guidance needed please

Staffy · Oct 14, 2008

Welcome...Not sure about Q1. Re Q2...Try this tip (tried and tested by many on this forum) Rev the engine while shifting into netural...:up: :up:
Ride safe...

Raywood · Oct 14, 2008

First thing I would do is shit can the battery and get a new one. Then on that older bike I would pull the starter solenoid and clean the contacts making sure they have full contact.
You may want to consider installing the Electronic Compression releases. Your wiring harness is already fitted for them. I did on my 03.

Get your jetting changed, the bike was at a mile high and now your in a humid lower altitude climate.
Shannon at Tampa Big Dog can hook you up. Contact DraggingH on here as she works at this dealership and they are good.

Doesn't the comment that the oil is too thick for this warm climate just about sound silly (stupid)? :loony: Baker transmissions always recommended a heavy shockproof oil either Redline or now Spectrem, check there website.

I would imagine you mis-understood the seller as you don't roll the bike back to tighten the belt. Starting issues are most likely a weak battery or poor contacts in the solenoid. Get the new battery you buy on a battery tender and keep it fully charged while in the garage.

Good luck,
Ray

:cheers:

:flag:

JennJenn said:
Ok newbie here (at least with this type of bike)

Just got this bike last week made a trade. Have been riding sport bikes for the last 2 years and wanted to venture over to the cruiser side....anyhow here's my questions

1. When I got this bike I was told that in order to start I have to roll the bike back in gear to get the belt tight before I start it. If I don't the bike makes a horrible sound kind of like trying to turn your car on when it's already on. Please explain why this is and be gentle as I am trying to learn it's mechanics.

2. I am having a hard time getting this bike into neutral. It just seems to constantly slip past and this is a pain at our long tampa bay stop lights and my wrist gets real tired real fast. The previous owner said the transmission oil is too thick for our hot weather down here. If this is true are there any suggestions on what I should use as I want to change all fluids and not sure if I should use the same as my sport bike. Oh by the way this bike just came down here from Colorado so it's going in to get re-jetted as it is running way to rich but that isn't causing the other issues.

Thanks for any suggestions they are appreciated as I want to take care of my new baby!

EJ · Oct 14, 2008

Ray is right I had some trouble with my Bulldog when I first got it. Change the battery and or clean the solenoids and that should fix that. Next do rev the motor when trying to shift into neutral. It helps alot I never could find it either until I joined this site. Now smooth as silk. Good luck and safe riding. :cheers:

Staffy · Oct 14, 2008

Confused...which belt are you refering to the primary or final drive belt? Also, give Ray's suggestions a shot...he didn't get here by accident:up: :up: :up:

Raywood · Oct 14, 2008

I think you are confusing belt tension with piston compression. Like getting the motor on the compression stock with the old kick start bikes (from experience!).
Again, you may have a weak battery and it's not engaging forcefully enough. Charge the battery or replace it and keep it on a tender.
Your tranny is a Baker unit so check out thier website for approved oils. Most of us use Redline Heavy Shockproof 75/250.

Good luck and yell if you need any other help,
Ray

JennJenn said:
primary....if the bike is not rolled back and that belt is real tight the bike makes a horrible noise when you hit the start button. If it's tight then it starts fine but don't think this is normal. There isn't any play in the belt it seems tight so I'm lost on this one.

Johnny feel free to jump in on this one I am beginning to feel like a tard trying to explain this and since it's your bike too......maybe you can explain better

Chopper Dave · Oct 14, 2008

JennJenn said:
primary....if the bike is not rolled back and that belt is real tight the bike makes a horrible noise when you hit the start button. If it's tight then it starts fine but don't think this is normal. There isn't any play in the belt it seems tight so I'm lost on this one.

Johnny feel free to jump in on this one I am beginning to feel like a tard trying to explain this and since it's your bike too......maybe you can explain better

yeah I would try Ray's advice:up: I never heard of rolling the bike back before starting it

if its making a horrible noise when you hit the starter button.....something might be wrong with the starter...not the primary...

waykool · Oct 14, 2008

Ok Jenn. I will try to explain what’s going on with our bike as best as I can. It seems that the gears that mesh when the starter is engaged are worn and not meshing properly. I know it sounds stupid that you have to roll the bike backwards in gear to make the belt taught before starting. But if you don’t the starter gear grinds and the motor won’t start. If you do roll it back then the motor starts with no problem.

hoat · Oct 14, 2008

clutch failure?

Raywood · Oct 14, 2008

No offense guys but have you ever had a V-Twin before?

You are comparing compression to belt tightness. The belts don't get loose or tighter rolling it forward or backward. What you are describing is compression on a motor with a 4 1/4" stroke. Again, belts don't tighten up.

If you just got it then ensure it has a strong battery in it and fully charged. It takes 12.8 volts to start that thing. If the battery is old then replace it with a good hi CCA rating. Most are using HD AGM batteries now.

You may want to think about the compression releases as I mention earlier. They will ease starting.

Good luck,
Ray

Oh, there was no clutch problems with the old 03's. I had an 03 Mastiff and put over 24,000 miles on it but had lots of starter problems until I put in the compression releases.

waykool said:
Ok Jenn. I will try to explain what’s going on with our bike as best as I can. It seems that the gears that mesh when the starter is engaged are worn and not meshing properly. I know it sounds stupid that you have to roll the bike backwards in gear to make the belt taught before starting. But if you don’t the starter gear grinds and the motor won’t start. If you do roll it back then the motor starts with no problem.

waykool · Oct 14, 2008

I guess a new battery is worth a try. After all its cheeper than a new starter.

txchopperguy · Oct 14, 2008

A good check-up by the folks at Tampa BDM might give you a good base line for everything that should be done to get you in tip top shape. Sometimes this can be much less expensive than trying to guess and replace parts. Good luck, and welcome to the pound!

ZZ CHOP · Oct 14, 2008

I agree with WAYKOOL the starter drive,Bendix gear teeth and clutch ring gear aren't meshing correctly, it more than likely has a worn spot on the clutch ring gear, and when you roll the bike in gear either forward or backward its turning the ring gear away from the worn spot enough for the Bendix to mesh together,and once the engine starts spinning it spins past the worn spot, I have seen this same exact thing on several engines, I cant see it doing this every time though, does it do this every time or most of the time? if it was just a worn Bendix rolling the bike in gear wouldn't make any difference,if it was mine I would try starting the bike and if it grinds pull the primary and look at teeth, its time for a primary oil change anyway with all that grinding.. good luck..Dave.

Gas Man · Oct 14, 2008

Yes, be sure to check the battery, 12.8 volts.. if needed get a new battery. Any year softail HD AGM battery will do the trick.

Get a battery tender and when you're not on it, the tender should be.

As far as the starter... try this
http://www.bigdogbiker.com/forums/technical/2901-starter-click-click-click.html

titus722 · Oct 14, 2008

i would contact dragging h and get it to tampa bigdog, as far as neutral goes, what i do, as the bike is coming to a stop ,not stopped but rolling, little throttle,thats when i hit neutral works for me everytime,

waykool · Oct 14, 2008

Raywood said:
No offense guys but have you ever had a V-Twin before?

You are comparing compression to belt tightness. The belts don't get loose or tighter rolling it forward or backward. What you are describing is compression on a motor with a 4 1/4" stroke. Again, belts don't tighten up.

If you just got it then ensure it has a strong battery in it and fully charged. It takes 12.8 volts to start that thing. If the battery is old then replace it with a good hi CCA rating. Most are using HD AGM batteries now.

You may want to think about the compression releases as I mention earlier. They will ease starting.

Good luck,
Ray

Oh, there was no clutch problems with the old 03's. I had an 03 Mastiff and put over 24,000 miles on it but had lots of starter problems until I put in the compression releases.

No Ray we have not owned a V Twin before and no offense taken. This our first non high performance motorcycle in our collection. And problems like this is the reason why we never owned one. Let me clarify what I mean by saying bringing the belt taught. You are correct when you say the belt doesn’t get taught then loose. When the bike is in gear and the clutch isn’t engaged you can roll the bike back and forth a little. Well in our situation we have to roll the bike back till it stops, Pull in the clutch then hit the start button before it will start. If we don’t do this the starter just grinds.
I have heard of the compression release helping with issues similar to this. Maybe that’s the way to go. The estimate I received today to get the bike re Jetted and tuned was outrageous. Guess im looking for an easy way out to get this bike rolling like it should be and there isn’t one. I will be giving BDM of Tampa a call on an estimate to look this thing over. Thank you for your responses.

CCRainman · Oct 14, 2008

You guys ever think that the jackshaft is worn?

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