Starter/Starting Woes

Energy One
mobsta

mobsta

Well-Known Member
you can take your battery to harley and they will match it up.we dont need no stinking part #:lol:just sayn
 
T

TheDeadOne

Banned
NJ K-9 said:
Yo Kona Dawg, glad it's not just me. Should make it easier to get it figured out. I didn't want to spring for a battery just to see if it would make a difference. The one I have, an Interstate that is 4 months old has been load tested on 2 different testers & the results were that it was fine, no problem. Mine is the same as yours "exactly". The first start is a "no start", honk, flash. Use a jump box & it's good to go for the day. I shut it off & started it 6 times in a row to check this out. If the battery showed any signs of not making the grade I would definitely replace, but it's okay. I leave the battery tender on it when it's in the garage so that's another thing that "it's not that". Also do not have an alarm or anything extra added on so that's another "that's not it". Check the battery voltage before attempting to start & it's anywhere from 13.36 to 13.42 so it's definitely not there either. Don't worry brother, we'll get this one figured out with people like gasman & others around. If you come up with anything that works you can e-mail me direct carlmyman@aol.com.
Click to expand...
NJ,
I checked out Konas starter and the only thing I could find wrong with it, was just some carbon dust in the starter motor itself. I cleaned some of it out the best I could and now he says it's starting fine now. :loony:
Check for the build up of carbon in the starter "motor"!

dead :cheers:
 
NJ K-9

NJ K-9

Member
Hey "DeadOne", thanks for the info. I already cleaned soot from the solenoid. What did you do with the starter exactly. I don't have a diagram in front of me. Is there an end cap that unbolts or???? This may be the piece of the puzzle I'm looking for. If you can get back to me I'll give it a try either today or tomorrow. Thanks Bro I really appreciate the insight.
 
T

TheDeadOne

Banned
NJ K-9 said:
Hey "DeadOne", thanks for the info. I already cleaned soot from the solenoid. What did you do with the starter exactly. I don't have a diagram in front of me. Is there an end cap that unbolts or???? This may be the piece of the puzzle I'm looking for. If you can get back to me I'll give it a try either today or tomorrow. Thanks Bro I really appreciate the insight.
Click to expand...
Remove the "rear"/ back of the starter "motor" and turn the drive end up and knock the bottom (open end) on a block of wood or something that won't damage the chrome or the stater. Then blow it out with compressed air. Might as well check the condition of your brushes while you're right there, check for free movement of the brushes and replace if necessary. :2thumbs:

I got back to you in 5 minutes. :2thumbs:

Then you just signed out without reading my response. :eek:

I'm guessing that means it'll be tomorrow then, huh? :2thumbs:

:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

dead :cheers:
 
Last edited:
mobsta

mobsta

Well-Known Member
hey dead hows it goin?dont you hate it when someone ask for help than they disappear?my question on this starter issue is why only first start up of the day?is heat from ridn changing the soot in the starter?just kinda wondering,just want learn more about the beast:)
 
T

TheDeadOne

Banned
The the build up of excess carbon dust from the brushes settles inside of the windings of the starter motor after setting for a little while and creates continuity issues between the windings and the armature of the starter. That's why some can put in a "new" battery (old one had less life and CCAs left in it) and the starter will then work fine.
But sooner or later this will sometimes happen and leave you scratching your head as to what's wrong. :loony::bang::angry:....:lol::lol::lol::lol:

I just hope it's that simple for NJ! :2thumbs:

I've seen this happen just a hand full of times and it left me :confused:.

But what new there? :lol::lol::lol:

:D:cheers:
 
Last edited:
mobsta

mobsta

Well-Known Member
makes sense,i just replaced rt side control pc,all is good,wish i had 4 hands sometimes:lol:
 
NJ K-9

NJ K-9

Member
Hey "DeadOne" sorry was checking out other leads before. Left for Performance V-Twin (BD Dealer in Summit, NJ) to order a circuit breaker. Tomorrow will be the day since the sun will be out & weather fine for some wrenching. I'll keep you all up on how it turns out. I want to thank you all for chipping in with ideas/fixes & know it's gotta hit the nail on the head sooner or later. Sorry, had to work & won't be able to get it until Monday if I am lucky.
NJ K-9
 
Last edited:
NJ K-9

NJ K-9

Member
The Woe is over (I Hope)

Hey Mobsta & TheDeadOne, sorry it took so long to get back (retired but still have a job). I think between the two of you the nail was hit on the head. Took the starter out today & here's what it looked like before & after. I'm taking it to a starter shop tomorrow or Friday to get it done right. Not sure I want to start popping the brushes out & going any deeper at this time. There was plenty of soot, carbon, schmutz all over. I can definitely see this causing my starting woes. No/bad contact with the brushes & the armature would cause amps/draw problems I'm sure. Should have it going back together by the weekend & I'll keep you all up on it. I really appreciate the help of everyone here. Check out the pictures & I'll get back to you.

These are the before (notice the red wire) and the after pictures (amazing what a little shot of electronics cleaner will do).
 

Attachments

RRRUFF

RRRUFF

Well-Known Member
Hey NJ, Hopefully you got it fixed, just in case you don't. I had similar problems and got to checking and found a loose connector under the tank that comes from the start button on the handle bar. Actually the little plastic lock tab on the connector had broken off. Fixed that and seems to be ok now. Anyway just a little more info. Don't rule out the battery though, everything can seem fine and it still be a bad battery.
 
T

TheDeadOne

Banned
NJ K-9 said:
Hey Mobsta & TheDeadOne, sorry it took so long to get back (retired but still have a job). I think between the two of you the nail was hit on the head. Took the starter out today & here's what it looked like before & after. I'm taking it to a starter shop tomorrow or Friday to get it done right. Not sure I want to start popping the brushes out & going any deeper at this time. There was plenty of soot, carbon, schmutz all over. I can definitely see this causing my starting woes. No/bad contact with the brushes & the armature would cause amps/draw problems I'm sure. Should have it going back together by the weekend & I'll keep you all up on it. I really appreciate the help of everyone here. Check out the pictures & I'll get back to you.

These are the before (notice the red wire) and the after pictures (amazing what a little shot of electronics cleaner will do).
Click to expand...

NJ,
From the pics., things don't look too awfully bad. Brushes are worn, but still look good. But do the brushes move freely up and down once the depressor spring is removed? That dust gets everywhere and causes continuity issues "within the starter motor" itself. Did you pull that apart enough to get any of that dust out? Or are you just going to leave these things to the rebuild shop to perform?

Now you've LITERALLY seen how "Another one bites the dust" causes starter issues, haven't you? :lol: :2thumbs:

Good Job and Good Luck! :2thumbs:

dead :cheers:
 
NJ K-9

NJ K-9

Member
Hey DeadOne, starter shops around me are getting scarce. Didn't want to leave it until Monday & hope they got to it so I did it myself. I got to say it wasn't any trouble. Held the springs out of the way to pop out each brush and cleaned them up with a small brass wire brush. Cleaned inside the brush housing with some electrical contact cleaner. Then took a piece of sandpaper with a paint stick as a backer to flat sand the front/contact side of the brush. Cleaned it all & used some brush oil a friend gave me. Uses it in his RC cars to help lubricate the brushes where they contact the armature. Prevents the brushes from scratching the armature. Also kept all the brushes popped out & cleaned the armature so it looks almost new (alright, it looks a lot better then it did!) . Wanted to put the starter back together but didn't have a dab of grease to hold the ball bearing which I guess to be a check valve of sorts in. Should finish it up in the next couple of days. I'll get some more pictures & keep everyone updated. Thanks again for the help bro.
NJ K-9
 
T

TheDeadOne

Banned
NJ K-9 said:
Hey DeadOne, starter shops around me are getting scarce. Didn't want to leave it until Monday & hope they got to it so I did it myself. I got to say it wasn't any trouble. Held the springs out of the way to pop out each brush and cleaned them up with a small brass wire brush. Cleaned inside the brush housing with some electrical contact cleaner. Then took a piece of sandpaper with a paint stick as a backer to flat sand the front/contact side of the brush. Cleaned it all & used some brush oil a friend gave me. Uses it in his RC cars to help lubricate the brushes where they contact the armature. Prevents the brushes from scratching the armature. Also kept all the brushes popped out & cleaned the armature so it looks almost new (alright, it looks a lot better then it did!) . Wanted to put the starter back together but didn't have a dab of grease to hold the ball bearing which I guess to be a check valve of sorts in. Should finish it up in the next couple of days. I'll get some more pictures & keep everyone updated. Thanks again for the help bro.
NJ K-9
Click to expand...
Sounds like a man speaking from experience! :2thumbs:

Good Luck! :2thumbs:

dead :D:cheers:
 
kona dawg

kona dawg

Member
Also since Dead so gratefully helped my out, my bike has started everytime since. It still has a little stall at the beginning but seems to still start. I don't think my problem is fixed though. I think if it were ever to get cold it wouldn't start. I dunno?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top