Shovelhead A place to talk about Shovelheads.

adding a kickstarter

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 13, 2017 | 08:48 PM
  #11  
mrlexus's Avatar
mrlexus
Road Captain
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 645
Likes: 215
From: Minneapolis
Default

Originally Posted by lt56
that's good to know. wasn't even thinking about the ignition.
i've got some time figuring out what i've got going on here.
i'd love to have a kicker on there, but it's starting to sound expensive and more work than i'd be able to do on my own. just the 'standard' installation would be pushing my comfort zone, for working alone on this thing.

thanks for the info, i appreciate it
This is bad info on the ignition, it's not true. The stock ignition works just fine. I have an 81, 83, and 84, and they all came with factory kickers and all start in one kick with the stock oem electronic ignition. The reason people had issues is that they didn't understand how the ignition worked. It has a timeout function, (without looking it up) I believe it's 5 seconds. If the bike doesn't fire within the time allotment, it will not spark until the ignition is turned off and back on to reset the timer. You can kick it all day and it won't do anything. You simply need to do your priming kicks with the ignition off, get it to the top, then turn it on and give it a good kick and it will light.
 
Reply
Old Mar 14, 2017 | 05:19 PM
  #12  
lt56's Avatar
lt56
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: parker, co
Default

very cool, thanks.

is there anyway to tell what transmission is on my bike? serial #s... ?????????
been looking at pics of trannys and it's pretty tough to tell what i have
 
Reply
Old Mar 14, 2017 | 09:46 PM
  #13  
mrlexus's Avatar
mrlexus
Road Captain
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 645
Likes: 215
From: Minneapolis
Default

Well, I can tell you it's not a Harley 4 speed (so it's not a 5 into 4 conversion), and it's not out of an early FXR as stated above, those have a release arm, not a ball/ramp release like the one you have, which didn't come in a big twin until 1987.

I'd try and find a new tranny, you probably can get the right 4 speed with a stock kicker for not much more than the kit you were looking at.
 

Last edited by mrlexus; Mar 14, 2017 at 09:50 PM.
Reply
Old Mar 20, 2017 | 03:44 PM
  #14  
RedHogz's Avatar
RedHogz
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 295
Likes: 26
From: Western CT
Default

Originally Posted by mrlexus
Well, I can tell you it's not a Harley 4 speed (so it's not a 5 into 4 conversion), and it's not out of an early FXR as stated above, those have a release arm, not a ball/ramp release like the one you have, which didn't come in a big twin until 1987.

I'd try and find a new tranny, you probably can get the right 4 speed with a stock kicker for not much more than the kit you were looking at.
Exactly. Owning each of those models, it's looks like a 5 speed Evo transmission side cover. Personally, other than the cool factor of kicking they can be a real PITA. If the kicker free-falls it can jam your knee. Or compression can toss your *** over the handlebars. Big Ouch!
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
08 E-GLIDE
Touring Models
6
Dec 18, 2018 09:58 PM
800screws
EVO
1
Oct 10, 2016 03:20 PM
Psyko Rudo
Dyna Glide Models
2
Jun 15, 2015 02:03 PM
jamesn
Primary/Transmission/Driveline/Clutch
3
Aug 10, 2011 05:38 AM
jamesn
Softail Models
0
May 5, 2011 06:43 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:01 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE