Starter noise
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,075
Likes: 11,096
From: San Diego, CA
I pulled the new starter off last night, it is damaging the teeth now that it’s got some miles on it. I wasn’t where I could put the new one on at the time but I noticed the noise is getting worse. The old one will work, but even though it’s rebuilt, the fields are getting a bit weak so it doesn’t spin over as fast.
Seems strange to get two bad new starters.
That is certainly not the norm.....
I haven't re-read this entire 4 page thread word for word, so forgive me if I missed it...
I'm assuming you already verified a good battery with a load test....
How closely have you checked/examined the main starter power cable and the main battery ground cable..? I'm not talking about just the connectors on the ends only, making sure they are clean and tightly connected.
Have you closely inspected the cables to see if they may have an issues with the wire strands under the insulation..?
If there is a cut, slice, or gap showing bare wire? It's possible the cable has wicked water into/under the insulation, has corroded, and is not flowing current to it's maximum...
Have you checked along the length of the insulation on those cables to see if there are signs of separation of the cable strands under the insulation? That too will limit the cable's ability to flow maximum current.
Some sort of internal cable issue, could cause two new starters to "seem" like they are bad...
If a close inspection of the cables has been discussed and/or performed, forgive me for being redundant... I missed it and/or I sometimes get threads mixed up in my head..
Last edited by hattitude; Dec 28, 2023 at 09:03 PM.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,892
Likes: 551
From: NH
Why don't you just go back and re-install the OEM? starter that you said worked, but turned slower than normal? If that isn't satisfactory, buy a new, OEM starter and install that and be done with it...
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,445
Likes: 2,822
From: Oklahoma
You have provided a picture of the ring gear where it rubbed the starter, could you show the starter gear end of one or both after market starters? Just another random thought, do the new starters fit very tightly into the hole in the primary case, so tight that the least angle of the starter will make it bind in the hole with a slight misalignment and tightening the mounting bolts causes a bind on the case that warps the case and binds running gear of the starter?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 17,923
Likes: 3,561
From: backwoods
Myself, I would have put in a allbalz starter clutch. One bike, that I built up a little, I put in bigger starter, another stock bike I just put in all ballz starter clutch. I think starting with a starter clutch is the way to go.
Make sure you only have 1 ball in there and not 2.
Was the slow turning due to battery, and I believe he replaced it?
Myself, I would have put in a allbalz starter clutch. One bike, that I built up a little, I put in bigger starter, another stock bike I just put in all ballz starter clutch. I think starting with a starter clutch is the way to go.
Make sure you only have 1 ball in there and not 2.
Myself, I would have put in a allbalz starter clutch. One bike, that I built up a little, I put in bigger starter, another stock bike I just put in all ballz starter clutch. I think starting with a starter clutch is the way to go.
Make sure you only have 1 ball in there and not 2.
I'm going to put the old starter back in as soon as I get some time off work - I work 12 hour shifts and there isn't time to work on it in the 2 hours I have at home in the evening, plus I prefer not to down the bike as it's my main transportation. I would rather take a beating than have to drive one of the cages when the roads aren't icy.
I noticed a crack in one of the clutch hub teeth in the last pic I shared, so I'm likely going to have to tear into that soon too. Joy.
You have provided a picture of the ring gear where it rubbed the starter, could you show the starter gear end of one or both after market starters? Just another random thought, do the new starters fit very tightly into the hole in the primary case, so tight that the least angle of the starter will make it bind in the hole with a slight misalignment and tightening the mounting bolts causes a bind on the case that warps the case and binds running gear of the starter?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 17,923
Likes: 3,561
From: backwoods
12 hour midnights sure suck, and even days, don't leave any time. Where I work now, many guys are pushing for 4 10s. Day off would be nice, but even on 10 hour days, you get home, and not much time before bed.
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True, but I get as many days off as I work - except around the holidays. It's awesome most of the year, 3 or 4 days off a week.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,445
Likes: 2,822
From: Oklahoma
In that pic with the cracked tooth, the hole the starter goes through looks like it has many little gouges in it that could be keeping the new starters from seating fully. If you remove the clutch, smoothing that surface might help with reassembly later but be careful to remove all grit that might leave behind.