Harleys starter issues. technical explanation why so many fail
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 493
Likes: 17
From: Ft LAuderdale
Harleys starter issues. technical explanation why so many fail
I have to put a new starter every two years on my Ultra. When it starts to fail
it is hard to start the bike when hot. I found this article in the link below. It
seems the guys knows his stuff. What do you think?
http://www.americanrider.com/output.cfm?id=1022005
it is hard to start the bike when hot. I found this article in the link below. It
seems the guys knows his stuff. What do you think?
http://www.americanrider.com/output.cfm?id=1022005
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 69,901
Likes: 18,590
From: South Florida
I have to put a new starter every two years on my Ultra. When it starts to fail
it is hard to start the bike when hot. I found this article in the link below. It
seems the guys knows his stuff. What do you think?
http://www.americanrider.com/output.cfm?id=1022005
it is hard to start the bike when hot. I found this article in the link below. It
seems the guys knows his stuff. What do you think?
http://www.americanrider.com/output.cfm?id=1022005
Good article which sums it up well.
I have an '09 Ultra Clasic and I am on my 4th starter.
If I am not mistaken, '10 or '11 the auto pressure relief comes standard.
After the 1st starter, they gave me the 103 starter, that is, the hvy duty one. But like I said, I am now on my 4th.
BuzzCap7
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,616
Likes: 4,440
From: anacoco, la
Good article which sums it up well.
I have an '09 Ultra Clasic and I am on my 4th starter.
If I am not mistaken, '10 or '11 the auto pressure relief comes standard.
After the 1st starter, they gave me the 103 starter, that is, the hvy duty one. But like I said, I am now on my 4th.
BuzzCap7
I have an '09 Ultra Clasic and I am on my 4th starter.
If I am not mistaken, '10 or '11 the auto pressure relief comes standard.
After the 1st starter, they gave me the 103 starter, that is, the hvy duty one. But like I said, I am now on my 4th.
BuzzCap7
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,331
Likes: 56
From: north of Daytona
My starter sounds like it skips a tooth or two......in between while trying to start my hot engine. I just hold in the start button til it starts. I figure I have warranty til next April. Will go and get a new starter, and new radio, since my back passenger has no voice/intercom, cb, or right speaker in the headset.....then sell... QUICK.
Chuck
Chuck
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 13,402
Likes: 941
From: Illinois
Have 8 HD's. Ride them all over North America. Never had a starter go.
Much of the article is BS. Not a single HD TC is "high performance". Stock they are all low compression and mild cams. Never experienced "dieseling" ever.
My TC 96's fire instantly. So his story that they take a turn or two is also BS.
My 103 and 110 with compression releases take from 1 to 3 revolutions to fire. So again what he is reporting has nothing to do with the 103's and 110's as they have compression releases to help the starter spin over faster.
My oldest TC96 is a 07 FXSTC which I got in Aug 06. Push the starter button and it explodes instantly during the 1st revolution. So over 6 years and the starter is as good as when I bought it. Not only the original stater but the original battery also.
My son's 06 TC88 Street Bob with over 40K on it has never had a starter problem.
I will suggest that the article had more opinion in it than any technical fact. Calling a motor "high performance" is connotative and not fact or technical. Giving a compression ratio, cam lift and duration is denotative and not opinion but technical fact.
The only good thing is the suggestion to add a compression release.
If you have starter replacement problems look at all the electrical connections. I have found the positive cable to the starter very loose from the factory and of course it is hidden under the rubber boot. The ground cable has also been a problem for proper torque.
Much of the article is BS. Not a single HD TC is "high performance". Stock they are all low compression and mild cams. Never experienced "dieseling" ever.
My TC 96's fire instantly. So his story that they take a turn or two is also BS.
My 103 and 110 with compression releases take from 1 to 3 revolutions to fire. So again what he is reporting has nothing to do with the 103's and 110's as they have compression releases to help the starter spin over faster.
My oldest TC96 is a 07 FXSTC which I got in Aug 06. Push the starter button and it explodes instantly during the 1st revolution. So over 6 years and the starter is as good as when I bought it. Not only the original stater but the original battery also.
My son's 06 TC88 Street Bob with over 40K on it has never had a starter problem.
I will suggest that the article had more opinion in it than any technical fact. Calling a motor "high performance" is connotative and not fact or technical. Giving a compression ratio, cam lift and duration is denotative and not opinion but technical fact.
The only good thing is the suggestion to add a compression release.
If you have starter replacement problems look at all the electrical connections. I have found the positive cable to the starter very loose from the factory and of course it is hidden under the rubber boot. The ground cable has also been a problem for proper torque.
Last edited by lh4x4; Sep 5, 2012 at 09:42 PM.
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Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Colorado Springs, CO
Interesting about the 96 firing immediately....my 103 also turns over about 3 rotations before it fires....my sporty fires on the first piston to come up!
I've read that the SE 255 cams in a 96 will eat up starters.....the cam profile really "likes" compression releases.
~Joe
I've read that the SE 255 cams in a 96 will eat up starters.....the cam profile really "likes" compression releases.
~Joe
