8 years of starter related woes

Energy One

2000VintageSport

New Member
Alright my BD brothers/sisters...I need some help/advice/tips, whatever you want to call it...I need HELP!
For 8 years and 2 months, I have had starter/ignition related issues with my 2000 Vintage Sport. Supposedly, they shipped me the bike with a bad starter in June 2000. It was replaced...the original one would squeal and make tons of noise. Problem was solved with new starter. The new starter lasted all of six months, more problems. The main issue I have had for the last 7+ years goes as follows:
Sometimes, I can walk out into my garage and all I hear is CLICK when I hit the start button. Sometimes, you can tell it's building up energy when you hit the start button to turn over motor. It will always start as long as the motor gets turned. That has never been the issue. Always the dreaded CLICK sound when you hit the button. It doesn't matter if you have a fully charged battery, a brand new gel filled battery, it does not matter...CLICK! F*ck that CLICK!
Well throughout the years, I have had every genius look at it, with the same results. Hey, you need a new starter...CLICK! Well, let me clean out your contacts on you START button...CLICK! They are just as puzzled when they so-called fix my bike...and then I get there and CLICK! Then I ask, why the hell am I giving you $500 to still have the same issues I have had since June 2000? They recommended compression releases, but I have never installed them. I feel like having the whole bike re-wired, all new ignition, regulator, everything. I want the issues to vanish. There's nothing like being afraid to shut off your bike before you get to your destination due to the fear of CLICK! Sometimes, if it does it when hot, I can let it sit and cool off, and then it will turn over. It seems worse when hot, but will still do it when totally cold in the garage. It makes you think the battery is weak...NOT! Trickle charge my bike, brand new battery put in today...CLICK already. LOL
HELP ME! I am so tempted to sell the beast, but I still like having such a rare ride. But no matter how rare, it still means alot to have reliability/dependability. The Electra Glide is starting to look real appealing as of late.
Thanks ahead of time for all replies!
 

Sik-a-bn-po

New Member
I've gone through a couple of starters myself. I know the CLICK sound. In the end I think it was the compression that killed them.

Only thing I can think of is maybe a bad positive connection. Sounds like the solenoid is engaging but not enough amps getting to the windings to crank it.

If you put it in gear and rock the engine forward a little (till you hear the compression release) will it start then? If so, I'd say compression releases should fix it.
 

2000VintageSport

New Member
Thanks for the replies...putting it in gear and rocking it back and forth hasn't had much effect on the the starter effort at all. It's been the most puzzling thing for every mechanic that was supposed to be qualified to touch this bike. I would love to find an able person to fix this once and for all...it has to be fixable. I don't buy into the fact that no one has ever taken care of this issue.
 
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