Starter spins but will not turn engine.

danosrs

Member
Still trying to get this Husky out of the garage!! after doing a bunch of other things I finally got his thing registered and ready to ride........I thought!!

Anyway I had the bike for a couple of months and been starting it pretty regular but was having some problems with the battery termanals coming loose and sometimes when I would try to start it would only click, pull seat and find termanals loose. Finally put some lock washers and they no longer come loose, not sure if the loose leads caused some high resistance that could have damaged the starter?? but anyway later it kept doing it, only click when pushing start button. Checked all wires and finally replaced the battery with 310CCA intstate battery, and at first the bike still only clicked when tring to start, but now after I'm sure it has a full charge when I push start the starter is sounding like it spins and not turning the engine.

I checked the solenoid the contacts looks good, cleaned and put back, still spins.

I plan to pull the outer primary tomorrow and see why its not contacting the clutch basket but was wondering how you manually push the bendix? Can this be done? when I had the solenoid cover off I was easily able to push it in but was reading whe someone who said they manually engauged theirs........How is that done? any other suggestions before I pull the primary?
Do you hit the start button and push in the bendix?

I was told by the guy that I bought the bike from that he just had the starter replaced with a spyke, how do I know if thats installed? I can tell it was at least removed since I see where they scraped it on the oil tank, kinda getting frustrated since everytime I take this bike out I have a new problem, really getting frustrated since it was nice today and the bike had to set in the cold garage, oh well at least I got to take the old reliable 70 Camaro for a spin!
 

danosrs

Member
If it spins both ways then its bad right? also does the starter have to be removed to replace this?

Thanks for the help!
 

danosrs

Member
Only spins one way?? so I guess the starter is coming out, I'll take it off and check the reduction gears?
 

danosrs

Member
Got the starter apart and found the idler gear in two pieces, order one from local HD dealer and should have it Friday, anyone know what kind of grease I need to put in there??
 

pisssed

pisssed
Got the starter apart and found the idler gear in two pieces, order one from local HD dealer and should have it Friday, anyone know what kind of grease I need to put in there??
Polyurea grease (c/v axle) can be used in temperatures from -10 to +325 deg F, making it suitable for electric motor bearings in steel mills, furnaces, crushers, conveyors, automotive, railroad, and marine equipment applications. It contains inhibitors for rust and oxidation, and resists water and salt water washout, age hardening, throw off, and breakdown
 

stiffy

Member
Starter clutch

My starter motor was spinning good but the jackshaft wasn't engaging. The clutch was shot. If it can spin both ways, it's shot. I replaced the starter clutch, new primary gasket, three quarts of Amsoil, and put the starter back in. Clickclickclickclick.... Had the battery tested. It didn't pass. Bought a new battery and fully charged it. Clickclickclickclick... By now, I'm just about ready to lose it.

Does anyone know if the gear on the end of the jackshaft need to be aligned or timed to engage with the fly?
 

woodbutcher

Mr. Old Fart member #145
Staff member
My starter motor was spinning good but the jackshaft wasn't engaging. The clutch was shot. If it can spin both ways, it's shot. I replaced the starter clutch, new primary gasket, three quarts of Amsoil, and put the starter back in. Clickclickclickclick.... Had the battery tested. It didn't pass. Bought a new battery and fully charged it. Clickclickclickclick... By now, I'm just about ready to lose it.

Does anyone know if the gear on the end of the jackshaft need to be aligned or timed to engage with the fly?
3 quarts of fluid in the primary. i thought it was only supposed to be 1 quart.????????????:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

has my memory gone that bad?
 

stiffy

Member
Not 3 quarts in the primary. 3 quarts of oil in the oil tank. Had to drain the oil tank to pull the starter. Can't get it out without removing one of the oil lines.
 

Gas Man

Cool isn't cheap
Calendar Participant
Did you check your batt connections and solenoid? What about the 12 volt power on the small green wire? what is "clicking"?
 

stiffy

Member
Hey Gasman,
I checked the battery connections and all look good. I pulled the starter again and bench tested it. It works fine off the bench. I pulled the primary cover off again and tested the starter. The jackshaft seems to be binding. It kicks out and engages but wont turn over the motor. It just clicks. I've read some posts on other forums about the tension of the jackshaft bolt needing to be just barely compressing the bendix and have done that but no luck. I've tested this with two new motorcycle batteries and even jumpered from my Powerstroke! I'm going to have someone else test the starter and double check the solenoid. Last starter shop said it was just fine. It just sounds like it's not getting the juice it needs. The jackshaft assembly seems to have some play in it. When it kicks out to engage with the gear, it stays there. I'm assuming if everything was turning it would spin back to it's neutral position. Sorry for the novel but I'm trying to give as much needed info as possible.
 

Gas Man

Cool isn't cheap
Calendar Participant
Novels are good as long as they are full of info.

I don't have alot of expierence with this... guys like Marv, Ray, Rain, Chacha, alhall may be able to help more.

However I ask this due to seeing flaws in bench testing before. Thing thru the whole process. Did you use the same wires from the bike? Perhaps the large wires (positive & ground) are bad not allowing full current. There are some nice brand battery wires that I just can't find the link for.

Also, did you check to make sure you're getting 12 volts to the starter activation wire?

I can't help you with the jackshaft issue/theory of the problem.
 

stiffy

Member
Thanks Gasman,
I didn't use the same wire from the bike, although I've inspected them closely and they look very new and in good condition. Pulled back the insulation from the cable to the connectors and I have good connections and no corrosion. I haven't tested the small wire that clips onto the solenoid yet. I have the starter at a shop right now. This guy does work for my friend's Indy team and also the Unsers so he's the best starter man in town. He's going to test the draw and torque for me. I just don't know that the starter is my problem but I'm slowly eliminating what's NOT the problem!
 

stiffy

Member
Okay, I just tested the wire to the solenoid. When I hit the starter button it jumps over 12v and then levels out to 11.8v. Seems like that should do it. Also battery tests out at 13.8v
 

stiffy

Member
I guess I'll see what the starter shop tells me tomorrow. It it's good, then I'm outta options other than to "pay somebody else to f$@k up my bike".
 
Top