I'm the proud owner of a '96 FLSTN with only about 13K miles. Several months ago my starter motor would spin, but not turn the ring gear to turn over the bike. I pulled the starter out and mechanically everything looked okay; ring gear, pinion, jack shaft assembly. I replaced the battery and cleaned up all connections, I did have a bit of a problem with the negative terminal on the old battery. I bench tested the starter, the solenoid was engaging and retracting. Tested the relay per my HD shop manual and it too was okay. I replaced the starter clutch at the recommendation of a mechanic at a local independent shop. This cured the problem for about a month, now it's back on an intermittent basis. The bike actually starts better when it's cold.

Do I have bad windings in the armature or is it a solenoid problem. Any thoughts/ideas are greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Rossavich63

 

When you say back to an intermittent basis, are you saying totally dead intermittently or that it spins but doesn't engage intermittently?

I would check BOTH ends of BOTH cables and clean them (ground cable included this time)

 

TC, thanks for the feedback. Spins but does not engage intermittently. Cables are clean at both ends.

Rossavich63

 

Then it has to be the clutch causing the problem (starter drive clutch) If it spinns, the motor is good, If it turns over the starter when you hit the switch the solenoid is good, if it spins without engaging, the drive clutch isn't doing it's job, even if it is new.

 

TC - Thanks again. Sounds like you think the new starter clutch I put in is defective. Easy enuf to check when I pull the starter again. The part is warrantied by HD. In your opinion should I replace the solenoid and contacts? It's a $25 aftermarket kit.

Rossavice63

 

That's what I'd be leaning to if it worked for a while and stopped again, unless the shaft has some runout in it. For the $25 it may pay to do the whole job in that the starter will be out anyway.