Starter Problems

Item 7 in the illustration (note: it`s an 11/32 ball bearing, available from anyone but Harley Davidson it seems).
Illustration
Last edited by Dan89FLSTC; Jun 26, 2023 at 09:51 PM.
He got me a new drive, and it came without bearings. It wasn't hard to pull them off my old unit and install on the new. There was a spacer ring between the gear and one bearing so I re-used that. Maybe that's my mistake? New unit on top, has full width gear, old one has a tin spacer built onto the gear.
Gears went in OK, and big gear looks flush with the intermediate gear.
But when I assembled the drive housing to the solenoid it didn't quite close up. I was using a nut driver, and even a rubber mallet to try seating it. I called the shop and he said it should seat, maybe try a little more torque. So using a short ratchet handle, it started closing up until:
That's when the swearing started ! ! !
Now a friend of mine is looking for an old starter he has and I'll swap the solenoid housing to mine. But what went wrong? Should I have not used that spacer ring? Or maybe it slipped off center? I will try again without the ratchet, and if it doesn't go back together I'll have to bring it to the shop. But first I need some advice on what I did wrong. Thanks
Last edited by Joe12RK; Jun 30, 2023 at 10:00 AM.
Here's what I did: Spare battery neg to case, pos to big post. Jumper from pos to little connector. Kicked once, now won't go. Draws a lot of current though, had a charger on the battery and it pegged the charge ammeter. Disconnected wire from solenoid to starter, hooked battery positive to starter, it barely turns over. Tried solenoid without starter and it didn't pull in. Took off end cover and with solenoid energized pressed plunger and needed to go half way in for coil to pull in the rest of the way. I must be doing something wrong because both solenoids do the same thing.
I would like to hear what you guys think, but I gave up and brought it to the starter repair guy who sold me the starter drive. He'll look at it tomorrow. I need to get this bike back on the road!
If anyone is interested in what a bad starter drive looks like:
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
After installing it twice (coupling goes in with starter dummy) nothing changed. Still get the grinding noise!
@johnjzjz thought the jackshaft gear wasn't protruding enough, but it seems better now (new starter drive extended out of starter 1/8")
Now I suspect the jackshaft gear isn't engaging the clutch gear. What would cause this, and how to fix?
Last edited by Joe12RK; Jul 13, 2023 at 10:53 AM.












