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1983 FLH starter problems

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Old Feb 13, 2012 | 03:04 PM
  #1  
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Default 1983 FLH starter problems

I just bought a 1983 FLH shovel head. It will kick start however the starter seems to not engage. The starter continues to spin and sometimes it will continue to spin until I remove the battery cable. The battery is fully charged replaced the solenoid and relay. After reading previous posting, it sounds like this maybe a common problem. At this point I don’t know if it is the starter or something else. I wanted to check with others that might be know before I remove the starter and replace it.
 
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Old Feb 13, 2012 | 03:47 PM
  #2  
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Check your ground's & cable's . What happens to get the effects you described is too heavy an amperage draw and it welds the contacts in the solenoid , usually caused by dirty or loose grounds & cables . Second thing that can get you is the brushes are gone on in the starter , that'll cause the same type symptoms , like a heavy dragging then the stuck on thing .

Good luck and keep us posted please , lots of good know how in here for the old iron .
 
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Old Feb 20, 2012 | 03:17 PM
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Default Starter problems

I had the same issues with my 84 FLH. When I bought it there was a small set of vise grips on one of the battery posts for a quick disconnect. I tried everything, new starter, new solenoid, new cables and settled for a lever action solenoid from J & P Cycles. Problem solved!
 
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