Oil in my starter- some rookie questions.....

Energy One
Busa196

Busa196

Member
I recently brought my pit to a local/popular shop to have an oil leak fixed. I was told it was the starter seal and the starter was full of oil- which made sense as I could see it coming from that area- so they replaced it and also replaced the starter clutch.

I rode it less than 200 miles and it started leaking again- actually a little worse this time. So I brought it back this weekend and they called me today and admitted the leak was coming from the same place they initially fixed and told me that labor would be free but that they "think" the leak is actually coming from a bent starter shaft allowing the oil to come in from the primary?? He actually sounded a little perplexed. I'm calling BS on a bent starter shaft. I know this is the second starter in the bike and it only has 2500 or so miles on the second one (prior owner snapped the shaft and replaced it). I've never had any issue starting it or a dead/low battery when cranking her over.

Should they be looking at something else? A different seal? Forgive me as I've never seen the starter off the bike and looked today online for an exploded schematic of it and couldn't find one. I just don't believe a new $4xx starter is the answer and that's what he's telling me I need.

Really appreciate any input/thoughts guys!
 
TapioK

TapioK

Well-Known Member
Busa196 said:
I recently brought my pit to a local/popular shop to have an oil leak fixed. I was told it was the starter seal and the starter was full of oil- which made sense as I could see it coming from that area- so they replaced it and also replaced the starter clutch.

I rode it less than 200 miles and it started leaking again- actually a little worse this time. So I brought it back this weekend and they called me today and admitted the leak was coming from the same place they initially fixed and told me that labor would be free but that they "think" the leak is actually coming from a bent starter shaft allowing the oil to come in from the primary?? He actually sounded a little perplexed. I'm calling BS on a bent starter shaft. I know this is the second starter in the bike and it only has 2500 or so miles on the second one (prior owner snapped the shaft and replaced it). I've never had any issue starting it or a dead/low battery when cranking her over.

Should they be looking at something else? A different seal? Forgive me as I've never seen the starter off the bike and looked today online for an exploded schematic of it and couldn't find one. I just don't believe a new $4xx starter is the answer and that's what he's telling me I need.

Really appreciate any input/thoughts guys!
Click to expand...
Don't remember what year you bike is... anyway there should be quite a few theads on that matter.....


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
BadDawg Bill

BadDawg Bill

Well-Known Member
You probably have a bent starter shaft.... That would make the seal leak. The BD put together trannys/starters are all a piece of work....
 
Busa196

Busa196

Member
dentdude36 said:
Do you have a primary vent on inside of primary? Is primary over full? Where did you get the starter and is the relief in the nose milled to deep?
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The bike is an '08. No vent (that I'm aware of) in the primary and its not overfilled. I'm almost certain the leak is a function of the starter/seal/starter shaft, but not from over-fill in the primary. Just not sure what piece in between would need to be replaced assuming that its NOT a "bent" starter shaft.

BWG56 said:
Yep:old2:, a search will get you all the reading you can stand on this subject, and from the pics I have seen of broken starter shafts, correct me if I'm wrong but aren't the hard? I have seen broken ones but not bent
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That's exactly what I was thinking- it would break before it would just "bend". I'll do a search for more info. Really appreciate the feedback.
 
BWG56

BWG56

Guru
The starter nose should also have an oil relief groove in it to allow the oil to flow out of the pocket when its running, that was a modification they did in 05', the pic below is the relief, however this one is milled too deep, it should only be as deep as the bottom of the half moon pocket
IMG_0542.JPG
 
Busa196

Busa196

Member
BWG56 said:
The starter nose should also have an oil relief groove in it to allow the oil to flow out of the pocket when its running, that was a modification they did in 05', the pic below is the relief, however this one is milled too deep, it should only be as deep as the bottom of the half moon pocket
View attachment 37222
Click to expand...
Thanks a million for that pic- that's exactly what I needed. I just ordered a starter from shovelheadkicker on Ebay. I'm gonna put that in and make sure that primary vent isn't blocked and see if that takes care of it.

Thanks for the feedback guys.
 
bigkelk9

bigkelk9

Well-Known Member
Busa196 said:
I recently brought my pit to a local/popular shop to have an oil leak fixed. I was told it was the starter seal and the starter was full of oil- which made sense as I could see it coming from that area- so they replaced it and also replaced the starter clutch.

I rode it less than 200 miles and it started leaking again- actually a little worse this time. So I brought it back this weekend and they called me today and admitted the leak was coming from the same place they initially fixed and told me that labor would be free but that they "think" the leak is actually coming from a bent starter shaft allowing the oil to come in from the primary?? He actually sounded a little perplexed. I'm calling BS on a bent starter shaft. I know this is the second starter in the bike and it only has 2500 or so miles on the second one (prior owner snapped the shaft and replaced it). I've never had any issue starting it or a dead/low battery when cranking her over.

Should they be looking at something else? A different seal? Forgive me as I've never seen the starter off the bike and looked today online for an exploded schematic of it and couldn't find one. I just don't believe a new $4xx starter is the answer and that's what he's telling me I need.

Really appreciate any input/thoughts guys!
Click to expand...
U took that thing back to iron mikes.. r u crazy? U didn't read all that crazy shit a fellow member just went through when he went to the loan star ralley?? I wouldn't trust em to change my tires.. just saying..
 
bigkelk9

bigkelk9

Well-Known Member
bigkelk9 said:
U took that thing back to iron mikes.. r u crazy? U didn't read all that crazy shit a fellow member just went through when he went to the loan star ralley?? I wouldn't trust em to change my tires.. just saying..
Click to expand...
I believe It was skodogg.. and excuse the loan star rally for my phone thinks it's smarter then me.. lol.. LONE STAR RALLY
 
Srodden

Srodden

Well-Known Member
BWG56 said:
The starter nose should also have an oil relief groove in it to allow the oil to flow out of the pocket when its running, that was a modification they did in 05', the pic below is the relief, however this one is milled too deep, it should only be as deep as the bottom of the half moon pocket
View attachment 37222
Click to expand...
You can also modify a starter that isn't milled. No need to buy new.
 
BWG56

BWG56

Guru
BWG56 said:
The starter nose should also have an oil relief groove in it to allow the oil to flow out of the pocket when its running, that was a modification they did in 05', the pic below is the relief, however this one is milled too deep, it should only be as deep as the bottom of the half moon pocket
View attachment 37222
Click to expand...
Busa196 said:
Thanks a million for that pic- that's exactly what I needed. I just ordered a starter from shovelheadkicker on Ebay. I'm gonna put that in and make sure that primary vent isn't blocked and see if that takes care of it.

Thanks for the feedback guys.
Click to expand...
Make sure you don't go as deep as the one I pictured :old2:
 
Slick-Dog

Slick-Dog

Active Member
So did the new starter fix the problem? My original starter has the hole on the bottom just like the pic above this post..My new one doesn't and its leaking now...I am thinking of just buying a new one..wished Wild Steel Works was still fixing them..oh and I put a new bearing assembly with the new seal in it...it failed to..in the original one..

Steve
 
TapioK

TapioK

Well-Known Member
Would it be safe to assume Harley figured the problem with Dropped Starter quite few years or decades ago....?
 
BWG56

BWG56

Guru
Slick-Dog said:
So did the new starter fix the problem? My original starter has the hole on the bottom just like the pic above this post..My new one doesn't and its leaking now...I am thinking of just buying a new one..wished Wild Steel Works was still fixing them..oh and I put a new bearing assembly with the new seal in it...it failed to..in the original one..

Steve
Click to expand...
You can call Donna and Derek for a rebuilt starter with your's as an exchange, or send it to Dead One Customs for a rebuild of yours
 
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