Need help diagnosing starter

[jbboxer]

Symptoms:solonoid clicks, engine tries to crank, battery wires get warm, the wire on the starter looks a bit brittle. I tested the battery and it passes at 320cca. I'll start by testing all my connections. How can I test the starter?
If it is a starter, where do I get one? Will a Harley starter work? Oh yeah, this is an 01 Boxer. Just bought this bike. How do I tell which engine I have? What did BD offer in a Boxer in 01? Thanks for any help!

 

[pig pen]

How old is the battery? Do you keep it on a tender? 9 out of 10 times it turns out to be a weak battery.

 

[MARV]

if the wires are getting hot you have a loose connection somewhere. also you can take your starter to an alternator shop for a rebuild. mine cost $100.

 

[jbboxer]

What about a compression release? Ive read some bikes have them. Do all BD's have them and where is it located?

 

[Rottie]

Compression release is usually in the center of the head on top of the rocker boxes. You'll see a rubber like bubble! BigDogs have to stay on battery tenders... They are suggesting interstate batteries now!

 

[woodbutcher]

Compression release is usually in the center of the head on top of the rocker boxes. You'll see a rubber like bubble! BigDogs have to stay on battery tenders... They are suggesting interstate batteries now!

stay away from interstate, went through 2 in less than 2 months. supposed to be 320 cca but they are nothing but a re-badged 270 cca yuasa with less power than my 2yr. old original. wouldn't even maintain a decent charge while on the tender full time. will go with big boar when i can. :angry: :angry: :angry:

 

[woodbutcher]

What about a compression release? Ive read some bikes have them. Do all BD's have them and where is it located?

as stated elsewhere, '01 did not have comp. rel.

 

[Gas Man]

stay away from interstate, went through 2 in less than 2 months. supposed to be 320 cca but they are nothing but a re-badged 270 cca yuasa with less power than my 2yr. old original. wouldn't even maintain a decent charge while on the tender full time. will go with big boar when i can. :angry: :angry: :angry:

HD AGM battery for any year softail will work GREAT!!!

 

[Coolbreeze]

The neg. cable likes to come loose at the starter mounting bolt. Comp. releases started in 03.

Test the starter= with a heavy gauged wire, jump from the trigger wire too the positive cable @ the starter. Set yourself up so you can just touch the wire too the positive quickly and release it.

 

[pig pen]

My 03 doesn't have compression release? And I would love to have them on my 107.

 

[BigDogBro1]

I believe these bikes have a standard Negative/Ground type car system meaning the starter is driven by 12v via the +battery post through the starter solenoid. The starters case is the ground path back through the engine/frame to the battery negative post.

Warm fat battery wires:

1. Loose or corroded main 12v feed cable connections.
2. Excessive battery current draw caused by tired starter motor. Brushes wearing out, windings shorting together from vibration etc..
3. Starter solenoid contacts are worn/corroded causing less than full current to the starter.
4. Brittle starter wire from high starter current draw over time.

My two cents!

 

[Coolbreeze]

Pig Pen,
Look down the top center of the rockerbox. If you see a bolt head , you can pull those out and install elect. comp. releases. The releases are about $220.

 

[Throttle Jockey]

Warm fat battery wires:


3. Starter solenoid contacts are worn/corroded causing less than full current to the starter.


My two cents!

I'm leaning on #3 as Bigdogbro has added.

Throttle Jockey

 

[Raywood]

My 03 doesn't have compression release? And I would love to have them on my 107.

Put them in! Your bike was built for them. I guess they just didn't have supply at the time. Your wiring harness is ready to except them. There is a tech note out that on 03's you must use an 02 starter relay.

I installed them in my 03.

 

[roedog]

HD Battery works great

HD AGM battery for any year softail will work GREAT!!!

Yep Gas, since I installed my new HD battery my Mastiff cranks right over even easier then before with a piece shit interstate battery . I don't even have comp. releases on my 107, shit who has cash for the extra stuff, Ha.

Roedog

 

[jbboxer]

Bought a 320 amp Drag Specialties battery. It hasnt come in yet. They any good?

 

[bdmridgeback]

stay away from interstate, went through 2 in less than 2 months. supposed to be 320 cca but they are nothing but a re-badged 270 cca yuasa with less power than my 2yr. old original. wouldn't even maintain a decent charge while on the tender full time. will go with big boar when i can. :angry: :angry: :angry:

Same here, Went through three Interstate batteries and finally put a Big Boar 350cca battery in it. Zings over like a bitch now!!!!!:2thumbs:

 

[thadog]

I have been using a Drag Specialties 320 cca for a full year now with no problems.

 

[Gas Man]

Yep Gas, since I installed my new HD battery my Mastiff cranks right over even easier then before with a piece shit interstate battery . I don't even have comp. releases on my 107, shit who has cash for the extra stuff, Ha.

Roedog

Roe... yep, plus they are easy to get.

 

[whitewolf01]

starter click

Pull off the little cover on the silnoid, it has three screws. look to see if the wire is burnt through to the contact point. If so, you can usually solder it back togather. Sometimes that works. If not, you may have to replace the starter. You can buy a Spike starter for it. I would suggest a 2.4 starter. Depending on the year, but it may not have compression releases.