Starter problem only when hot
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4th Gear
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 8
Likes: 1
From: Fort Erie Ontario Canada
Starter problem only when hot
Hello my fellow riders.
Got a problem here when my bike is hot and i try to start it it sounds as though the starter drive is slipping over the ring gear. A few years ago this started to happen and the past summer it got worse so I took it apart last winter and replaced the ring gear as it looked to be warn. I inspected the gear on the starter it self which seemed fine. I had the starter bench tested and the guy said it looked and sounded good. Now I'm riding again and today it started again. It sounds like the starter gear is slipping on the ring gear and only does it if the bike has been shut down for a few minutes or even a half hour. Anybody with the same problem and know what the cause is. Any help on the issue and how to fix it would be greatly appreciated.
thanks in advance
Johnny
Got a problem here when my bike is hot and i try to start it it sounds as though the starter drive is slipping over the ring gear. A few years ago this started to happen and the past summer it got worse so I took it apart last winter and replaced the ring gear as it looked to be warn. I inspected the gear on the starter it self which seemed fine. I had the starter bench tested and the guy said it looked and sounded good. Now I'm riding again and today it started again. It sounds like the starter gear is slipping on the ring gear and only does it if the bike has been shut down for a few minutes or even a half hour. Anybody with the same problem and know what the cause is. Any help on the issue and how to fix it would be greatly appreciated.
thanks in advance
Johnny
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,036
Likes: 65
From: Earth
Had a similar issue on my 2006 Ultra with a 103 build. Took out the starter and replaced the starter clutch with an "All *****" unit and also ground down all the copper surfaces in the solenoid. World of difference. Bike starts without any issues now vs. when it was hot the clutch would slip and kick out causing the motor to sort of back fire, bind up and blow smoke out the A/C.
Last edited by SpiderPig; Apr 23, 2013 at 08:40 PM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,955
Likes: 7
From: The Great Northwest
Yep... that's what I was thinking.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,445
Likes: 2,822
From: Oklahoma
If you have a 10 or older machine with the 103 or 96 engine you probably have the "old" compensator. The noise the compensator makes is a loud metallic bang when the two pieces slam into each other. It is my THEORY that this slamming against the starter shortens the life of the starter clutch. The starter clutch is a "sprag" type and when it slips, it makes a "gear grinding" sound. As you did before, to be sure it isn't the starter and ring gear grinding requires a look inside the primary or pulling the starter as a minimum. If it were my machine, I'd pull the starter and look at the starter gear and if looks OK, go for the starter drive replacement. I have also been running the AllBalls starter drive for about 3 years with no problems BUT I also installed the SE compensator at the same time. Now, smooth cranking without exception.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 10,637
Likes: 1,246
From: Lake, Ms
All of the above answers are correct. Just looking at your starter clutch is not gonna tell you anything unless its bad enough to see where the teeth on the gear is chewed up. I had the same problem you are describing and ordered an All ***** starter clutch off of eBay for $74 and fixed the hot starting problem....sort of. The sad truth is the POS design of the compensator is what causes the starter clutch to go bad to begin with so both will need to be changed sooner or later. I'm trying to hold out till Darkhorse releases their new compensator to the public. It's a far better unit than the SE comp Harley offers.
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
...or a hot motor will show any problems with the electrical system, wiring, connections, solenoid etc.
Heat means more resistance, more resistance builds more heat...
same on my chevy and volvo.
1st checks should be battery, cables and grounds
mike
Heat means more resistance, more resistance builds more heat...
same on my chevy and volvo.
1st checks should be battery, cables and grounds
mike
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Road Master
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,090
Likes: 243
From: Maine
I had the same issue last year which was then exacerbated by installing SE255 cams (higher CCP). I replaced the starter clutch with the All ***** unit, installed the SE Compensator and a Hayden Primary tensioner. After these changes the bike starts perfectly hot or cold.