Starter Question
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,445
Likes: 2,820
From: Oklahoma
All of the above is good. How many miles on the starter solenoid? If the disc and/or contacts are getting pitted and carbon coated, the best battery in the world still won't get the max juice to the starter. I recently put the solenoid overhaul kit in mine at about 92,000 miles, have had no slow or stalled cranking since. I made sure the contacts were square with the disc for maximum surface contact. Just one more item in the starting chain of components.
5th Gear
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: McLoud Ok
Thanks so much. It could be the stock starter clutch is not strong enough. Im wondering if the all ***** starter clutch may be the fix for mine. It turns over fine when it works.
QUOTE=6 gun;18215414]I went threw the same crap, except I went from a 96 to a 103 with a 10.5:1 compression ratio with no compression releases what so ever. If it got a little warm, like a two mile trip down to the store it would not want to start right up. It would finally start after a few tries, and I got so tired of that stinking **** that I bought the black HD 1.4 KW starter.. No more problems after that, https://www.harley-davidson.com/stor...w-starter#tabs[/QUOTE]
QUOTE=6 gun;18215414]I went threw the same crap, except I went from a 96 to a 103 with a 10.5:1 compression ratio with no compression releases what so ever. If it got a little warm, like a two mile trip down to the store it would not want to start right up. It would finally start after a few tries, and I got so tired of that stinking **** that I bought the black HD 1.4 KW starter.. No more problems after that, https://www.harley-davidson.com/stor...w-starter#tabs[/QUOTE]
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,445
Likes: 2,820
From: Oklahoma
Quote: Will also do this if the bike has been sitting for a day or two .
All of the above is good advice but this indicates a possible low grade, constant electric draw while the bike is turned off. A new starter is the most expensive option, check for an out of tolerance constant load before spending big bucks. Someone else will have to tell you what is acceptable, I don't know, but there are some memories (radio stations, speedometer trip distance, clock that are SMALL constant drains. Any constant load above those should be found and corrected (if they exist) or none of the other stuff will help much.
All of the above is good advice but this indicates a possible low grade, constant electric draw while the bike is turned off. A new starter is the most expensive option, check for an out of tolerance constant load before spending big bucks. Someone else will have to tell you what is acceptable, I don't know, but there are some memories (radio stations, speedometer trip distance, clock that are SMALL constant drains. Any constant load above those should be found and corrected (if they exist) or none of the other stuff will help much.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,466
Likes: 425
From: Illinois
As I posted in another thread a few days ago: In over 40 years of riding Harleys, a '72,a '77, a '78, 2 '83s, a 93, an '06. I've never had a bad Harley starter. I did forget my home built softail chopper,which I got a bad starter [Ultima,from Midwest] but they replaced it for me. Your 'starter' problem ,as has been mentioned,sounds like a starter clutch problem. Maybe a bad bushing, or possibly a mis-alignment in the primary. my current bike has a little over 100k on it,with no starter problems.
Also as mentioned,do some testing on the battery,battery drain,load test, and starter draw, before throwing more parts at it.
Also as mentioned,do some testing on the battery,battery drain,load test, and starter draw, before throwing more parts at it.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,557
Likes: 235
From: Texas
Cranking that build over has got to be heavy duty work for an otherwise stock starter system. That includes the battery. You have an aftermarket battery and that may be a weak point. 2 years on a battery is on the low end of normal life, depending on the battery regardless of manufacturer. I would look over the wires and replace the battery and start there.
I have an 88 to 95 high compression build without compression releases and starting, especially restarting after refueling, is like what you describe sometimes. It was much worse at first and I was thinking wimpy starter because the original aftermarket battery was not that old but after a few rides I had starting problems that ended up being the 3 year old aftermarket battery. Haven't had any problems since, but that is the original starter with a lot of cranks on it...
I have an 88 to 95 high compression build without compression releases and starting, especially restarting after refueling, is like what you describe sometimes. It was much worse at first and I was thinking wimpy starter because the original aftermarket battery was not that old but after a few rides I had starting problems that ended up being the 3 year old aftermarket battery. Haven't had any problems since, but that is the original starter with a lot of cranks on it...
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