wildfire ignition module, make sure a programmable module is set for a big engine, example: the Ultima system's number 4 setting is specified for large cube engines and the timing is pulled back. Any extra timing advance can promote a starter kick back which results in your condition or a broken starter clutch. Good battery and cables help in conditions like this, if the starter drags a little it can give the dreaded kick back a chance to show, the Big Crank 400 for $99 rips those big engines over.
If you have had some starter kick back which is the noise from hell, it would be best to put a Allsballs starter clutch drive in that starter while you have the side cover off. If the starter clutch slips (the noise) the drive is going to retract and catch the edge of the ring gear and cause the damage at the edge of the tooth like in your pictures. Sorry for trying to spend your money but one weak link in starting a big engine can cause that ring gear damage
Last edited by 1997bagger; Jul 31, 2017 at 08:24 AM.
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Rivera makes good products also and would trust that one.
Not that big of job, it bolts to the back of the clutch drum that needs pulled off, Hardest part is the allen bolts are lock tighted in and come out hard all the way, air impact makes it easier
You should have compression releases on that engine, make sure they are working. If it doesn't have the factory preset Wildfire ignition module, make sure a programmable module is set for a big engine, example: the Ultima system's number 4 setting is specified for large cube engines and the timing is pulled back. Any extra timing advance can promote a starter kick back which results in your condition or a broken starter clutch. Good battery and cables help in conditions like this, if the starter drags a little it can give the dreaded kick back a chance to show, the Big Crank 400 for $99 rips those big engines over.
If you have had some starter kick back which is the noise from hell, it would be best to put a Allsballs starter clutch drive in that starter while you have the side cover off. If the starter clutch slips (the noise) the drive is going to retract and catch the edge of the ring gear and cause the damage at the edge of the tooth like in your pictures. Sorry for trying to spend your money but one weak link in starting a big engine can cause that ring gear damage
Yeah I use the compression releases every start, I have the Ultima programmable Ignition module and it set for the 120/127. I also have the big Ultima 1.7K starter.
I ordered the Prismo 66T gear set, thinking about getting a comp spring because mine had 42K miles on it. Now the starter clutch, is that in the end of the actual starter? I noticed it looks like the pinion gear isn't going all the way out to mesh with the teeth of the ring gear.
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Yeah I use the compression releases every start, I have the Ultima programmable Ignition module and it set for the 120/127. I also have the big Ultima 1.7K starter.
I ordered the Prismo 66T gear set, thinking about getting a comp spring because mine had 42K miles on it. Now the starter clutch, is that in the end of the actual starter? I noticed it looks like the pinion gear isn't going all the way out to mesh with the teeth of the ring gear.
The starter clutch is inside of the starter and tricky to replace, if you have heard the sound from hell when cranking the engine then it is hurt, starter is actually skipping when it does it. The teeth are a grinding sound, the starter clutch is a loud clang. Your drive will disengage slightly if your starter clutch skips and re-engage when it catches, it can take the end of the teeth off but if you have never heard the sound from hell then you are ok
You have to pull the compensator anyway to remove the clutch basket so not a bad idea to have peace of mind with the compensator.
The starter clutch is inside of the starter and tricky to replace, if you have heard the sound from hell when cranking the engine then it is hurt, starter is actually skipping when it does it. The teeth are a grinding sound, the starter clutch is a loud clang. Your drive will disengage slightly if your starter clutch skips and re-engage when it catches, it can take the end of the teeth off but if you have never heard the sound from hell then you are ok
You have to pull the compensator anyway to remove the clutch basket so not a bad idea to have peace of mind with the compensator.











