Starter problems

[Old_Evo]

It was 43 out today so I thought I would fire up the bike. Well it sounds like my starter is going out or not working.

At first it had a clucking sound, now it's more of a whirrling sound.

Any help would be great.

[junior]

hey bud-

check the simple stuff first. batteries hate cold weather- what's the voltage while trying to start? minimum is 9.6 volts....

j

[Wide]

Sounds liek she may be dead like Junior says, always check your connections, remove & clean reinstall if battery checks out OK

[Old_Evo]

Thanks Junior, I put the battery on the charger and I'll measure it up tomorrow. I hope it's not a bad battery I just got it last year.

[Relic]

If'n it ain't the battery, I would suspect the starter clutch is gone. A cheaper fix than replacing a starter.

[Old_Evo]

Ok, the voltage was fine 14 volts then just down to 12 volts when trying to start. It's just making that strange whirrling sound, not even the clucking sound like before.

So if it is the starter clutch can I do this myself or is it a pretty big job?

[Relic]

Actually it is a pretty straight forward job. Ya gotta remove the starter though. You can leave the hoses attached to the oil tank, remove the mounting bolts and shimmy the tank to the right side and let it hang there to gain access to the starter. Then you have to remove the primary cover and jackshaft. Remove the bolts to the starter and pull that sucker out. Put the starter on a workbench and remove the two bolts that hold the motor to the housing. Do you have a manual? It gets a little tricky here.

[Old_Evo]

Thanks Relic. This sounds like what my Indy told me today. And yes I have a manual. But once I get the starter out I'm going to get it over to my Indy. He uses a nice heavy duty clutch and is having better luck than the Harley clutch. He's going to install the new clutch on the starter then I'll get the bike back together.

I also think I'll add the the HD primary tensioner since I'm in there any way.

Thanks for all the info.

[junior]

hey bud-

i tried one of those moco tensioners on my ultra= i yanked it after 1000 miles or so., got the chain so tight it was causing the mainshaft bearing to whine. pulled it out, put the oem one in, noise gone.

fwiw-

j

[Old_Evo]

Thanks Junior, I remembered a few folks here at HCG having issues with these and I told him about it today. He had not heard of any problems. He was going to check into it. Maybe a M6 intead.