Ok, background first.
08 Ultra, 103ci with SE255 cams. Installed by original owner. I am 2nd owner. No compression releases installed by original owner. 60K miles on bike, 20K on the 103 setup.

Starter is starting to make sounds like the starter clutch is going to need replacing.

My request for advice is what do I do? I am not interested in pulling heads to install compression releases as there is no other reason to open the top end right now. I assume fixing the starter by using OEM stuff is just going to make this happen again due to higher compression?
So can I get a beefier starter? Heavier duty starter clutch? What is the recommendation for a higher compression engine that doesn't have releases?

 

Ok, a couple things.. yes, you can just replace the starter clutch only, with oem parts, roughly $125 from HD & you can do it yourself... or you can buy a new starter.. this guy sells starters for half the cost of the hd, and they have a bit more grunt at 1.6kw

http://www.ebay.com/itm/380865917600...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

With having a little more compression you may see this happen again in a couple years, but starter clutches aren't too bad to replace.... And the new starter from Jason will accept the hd oem starter clutch parts. You might also look into the newest compensator setup, this may help with the kickback if your old comp is having issues.

 

I'm trying to make a similar decision myself, I completely agree with the above, but already replaced my starter clutch and I really think it is up to the job. I'm thinking of pulling my heads to drill CRs but would reinstall with a thinner head gasket to get a bit more oomph! But the option I'll probably go with is S&S ez start cams. These are about the only choices I know of, just need to decide which works best for you. The cams are definitely not the cheapest or easiest way but I think may be the best. Just my $0.02, good luck!

06 NT, 95", S&S .510g, V&H 2-2, K&N AC, P&P heads, SEPST

 

Before spending any money or tearing things down, do a load test on the battery.

If you don't know how to do that, then just remove the battery and take it to an auto parts store. They should be able to tell you if the battery is good or not.

 

Below is an excerpt from a post I made a while back regarding my experience with battery and starter failure.

My bike had gradually begun to show some of the symptoms of a failing compensator. At least according to many of the symptoms as described on this very forum.

For some time I had been experiencing hard and violent starts, which had become more frequent as time went on. My batteries were not lasting as long as they should. The last one didn't even make 24 months, and I ride routinely and put it on a tender as soon as it hits the barn.

Hot starts were becoming unbearable. It got to the point where I was dreading a fuel stop because I knew that as soon as I turned on the ignition and hit the starter button, there was a good chance I was going to hear the CLANK-BANG, hesitation and then finally a labored turn over of the engine. It was painful, to the point of embarrassment.

A couple of years ago I had to replace my stator, due to the stator plug oil leak issue (now if you want to talk about a poor display of engineering, there's one that's hard to beat) and at that time I took a good look at the compensator and although it did show some minor wear on the lobes, it was nothing that I would not have expected after 40,000 or so miles.

So a few months ago, after another new battery, still dealing with the hard starts, I decided to replace the starter clutch as the first thing to troubleshoot. Motor did turn over easier but still had the occasional CLANK-BANG violent starts. At this time I decided it was a compression issue. I know these 96" motors are not supposed to need any compression releases but it just felt like these hard starts were somehow linked to compression, where on the stroke the engine happens to be on start-up and that's why it was so intermittent.

So after a little research, I decided to throw in set of S&S Easy Start cams. That was about 1200 miles ago and I've not had a hard start since. The motor fires up in 1-2 seconds on the starter button, every time, all the time, hot or cold, no Clank, no BANG. And it's not putting the heavy load on the battery or the starter or the compensator, I believe.

Now, that takes us back to Mark's statement. When I changed out the cams, I did take an indicator reading on the crank. I was pleased to see that runout was only .0035". Therefore maybe my compensator was only taking a beating on those hard starts, and once running, and running with a fairly true crank, would not suffer further abuse like a motor with up to .010 crank runout. I dunno. But I do know that my bike, now with 53,000 plus miles has never started so well nor run better than it does now.

BTW, I just last week finished putting the whole primary back together after a new shifter shaft seal, upgraded IPB and seal (Baker High Torque) and new Barnett Kevlar Extra Clutch plate kit. A few other reasons she's running so good now.

The entire thread can be found here
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ouch, a cam swap?
That sucks. I bought this used. Original owner is the one that did all the install of the 103 and 355 cams but the indy that did the job didn't get it tuned properly. I just spent a ton to get it all setup with proper exhaust and tune this spring but now these occasional hard starts were giving me concern that something was wearing out. I guess I will have some thinking to do on which way I need to proceed. I was really hoping not to open the top end for compression releases but it seems that either way it could end up being a top end whether it is cams or CRs. Ugh. Looks like I am paying the price for someone else's mistake.

 

I know it sounds ridiculous, but clean your battery/connections real good with light sandpaper and apply dielectric grease. My starter was doing the clunk thing at gas station and such when bike was hot. After good cleaning and greasing, problem completely went away. Starts perfect now. Was having other electrical issues also which are fixed. I put that in another thread.