No starter after open primary install

[Texas_Rigid]

Long story short....my starter doesn't engage after I installed a Baker open primary.

Things I've checked:
1) Battery - 12VDC, doesn't change when I start (solenoid not engaging to pull amps)
3) Since I have deleted the computer, I jumpered direct from battery to solenoid....still nothing.
2) Starter pinon is not bound up - i can move it with my fingers, albeit with some resistance

The bike was rewired and running prior to the open primary install. Right now I'm leaning toward bad solenoid on starter and coincidence. But I don't like coincidence. I guess maybe something was marginal inside the starter or solenoid and when it was removed from the old primary motor plate it finally gave up the ghost????

I've talked to Baker once, and will reach out to Curtis who got me the primary, but I thought I'd throw this up on the forum and see if any of you guys or gals had some input.

Thanks in advance.

 

[pknowles]

Pull the starter and see if it spins freely. Knock on wood, I installed mine and it hasn't missed a beat since the install. a few years. I'm with you on the coincident, when things happen, something is driving it.

 

[Texas_Rigid]

Pull the starter and see if it spins freely. Knock on wood, I installed mine and it hasn't missed a beat since the install. a few years. I'm with you on the coincident, when things happen, something is driving it.

I'm going to take it out today after work and do some bench testing. I was so pissed yesterday after getting it all back together and it not working I just walked away from it for a minute. The pinion is spinning while mounted to the motor plate, but its like spinning a gear as opposed to a bearing if that makes sense. Not sure how "freely" it should go.

Last open primary I installed in my pit I went ahead and put brand new starter in I'll do the same on the K9 I figure may as well while it's apart easiest time to do it, even tho they work perfectly fine

I'm leaning toward this, new starter and solenoid. The current one has about 20,000 miles on it and I'm sick of taking this thing apart. It was novel at first, but that wore off a long time ago. Figure a new starter setup may be one less thing that requires downtime in the future.

 

[Texas_Rigid]

Found it.......

And I hate to admit what it was but maybe someone else will find it useful.

Ground lead from battery to starter. Mine was bolted to the starter behind one of the flange bolts going into the motor plate. Not sure if this is stock as my bike had a Docs installed before I gutted it. Anyways....don't forget the ground wire

This is especially insulting since I rewired my bike not 2 months ago. You'd think I could remember all the wires in that short of time. But at least I'm back on the road.

Don't be me. Ground your starter the first time

 

[awg]

And there you go!