76 ironhead starter trouble
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,035
Likes: 17
From: Houston Texas
Got it working. The bushing were reversed so the starter was running backwards. Moved the bushings and that was fixed. Oddly enough the solenoid died shortly after. Replaced the solenoid and IT WORKED!. Mounted the tank, gave her some fuel and nothing. Tried a little starting fluid, got her to start. Wouldn't stay running on gas, but I will look at tuning the S&S Carb later. Thanks for everyones help, I couldn't have figured this out without you. Thanks also for teaching me some much today about the bike I going to spend way too much rebuilding!
Good to hear you have it fixed.
pg
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,306
Likes: 865
From: Sheboygan, WI
good to hear you got that part figured out. Sounds to me like you have to take the carb apart and give it a good cleaning. The inlet needle could be stuck or you could have some trash in the jets. One thing I will mention after watching your second video is that you will never catch me putting my fingers in by the bendix gear like that with the battery connected. If you accidentally pull the gear out, it will make the contacts in the solenoid, turning the starter over, even though you didn't push the button. This, in turn, will pull your fingers in between the bendix gear and the ring gear and it would be an emergency room run almost for sure. Not sure if you were aware of this, but I figured i'd mention it.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,035
Likes: 17
From: Houston Texas
good to hear you got that part figured out. Sounds to me like you have to take the carb apart and give it a good cleaning. The inlet needle could be stuck or you could have some trash in the jets. One thing I will mention after watching your second video is that you will never catch me putting my fingers in by the bendix gear like that with the battery connected. If you accidentally pull the gear out, it will make the contacts in the solenoid, turning the starter over, even though you didn't push the button. This, in turn, will pull your fingers in between the bendix gear and the ring gear and it would be an emergency room run almost for sure. Not sure if you were aware of this, but I figured i'd mention it.
Also, I meant to mention it before........ Although Joey was needing to see what was happening with the starter, I recommend he (or anyone else for that matter) try not to use the starter without the primary cover in place.
That needle bearing is there for a reason.
I know the cover had to be off for this, but I thought I would give my 2˘ on it. Without support on the end of the shaft, there is a lot of stress put on the mount point of the starter.
pg
Stage I
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Columbia, MO
Hello, new to the forum. Nice to meet you.
Who woulda believed it? I have replaced the clutch gear (sprag, bendix, whatever you want to call it...turns only one direction), the jackshaft, the seleniod, reseated the clutch basket. Checked the range of the bendix into the clutch ring gear, took it apart, and put it back together about 10 times. Threw out the "running backwards" idea (they can't run backwards , right? [wrong!]).
My brother had taken the starter apart and put the brushes back in. Sounded and turned storng enough, but yeah, turned backwards!
No old-school Harley guy I knew, and some pretty good mechs, had a clue.
A good rule of thumb, wire to the right from the notch. The first wire to the left should lead to the + (pos) post. the next a field coil, and alternate them (neg, pos, etc).
I took me a while to sign up, but I had to thank you guys. This one has been down for a year. I was just getting ready to install a kicker setup.
So, Thanks! (Did I say thanks?)
If there is anything you want to know about an ironhead, just ask. I'll try to check in once in a while.
Mine's a 76, changed back to right-shfit with forward controls, mini-bobber tank, high-risers with drag bars, and saddle bags. I'll try to find a pic. Bored 40 over, and converted to use a CV. I had a softail rear wheel and disk brake I set up on iit, but switched back when the master cylinder went out.
The disk was only marginally better than the drum. Need to do some swingarms changes to get it right, and perhaps a dual cylinder setup.
It got loud drag pipes, smokes some, uses some oil, and has enough acceleration to pull the plug wires out of the coil -- I love it!
I have built 4 from scratch...all parts scattered in boxes...a 62, 70, 73, and 76.
Buddy bought a 2000 evo with a screaming eagle upgrade to 1200. It just don't sound right, like it's missing all the time.
Enough about me.
Thanks again guys!
Who woulda believed it? I have replaced the clutch gear (sprag, bendix, whatever you want to call it...turns only one direction), the jackshaft, the seleniod, reseated the clutch basket. Checked the range of the bendix into the clutch ring gear, took it apart, and put it back together about 10 times. Threw out the "running backwards" idea (they can't run backwards , right? [wrong!]).
My brother had taken the starter apart and put the brushes back in. Sounded and turned storng enough, but yeah, turned backwards!
No old-school Harley guy I knew, and some pretty good mechs, had a clue.
A good rule of thumb, wire to the right from the notch. The first wire to the left should lead to the + (pos) post. the next a field coil, and alternate them (neg, pos, etc).
I took me a while to sign up, but I had to thank you guys. This one has been down for a year. I was just getting ready to install a kicker setup.
So, Thanks! (Did I say thanks?)
If there is anything you want to know about an ironhead, just ask. I'll try to check in once in a while.
Mine's a 76, changed back to right-shfit with forward controls, mini-bobber tank, high-risers with drag bars, and saddle bags. I'll try to find a pic. Bored 40 over, and converted to use a CV. I had a softail rear wheel and disk brake I set up on iit, but switched back when the master cylinder went out.
The disk was only marginally better than the drum. Need to do some swingarms changes to get it right, and perhaps a dual cylinder setup.
It got loud drag pipes, smokes some, uses some oil, and has enough acceleration to pull the plug wires out of the coil -- I love it!
I have built 4 from scratch...all parts scattered in boxes...a 62, 70, 73, and 76.
Buddy bought a 2000 evo with a screaming eagle upgrade to 1200. It just don't sound right, like it's missing all the time.
Enough about me.
Thanks again guys!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,134
Likes: 146
From: texas
ive got a question regarding the removal of a starter....and pinion and mick by no means am i trying to have an ironhead arguement with you guys,i know i will lose that debate without a doubt.
question is are you sure you got to remove the clutch to get the starter out?mine is an 81 and i dont have to do that for mine but i was wondering what was different about...i looked in a book i have for the earlier models and i didnt see anything about removing the clutch either.is the removal just to make it easier to get to or is somthing that is mandatory?----on the 81 i just removed the primary cover and that was it, i went straight to the starter bolts.
question is are you sure you got to remove the clutch to get the starter out?mine is an 81 and i dont have to do that for mine but i was wondering what was different about...i looked in a book i have for the earlier models and i didnt see anything about removing the clutch either.is the removal just to make it easier to get to or is somthing that is mandatory?----on the 81 i just removed the primary cover and that was it, i went straight to the starter bolts.
Up to and including 1980 you can remove the starter motor without removing the primary cover. It is a different starter motor/starter solenoid setup, with two completely separate parts and different installation.
I have no direct experience with the 1981-on models. I do know that you have to remove the primary cover. I have never heard that you have to remove the clutch - i suspect that is just info from an incorrect source [but of course, i could be wrong].
I have no direct experience with the 1981-on models. I do know that you have to remove the primary cover. I have never heard that you have to remove the clutch - i suspect that is just info from an incorrect source [but of course, i could be wrong].
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,134
Likes: 146
From: texas
mick i was mistaken(big surprise)....i never had to do anything to the bendix gear?....that process that was described earlier for the op threw me off a bit.i misunderstood some of it.i remember stuff better when i do it and not just see it.
yep on mine(81) i have to take the primary cover off to take the starter out.its insane.ive no clue why it would be designed that way.when i took mine out i took it to a starter shop because i wanted experienced eyes looking at it.i dont like doing things twice if i can help it.----------anyway sorry about the mix up.i keep telling myself i wont ask anymore stupid questions but.....
yep on mine(81) i have to take the primary cover off to take the starter out.its insane.ive no clue why it would be designed that way.when i took mine out i took it to a starter shop because i wanted experienced eyes looking at it.i dont like doing things twice if i can help it.----------anyway sorry about the mix up.i keep telling myself i wont ask anymore stupid questions but.....
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