starting issues
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6th Gear
Joined: May 2009
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starting issues
Hello to all,
I am a newb on here, and wanted to ask you old Shovelhead's a question or 2. I just picked up a 82 Harley FLH. The guy I bought it from told me he had issues with it not starting. One thing, the battery was dead, so I charged it overnight. Put the battery on, wouldn't crank, but the bike kept trying to turn over. I turned the ignition off and turned the kill switch off and it still cranked. Smoke started to come out of the over pour on the battery and I accidently kicked the bike trying to unswcrew the terminal, and it stopped.
Did some diagnostics, and some metering, and found the ignition is fine. Pulled the selenoid out and insulated the lead wire, (inside), added distilled water to battery, cahrged it, and same thing; cranks and cranks.
Could this be a bad starter relay? If so, where is it located? I looked everywhere, and I thought I might have found it, I just wanted to double check with somebody.
Any ideas? Thanks for taking the time to read this.
I am a newb on here, and wanted to ask you old Shovelhead's a question or 2. I just picked up a 82 Harley FLH. The guy I bought it from told me he had issues with it not starting. One thing, the battery was dead, so I charged it overnight. Put the battery on, wouldn't crank, but the bike kept trying to turn over. I turned the ignition off and turned the kill switch off and it still cranked. Smoke started to come out of the over pour on the battery and I accidently kicked the bike trying to unswcrew the terminal, and it stopped.
Did some diagnostics, and some metering, and found the ignition is fine. Pulled the selenoid out and insulated the lead wire, (inside), added distilled water to battery, cahrged it, and same thing; cranks and cranks.
Could this be a bad starter relay? If so, where is it located? I looked everywhere, and I thought I might have found it, I just wanted to double check with somebody.
Any ideas? Thanks for taking the time to read this.
Last edited by aortaflh; May 30, 2009 at 09:32 PM.
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 59
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From: Daytona Beach
Should be a 1 inch square black box with 3? terminals and screw tab opposite the terminals. Might be that or...some of the cheap bendix drives that China makes now only have dimples to engage the starter spiral instead of a internal spline to ride out on the starter shaft. The dimples wear the starter shaft spline and wear themselves quickly, then jam on the starter shaft instead of retracting under spring pressure. The bendix won't slide freely to disengage and stays cranking like you describe. Disconnect the battery--importent. Then remove the outer primary. First, check that the copper washer is there on the starter shaft, if that's missing it will jam also. Then check that the bendix slides freely on the shaft. Look at the fit of the fork in the bendix and that the fork isn't bent or binding on the pivot. I think you'll find it in there. Just be SURE to disconnect the battery or after you pull the bendix gear in we'll be calling you 3 fingers.
andygears
andygears
The problem of your starter continuing to run is caused by the brass or aluminum washer inside of the solenoid. Disconnect the battery, remove the solenoid from the bike (remember where the wires go and don't lose the spacer between it and the inner primary). Remove the two screws holding the cap on. Ease the cap off and let it hang. Pull the plunger out, remove the keeper and spring, and flip the "washer" over. Put everything back together in reverse order, except when you put the two screws back in the cap, don't overtighten them. You could crack the cap.
You will notice that there will be burn marks on the "washer". Hopefully it hasn't been flipped yet. Look at the contacts on the solenoid cap. Are they buggered up? If so, throw it in the trash and buy a new one.
This is caused by a weak battery and acts like a welding machine when the battery gets low. If you need to use the starter a lot, for tuning or diagnostics, keep it hooked to a generous power supply (your car).
Also, get a kick starter.
You will notice that there will be burn marks on the "washer". Hopefully it hasn't been flipped yet. Look at the contacts on the solenoid cap. Are they buggered up? If so, throw it in the trash and buy a new one.
This is caused by a weak battery and acts like a welding machine when the battery gets low. If you need to use the starter a lot, for tuning or diagnostics, keep it hooked to a generous power supply (your car).
Also, get a kick starter.
Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 11
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Well,
Spent the day turnin wrenchs. Took the selnoid off and did what Al said to, and still crankin away. I went and replaced the starter relay with a new one and same thing. The battery I think is shot, next step is to replace like you fellas said to... keep ya updated, and thank you.
Spent the day turnin wrenchs. Took the selnoid off and did what Al said to, and still crankin away. I went and replaced the starter relay with a new one and same thing. The battery I think is shot, next step is to replace like you fellas said to... keep ya updated, and thank you.
OK. Take the switch housing off your handlebar and see if it is shorting on your handlebar. I always wrapped some electrical tape on the bar under the switch housing, thats if it is still in the stock location. Also, inspect the button to see that it is not broken or otherwise unservicable.
Look in your shop manual and make sure everything is wired correctly.
Look in your shop manual and make sure everything is wired correctly.
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6th Gear
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