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I don't ride my '87 FLST as much as I used to; in fact, haven't ridden it in two years except to get it inspected. Last time I had that done when I started it up the bendix stayed engaged and kept power to the starter motor. I smacked the solenoid/primary cover area and got it to release. Got it home and started going through everything. It all looks OK, but it'll hang up more often than not. Lubed the shaft of the bendix and still the same. Had to sit down and ponder a bit, LOL!
Started thinking about everything on the bike that might contribute, and the sequence of installation/modification. Stock inner primary, Primo belt drive - worked OK. Next was a new Baker transmission - worked OK. Next up was an Accel solenoid - worked OK. Next had to replace the forked arm that operates the bendix - worked OK. Next was a new bendix, shaft, gear, etc. And finally the starter motor fried and was replaced with an All-***** - that's when the problems started. Built a stock starter out of cast-off & scrap parts, but using the original housing. It was just temporary, but worked OK - except the bendix still hung up.
Now, I'm thinking that all the aftermarket parts and their tolerances have stacked (only original factory part is the inner primary), throwing everything just out enough to cause the problem. I'm going to tear it all apart again and inspect it again. I don't have any confidence that I'll find anything as it has been apart numerous times. After that?
Turning out to be a headache, but may just be an excuse to junk the electric foot stuff and install a Baker kicker. Expensive...
I've had that happen to me a while back on my 86,I think it was solenoid related along with a bad battery,I' pull the solenoid and clean or replace it with a proven battery.
I've had that happen to me a while back on my 86,I think it was solenoid related along with a bad battery,I' pull the solenoid and clean or replace it with a proven battery.
I replaced two solenoids on my Shovelhead until I learned that proper shimming of the solenoid was critical to longevity. The last solenoid lasted 15 years until I changed it to manual "solenoid/starter lever." Never had a problem after that!
I've seen those lever devices, but never figured how they work. When you operate the lever are you physically engaging a solenoid? Or physically engaging the bendix while completing the circuit to the starter motor?
Looked at the piece on the J&P site. Now have less understanding of what it does than before, LOL!
From the wiring diagram and your picture, it appears there is a set of small contacts in the device that completes a circuit to a relay. The relay picks up and completes a circuit to larger relay, which completes the circuit to the starter motor. Additionally, the lever device appears to manually engage the bendix-starter clutch, rather than a stock-type solenoid engaging it. Once the bike starts you move the lever to its "off" position to disengage the bendix drive from the ring gear, and also opens the contacts to kill the circuits to the relays, and thus the power to the starter motor.
I replaced two solenoids on my Shovelhead until I learned that proper shimming of the solenoid was critical to longevity. The last solenoid lasted 15 years until I changed it to manual "solenoid/starter lever." Never had a problem after that!
I've seen those lever devices, but never figured how they work. When you operate the lever are you physically engaging a solenoid? Or physically engaging the bendix while completing the circuit to the starter motor?
Yes. All that.
The lever takes the place of the solenoid and energizes the starter just as the solenoid does when you press the starter button. It's basically a combination solenoid and starter switch. Like it was explained to me - "don't try and figure out how it works. Just wire it the way the diagram says and it will." So I did and it did and all was right with the world .Most expensive starter switch I ever bought but worth every penny.
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