Starter Bolts.... Secrets?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2014
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From: Cental, MI
Yep... even with the Fancy spring loaded tensioners...
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: la la land jerzey
start looking for another inner primary you have not been down this road before -- and its paved with aluminum speckles
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
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From: Poolville
So bolts or studs? And do I drill out to 5/16"?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 12,878
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From: la la land jerzey
put it back to what the factory used and you will be fine
use the oem starter bracket and repair the bolts / studs - thread holes with time serts if necessary
you must be influencing the starter to have it brake the bolts and or the housing - never see that if its not being influenced
use the oem starter bracket and repair the bolts / studs - thread holes with time serts if necessary
you must be influencing the starter to have it brake the bolts and or the housing - never see that if its not being influenced
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 21,076
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From: Poolville
I was able to drill out the broken bolt with some machinist drill bits. Started out with a number 53 and work my way down to a 20 and was able to run a 1/4 x 20 tap through it. I'm going to insert studs with the green retaining compound, Loctite. I think that should hold the studs in there without any problem at all, unless somebody else has a better idea to secure the studs in there....and then use lock nuts along with the bracket on the rear of the starter that I made... I think I'll be good I just need to keep a better eye on it I guess.. along with the chain tension. I'll try to keep a better eye on it... 5/8” should do it...
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
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From: Poolville
John I tried both style rear brackets. One for a Hitachi the other for a Prestolite and neither work for my setup. I'm not using an OEM Hitachi.. I had to swap it out to a Prestolite that's why I had to make my own bracket. Which, I think will be fine. I did not install the rear bracket until the first bolt broke off in the primary. So hopefully by installing everything together I should be ok...
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2014
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From: Cental, MI
but, on an FX the starter is held up by one starter bolt by the Bracket..
The FX used the Hitachi starter, [except the FXR] and the FL used the Prestolite starter... as well as 2 different brackets..
Also... the starter housing is Different... because the starters have two Different bolt sizes!!!
I have run makeshift Brackets in the Past due to these "differences" without any problems!!!
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 21,076
Likes: 7,601
From: Poolville
Maybe on an FL... I don't recall...
but, on an FX the starter is held up by one starter bolt by the Bracket..
The FX used the Hitachi starter, [except the FXR] and the FL used the Prestolite starter... as well as 2 different brackets..
Also... the starter housing is Different... because the starters have two Different bolt sizes!!!
I have run makeshift Brackets in the Past due to these "differences" without any problems!!!
but, on an FX the starter is held up by one starter bolt by the Bracket..
The FX used the Hitachi starter, [except the FXR] and the FL used the Prestolite starter... as well as 2 different brackets..
Also... the starter housing is Different... because the starters have two Different bolt sizes!!!
I have run makeshift Brackets in the Past due to these "differences" without any problems!!!
Last edited by 98hotrodfatboy; Aug 29, 2018 at 03:46 PM.