Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[muddypaws]

Every once in a while when starting my bike the starter I think kicks out and I hear grinding. Bike has a new compensator. I think there is a clutch part on the starter that is going bad. Any help?

[grc]

It could be the one way clutch for the starter drive, but there again it could also be damaged teeth on the ring gear.  It will take some inspection and diagnostics to make sure.

The one way clutch can be replaced separately, it's not necessary to replace the entire starter.  Harley sells a kit for about $115 that replaces all the parts associated with the drive part of the starter, or you can just buy the one way clutch in the aftermarket if all the other parts including the pinion gear are ok.  If the ring gear is damaged, then you're looking at a new clutch hub.  I seem to remember someone saying you can't change out the ring gear on the late model bikes like we could on the older ones. .

Jerry

[muddypaws]

thanks Jerry

[HILLSIDECYCLE.COM]

Drag has those starter clutches.....about $85.00.
Scott

[muddypaws]

I got it from Harley for $92.50. I want to get it in before Outer Banks Bike Week. Can't wait to get the old one out tonight to see what is wrong. I wonder if the spring is going bad.

[grc]

The late model bikes don't require removing the outer primary to remove the starter like the older bikes did, but I'd still recommend removing the outer cover and inspecting the ring gear.

Jerry

[muddypaws]

Thanks Jerry.

[ultrafxr]

I had a similar problem on my '07 a couple years ago and since it had the latest and greatest, lol, SE compensator I figured it was the starter.  Being under ESP at the time I took it in for diagnosis and the tech told me my battery was weak!  Showed me a print out of a load test he did.  I still was not convinced because I always keep the bike on a battery tender, it wasn't cranking slowly (I didn't think so) and it showed no signs of battery problem as far as I could tell.

But I went ahead and bought a new battery - a Big Crank / Deka - and low and behold the problem was solved and has not recurred.

Just sayin' you might want to have your battery load tested.

[muddypaws]

battery is new this spring.

[ultrafxr]

battery is new this spring.

Eliminates one possibility. 
Good luck getting it sorted out.  Hope it's simple.

[chicoman]

battery is new this spring.

That dont mean its good, load test and check battery voltage

[muddypaws]

Did the same thing before the new battery..

[muddypaws]

New starter clutch installed and starts great every time. All I could see was the gears were a bit worn.

[HILLSIDECYCLE.COM]

The "clutch" unit is not visable, but on the battery..........Interstate now has a line of POWERFUL batterys for most of the HD line-up.
With any electrical-related issues, ALWAYS start at the battery, and work away from it.
Scott