Starter issues...

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May 8, 2010 | 11:54 PM

Spades

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Starter issues...

I just bought and rebuilt a '76 Superglide and am having a few issues that have my head spinning. I replaced the clutch hub when I had it apart because it was missing about half of the teeth. I put a used but mint one on and it still seems to start rough. It seems like it's dragging a little and it's making more hard clunking noise than it should. I pulled the primary to address a clutch issue and it's already ate part of a tooth or two. The bendix gear is in good shape....the solenoid seems to be in good shape......and everything seems to be good. I just bought the bike so I don't really know the history of things, but I'm thinking the starter or battery is weak. It seems to turn over a little slow....but it will start. What could cause this?? I don't want to ruin my new clutch hub. I'm going to take the battery out to have it tested. It's sealed and appears to be fairly new. Could it be a week battery or maybe even a bad starter?? The hillbilly that had it before said that he replaced the solenoid and it appears to be good. Any ideas or help would be appreciated. I'm ready to get this thing on the road!!!

Last edited by Spades; May 9, 2010 at 12:08 AM.

May 9, 2010 | 12:07 AM

FilthyLucre

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Joined: Jun 2008

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From: NW Florida

A weak battery will definately cause starter, solenoid problems. Check the timing. If the bike is out of time it will quickly eat up a starter ring gear.

May 9, 2010 | 12:44 AM

panz4ever

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From: Santa Klaus County, Cali

Bike has obviously been taken apart and put back together again (nice looking BTW). Are you sure the tranny was properly aligned? Might be worth it to pull the inner primary parts, loosen tranny, make sure the inner is aligned with motor and tighten tranny to inner primary and put it back together. If not aligned properly it could cause the starter to drag, though I have never seen teeth come apart.

May 9, 2010 | 08:02 PM

Spades

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Panz...thanks for the compliment. Yes, the tranny is properly aligned...I've checked and rechecked it. I think Filthy may have hit it on the head. I'm going to look into the timing tomorrow....maybe I can get this girl on the road. Thanks for the replies....if anyone thinks of anything else.....let me know. I'm open to all possibilities!! Thanks.

May 9, 2010 | 08:51 PM

Tom84FXST

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From: Farmington ,MS

Does it have the brass shim washers between the bendix gear and the primary bearing?...they usually get lost.

May 9, 2010 | 08:54 PM

Spades

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom84FXST

Does it have the brass shim washers between the bendix gear and the primary bearing?...they usually get lost.

Yea...I actually bought a brand new one when I had it apart.

May 9, 2010 | 08:58 PM

Tom84FXST

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From: Farmington ,MS

It may need more than one...you have to measure the inner and outer primarys with a straight edge and figure out what thickness it takes to put the bendix at the correct depth...mine has 2.