It turns over, but...
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Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,959
Likes: 2
From: Florida
It turns over, but...
Hot or cold, when I hit the starter button, it starts to turn over, but stops on the compression, or so it seems, but I just have to let up on the button and hit it again and it turns over until it starts, like right away. Thought it was the battery, but the batt tested good. The guy at NAPA said maybe the starter. It's 26 years old and about 120k on it, and as far as I know it's the original starter.
One, what else could it be? And can I rebuild it, or should I take it somewhere? Or should I just buy a new one, which sounds too expensive to me.
One, what else could it be? And can I rebuild it, or should I take it somewhere? Or should I just buy a new one, which sounds too expensive to me.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,714
Likes: 3,041
From: Brighton, MI
Check wiring and cable connections and grounds. Connections might be getting a little grungy by now, also, starter solenoid contacts can be old and oxidized (pitted from use) creating increased resistance.
The contacts being pitted will act like a weak battery. You say your battery checks out, soooo. Might be worth while to check those things out. YD
The contacts being pitted will act like a weak battery. You say your battery checks out, soooo. Might be worth while to check those things out. YD
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: CNY
Was having the same problem with my 92 . Tried new starter last year and no improvement , talked with eng. builder about it an he said it could be due to the cam and dual fire ign. causing the it to fire before the eng. is turning over at a good rate of speed . I have ordered a Daytona ign. and will be programing it to fire after 2 full revolutions instead of rite off the bat like the stock ign. Don't know if this is your problem but hopefully it was mine .
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,664
Likes: 184
From: Indiana, USA
As stated above, solenoid kit to replace the worn contacts, That is about the only rebuild you can do to these starters. If it still doesn't have enough, a common fix is to add a mechanical pushbutton in the solenoid endcap. Basically the windings in the solenoid are not rebuildable and when they short the don't have enough magnetic flux to pull the plunger. cant replace the solenoid windings so the mechanical pushbutton or replace the whole starter.
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 5,779
Likes: 7,811
From: SE Louisiana
Don't be so quick to trust the NAPA battery test.
Check the voltage at the battery while cranking, then check at the starter.
Disconnect battery before playing with the contacts ,or it'll be arc welding waiting to happen!
edit:meant battery
Check the voltage at the battery while cranking, then check at the starter.
Disconnect battery before playing with the contacts ,or it'll be arc welding waiting to happen!
edit:meant battery
Last edited by Schex; Feb 11, 2014 at 01:34 PM.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,664
Likes: 184
From: Indiana, USA
After rebuilding my solenoid I found it still jumped out before starting. This got worse as time went on and I couldn't afford a new starter so drilled a hole in the end of my solenoid cover and chrome cover and put a spring loaded shoulderbolt through with a fancy brass ****. Bolt head is inside the cover. Used this on that same starter for another 8 or 10 years before selling the bike. Basically the starter motor never failed it was the solenoids ability to engage the starter.
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