Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

BIGGER starter problems

Old May 10, 2006 | 12:27 AM
  #1  
byrdi's Avatar
byrdi
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From:
Default BIGGER starter problems

Now my starter has completely quit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I took the primary cover off and looked at it while i hit the switch
and the bendix (or whatever it's called) engages but the starter motor just spins freely....
I NEED HELP BAD!!!!!!\
i have the biggest ride of this area coming up saturday and my bike now decides to lay down on me
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated?????????????????????????????
 
Reply
Old May 10, 2006 | 12:42 AM
  #2  
Topper's Avatar
Topper
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 677
Likes: 0
From: NC, and a stone throw away from SC
Default RE: BIGGER starter problems

Tap it with a screwdriver!!! Just kidding, oh, how I miss the ol' 280Z. Screwdriver never failed, but no clue about bikes, GL though.
 
Reply
Old May 10, 2006 | 01:07 AM
  #3  
Grover's Avatar
Grover
Administrator Emeritus
Veteran: Marine Corps
20 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,704
Likes: 252
From: Walker Basin, CA
Default RE: BIGGER starter problems

It's time to change the Bendix aka started drive aka over running clutch. Try your local rebuilder first, look in the yellow pages under automotive parts. If he cannot help you, go to HD and buy the part or have them replace the part, or buy a new or rebuilt started.

Good luck and geton the road!!
 
Reply
Old May 10, 2006 | 01:13 AM
  #4  
byrdi's Avatar
byrdi
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From:
Default RE: BIGGER starter problems

Well i'm trying to fix it myself if i can figure out what part i need because every shop around here is 2 weeks before they could even look at it...........
 
Reply
Old May 10, 2006 | 06:46 AM
  #5  
Grover's Avatar
Grover
Administrator Emeritus
Veteran: Marine Corps
20 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,704
Likes: 252
From: Walker Basin, CA
Default RE: BIGGER starter problems

Can you take the starter off by yourself?

If so, find an automotive electrical parts rebuilder locally to repair it for you.
 
Reply
Old May 10, 2006 | 10:47 AM
  #6  
byrdi's Avatar
byrdi
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From:
Default RE: BIGGER starter problems

yeah i do all my repairs myself....
It's just hard to figure out something like this....
I think i might have it figure out i think it is the starter jack shaft is stripped out
 
Reply
Old May 10, 2006 | 11:33 AM
  #7  
Grover's Avatar
Grover
Administrator Emeritus
Veteran: Marine Corps
20 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,704
Likes: 252
From: Walker Basin, CA
Default RE: BIGGER starter problems

That would be highly unusual. The inside spline of the drive is softer than the spline on the shaft. The drive would be the first to give way.

Get the starter off in you hand and take a look.

Even your HD dealer should be able to change a drive in a loose starter quicker than two weeks. I have no idea the price on the drive or a rebuilt starter, but weight the worth of the trip against the difference in price.

Take a deep breath, breathe out. Now, let's fix your ride and get rolling.
 
Reply
Old May 10, 2006 | 04:50 PM
  #8  
byrdi's Avatar
byrdi
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From:
Default RE: BIGGER starter problems

i had it checked out today and it is the starter clutch
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old May 10, 2006 | 04:55 PM
  #9  
Grover's Avatar
Grover
Administrator Emeritus
Veteran: Marine Corps
20 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,704
Likes: 252
From: Walker Basin, CA
Default RE: BIGGER starter problems

Great!!

Did you get it replaced and are you in the wind again?
 
Reply
Old May 11, 2006 | 01:00 AM
  #10  
byrdi's Avatar
byrdi
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From:
Default RE: BIGGER starter problems

actually no harley dealership around had the part i had to drive an hour and a half to a little hole in the wall motorcycle shop
and he had it......i got home and replaced it and it's as good as new now..... thanks man....
while i was in there i discovered my primary chain was bad loose so i got to tighten it too
 
Reply

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:31 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE