Noise when starting bike.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 974
Likes: 13
From: Chesapeake Virginia
The comp bang comes right when the engine starts and sounds like you smacked the primary with a large ball peen hammer. The starter pulls the engine over from the bottom of the front pulley rotating the engine counter clockwise from left side. The comp has a spring in it that is compressed via a ramp under load. When the engine fires the tension is released and the comp unloads and hits the stops at its normal resting place.
The starter clutch grind happens during cranking of the engine before the engine fires. The starter clutch locks on its shaft when engaged and rotating clockwise from left side of bike. When the engine starts it turns runs faster than the starter clutch and unlocks the starter clutch that can now rotate freely on its shaft. With no more load the pinion is retracted by a spring from the ring gear. When the starter clutch is failing it can no longer lock onto its shaft and it slips. Being under some pretty heavy load and still trying to bite it makes a blood curdling low pitch grindind rubbing tearing chit up sound. In the early stages it may only grunt for a split second but eventually it will be screaming at you to fix it. You will know if you get either one. You don't have to listen for it.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,658
Likes: 6,457
From: Honah Lee
Has anyone got a picture of the overrun starter gear clutch assembly with it take apart. My service manual does not show that. I still have not figured were the clutch action is in it . The solenoid plunger rod with a ball on top of it pushes starter pinion out. Figured when you got off the starter switch the spring pushed it back. Figured there was a spring loaded clutch ratchet in the overrun clutch.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Nov 19, 2011 at 10:34 AM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,752
Likes: 0
From: Indianapolis, IN
Note that the video shows the difference between the original comp and after installing the newer SE comp. It shows old comp, new comp and then repeats itself. So in this case the sound did come from the original comp.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 974
Likes: 13
From: Chesapeake Virginia
The clutch is under the driven gear that is on the outside of the pinion shaft. I beleive it is a roller or ball and ramp that squeezes the brass bushing between the two shafts. 07 and up have a new design that allows the driven gear to float on its shaft. My new 07 SM shows the 06 clutch in the how it works diagram. The one I took out looks pretty tough and I am not thinking I have the means to take it apart without using a torch.
BTW when I talked to All ***** they source and sell wheel bearings but they source them from China. If I had to guess their bearings in this clutch are also from China. You can get good stuff from there if you are on top of the manufacture. I haven't heard anything but good stuff about All ***** products. The wheel bearings are sold through Drag Specialties for about half of HD price.
BTW when I talked to All ***** they source and sell wheel bearings but they source them from China. If I had to guess their bearings in this clutch are also from China. You can get good stuff from there if you are on top of the manufacture. I haven't heard anything but good stuff about All ***** products. The wheel bearings are sold through Drag Specialties for about half of HD price.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,995
Likes: 2
From: Land of 10,000 lakes
Here's a link to a breakdown of the starter. Part #'s 14,15,29, and 32 make up the starter clutch drive and come as one when bought from harley.
http://partsfinder.onlinemicrofiche....=13&A=617&B=14
You can also just buy the clutch for around $40 on E-bay and disassemble the drive yourself.
http://partsfinder.onlinemicrofiche....=13&A=617&B=14
You can also just buy the clutch for around $40 on E-bay and disassemble the drive yourself.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 974
Likes: 13
From: Chesapeake Virginia
I went back and watched that video again since you explained it with the volume up and that is the sound I had but never in the cranking process only immediately after engine starts. Weird. My sounds like the second bike now with no comp change.
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Alabama
The bike never gets to the point of being started, when I hit the ignition switch it cranks once or twice and then the noise happens and I immediately let go of the switch. Wait a minute, crank it again and it starts...
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 66,948
Likes: 4,573
From: TOAK western branch
That sounds more like a solenoid issue. The contact plate gets corroded and does not deliver enough voltage to fully engage the bendix and crank the flywheel and once this happens the first time and you try it again it is hot and conducts better so it starts the second time. At least that's the way i see it. Good news is if this is the issue then you can remove the solenoid and file it down. Free fix. A bad starter clutch will continue to fail over and over when hot.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,658
Likes: 6,457
From: Honah Lee
Got my second bang today. If Iron Butt's predictions are correct I guess I will be taking starter out shortly..And Softail starters are a royal pain, Oil tank and all, going to wear the threads out for the primary cover...Have been running formual+ for 40K and I had a quart left of Syn 3 that I dumped in primary few weeks back. Could it be toooo slippery???
