shovelhead starting problem
Thread Starter
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2nd Gear
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: canada
shovelhead starting problem
Hi everyone, I have a 1976 FLH rigid ,has 575 sifton cam,dual plugged heads , 100 inch I am told ,It is a bitch to start. The starter seems too weak to turn it over .New battery ,after a short ride the battery needs to be charged again. How do Imake it more friendly ?
compression release ?new starter ? The whole set up is new, an old show bike, was hardly ridden. I cant get it to kick over. Any ideas would be great.
compression release ?new starter ? The whole set up is new, an old show bike, was hardly ridden. I cant get it to kick over. Any ideas would be great.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 7,503
Likes: 3,729
From: Santa Klaus County, Cali
Need to check your charging system. Battery should not be going south.
Also with big bore motors you need to add something other than OEM starter assembly to effectively crank that motor over.
Also with big bore motors you need to add something other than OEM starter assembly to effectively crank that motor over.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 979
Likes: 38
From: new orleans,la
get rid of that drag race cam and use a sifton 468+ the 575 is not a wise choice for the street.. i built many,many 100" shovels i dont know how you came to 100" but i used the TROCK 3 13/16th cylinders and a 4 3/8ths stroke... if ya wanna good starter at a decent price (not like the spyke ones for $500) i use the ALL *****.. the starter can be removed from the bike without removing the primary.... it spins the engine over like an air starter.. they cost $200 you can find them on ebay -- new -- the 575 developes wayyyyyyy to much cranking pressure... the 468+ spins easy and with open/close events like 30/60 and 270 degrees of duration it never runs out of power.. its also only a .445 lift unlike the one you have or the junk cams that use extream high lifts... high lift cams only wear out your valve train... the 468+ is a soild cam but you cant hear the tick-tick as its designed for solids...
if you must have a hot rod type cam i would use the leinweber J4 its a tick-tick solid but if you run the jims kit its quiet --- myself i run a leinweber L3S in a 80"...
whats the boreXstroke of your engine?? carb?? pipes?? ign.?? compression???
other things to look at -- weak battery -- bad solenoid -- bad connections and or wires -- timing way to advanced --
if you must have a hot rod type cam i would use the leinweber J4 its a tick-tick solid but if you run the jims kit its quiet --- myself i run a leinweber L3S in a 80"...
whats the boreXstroke of your engine?? carb?? pipes?? ign.?? compression???
other things to look at -- weak battery -- bad solenoid -- bad connections and or wires -- timing way to advanced --
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 7,503
Likes: 3,729
From: Santa Klaus County, Cali
And if you do I highly recommentrhe Cyclelctric system. American made product so a bit more cost but I updated my 84 from the 22 to the 32 amp system and never looked back.
Thread Starter
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2nd Gear
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 6
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From: canada
thanks everyone,
I also agree that the cam is a poor choice, I am a rider not racer , I stumbled into this bike, had it at a shop , $ 1000 later its basically the same . I am a rookie , at 43. I will look at the starter, charging system and cam change. You guys are a good help . I cant even get a shop to give me a real answer , the dealer would kill my funds. I can let you know where to find a video if that doesn't break the rules.
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2nd Gear
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: canada
I would love to answer all your questions . Truth is I don't know alot about it . Bought it November and got a promotion at work and now have less time.I most definitely will get the cam change. Thank you for your help. The carb an S&S G, the pipes are custom shotgun ,ignion is crane cams I believe. Starter looks to me to be stock. Battery is 330 cranking amps. The bike is awesome to look at, but if I cant ride it semi reliable then the fun is gone for me .I dont know mechanics all that much but I can learn. You are correct when saying hot rod . Alot of money and time went into this bike, not street friendly.
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Road Master
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 979
Likes: 38
From: new orleans,la
I HAVE A SIFTON 468S -- its a wayyy better choice than that .575 -- the 468+ is hard to find -- the 468S will run that 100" bike more to your street riding uses.. it doesnt have the high cranking pressures of some cams.. even a andrews "C" would be better but thats still a high lift cam.. the battery is the right amps -- the ALL ***** starter once installed you will love it.. and the price isnt like some other ones at $500... a bike like that should have 24 motor gear -- 22 tranny and 48 on the rear -- the "G" will work on 100" engine but if you NOT planing on running 100+ mph i would go back to a "E" it throttles better even though its smaller -- i ran 100" bikes with the old S&S MGL"s they are the same as a "B" but have a side bowl.. again what is the BORE X STROKE of that set up???? with the gas out there i wouldnt go higher than 8:1 on a big bore shovel..
theres actually 2 .575 sifton cams
111 Intake: 40/66 271 0.575 Exhaust: 66/39 274 0.575 -- "outlaw"
118 Intake: 35/54 269 0.575 Exhaust: 62/32 274 0.575 "bandit"
theres actually 2 .575 sifton cams
111 Intake: 40/66 271 0.575 Exhaust: 66/39 274 0.575 -- "outlaw"
118 Intake: 35/54 269 0.575 Exhaust: 62/32 274 0.575 "bandit"
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Thread Starter
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2nd Gear
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: canada
Thank's again for taking time to help . I have found a 468s from black widow cams.The guy is on vacation until Tuesday .This is the company that bought the rights to sifton . The tooling and blueprints etc. I am buying the 32 amp cycle electric charging system on Saturday. Hopefully the all ***** starter as well. I have to figure out if its a prestolite or hitachi starter. I cant tell you bore and stroke, I dont know. This is my first summer with this bike. I can also buy an S&S E ,I hear good things about them everywhere .I will let you know progress. Thank's again , cheers to all who sent me a welcome message .
