Hi all, hope everyone is good ,

New member here from the uk. Already introduced myself and received a nice welcome.

I have a 1997 Dyna wide glide evo engine I have inherited from my dad.

He had a lot of work done on the engine.

High compression Pistons
Some head work
High lift cams
Stage 3 dynojet
Etc

Anyway sometimes the bike can be hard to start. Normally when it's in between warm and cold, and sometimes there's a horrid metal clack noise from what I believe to be the starter clutch?

I believe I need some manual compression releases installed but until then any advice on starting the bike without getting that horrid clack.

Oh and any info on how the starter clutch works or the starting system in General would be great.

Thanks y'all

Darren

 

The starter pinion gear may of worn or broken teeth also check the ring gear on the clutch for the same. Basically all the starter does is spin and throw the pinion gear into the teeth of the ring gear on the clutch.

 

Thanks for the info mate

It's a horrid sound, gonna have to get compression releases fitted.

Seems to start perfect from cold only when hot.

You have to give it such a small amount of throttle whilst cranking it.

 

That would be a high compression issue, but usually it's the other way around. Cold the lifters bleed down a little which will change the closing of the intake a little sooner that will increase compression making it harder to start. This will also happen on a warm start up that sat for 15 or so minutes. A hot start like a a gas station stop should not be an issue.

How many miles on the lifters?

At one point HD recommended a service life of 25K.

Compression releases will make a nice difference as well as a high torque starter @ 1400 kw. Just make sure you have a battery to support it...

 

Thanks for the info buddy.

Cold starts are absolutely fine. Choke on no throttle starts really good.

If I ride it for 15 mins to the gas station turn her off, fill her up and try to start it a horrible noise. Still not sure what it is. ? Is it the starter clutch springing back?anyway to make her fire up I have to crank it and give it ever so small amount of throttle.

Not sure how many miles since the rebuild as I inherited it from my pops.

I believe engine was rebuilt 2000 miles ago.

Battery is a brand new one. Kept on trickle charge every night

Will deffo get some manual compression releases fitted when I've got some spare cash. It just makes you look like an idiot when you can't start it. Or more so when this metal clacking noise happens.

 

So I would say it's not a compression issue. Can you post a video. It would help a lot...

 

Just off out for some food, however I found a video on you tube which sounds almost identical. Note the loud metallic clack. I also occasionally get that puff of smoke / I burnt fuel from the air cleaner.