I've owned shovels for years and have experienced the usual starter issues but something different happened yesterday. Went for a ride on my '67 FLH that is pretty stock save a belt primary and aftermarket outer primary. When I slowed for a stop sign, I heard an awful grinding sound that sounded to me like the starter was trying to engage with the bike running. I pulled off to the shoulder and it stopped. I decided to abort the ride and headed home and this happened 3 or 4 more times on 8 miles home. Has anyone experienced this before and have thoughts about troubleshooting? I only had time to get the bike on the lift and remove the derby cover. There does seem to be a little debris in there. Thanks in advance.

 

Remove the Small terminal wire from the Solenoid and ride it again [have to "jump" the solenoid to start] see if it happens that way... eliminate the "starter button" side of the solenoid..

Note if the Starter becomes engaged solid while the engine is running... yer gonna explode a Starter


BTW it is Not unusual to find "crud" inside a belt primary...

 

Thanks Race. That was my first thought that somehow, the starter button was making contact. Leaving town this morning so I won't have time to work on it. Report back in a couple days.

 

Forgot to mention that the Bendix and ring gear on the clutch basket looked OK. No apparent damage.

 

Are you sure it's not the throwout bearing?
They can sound awful when they're on the way out.

 

Thanks RHPAW. Would that happen even though the clutch isn't engaged?

 

Very true as well... but so easy to eliminate starter button side...I would still do that First...
Sometimes the stethoscope method against the kicker cover [well trans cover in this case as Stock, there would be No Kicker] to listen to the throwout... even when in neutral, is sometimes revealing!!!! Tho that big ole Bell type is just a bit noisy anyway... But tough...

 

Thank you guys. One problem is that the times this happened, it stopped when I pulled over. I'll try the button first and if that fails, I'll check the throw out. BTW, this bike has a kicker. Would I be able to see much through the filler plug or would I have to pull the kicker cover?

 

Regarding the throwout bearing...Mine did it right after putting it in gear and starting to let the clutch out. It would lurch a bit, then stop and not do it again. The bike had a ton of miles on it, and had been sitting awhile.

Buddy of mine had the same problem on his Panhead. It sounded horrible every time we left a stoplight. We stopped at a bar, and he changed it in the parking lot with one he had in his saddlebag, all in about the time it took for me to grab a burger and a beer.

 

I always have pulled the cover... But my Bifocals don't focus well thru a Damned little hole!!!


Kicker on a '67 Huh?? I believe they were an option... but expensive as the exhaust had to be changed as well...