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i have a 1978 iron head sportster i cant get started. i had the starter checked by a local starter/altenator shop and it checked out ok. i replaced the selonoid,bendix,bendix shaft. needle bearings in both the primary cover and the starter door. when i try to start the bike all i get is the starter spinning the bendix wont engage with the starter ring on the cluch hub. im really at my breaking point with this thing and im ready to bury it out the back 40 please help
1978 Harley Davidson Sportster 1000 Already Tried: starter,bendix,bendix shaft,& shaft bearings
Hi Taylor,
I need some clarification before I can help you.
How did you determine the bendix does not engage the starter ring gear?
Steve
when i hit teh starter button i can feel it clunk with my hand against the primary cover and i also took the starter door off and could see a wear mark on the starter ring gear.
IF the bendix is engaging the ring gear and the motor is turning but the ring gear is not, your bendix is slipping.
there can be no other explanation. the solenoid has to pull all the way in to make the contact that powers up the motor.....to do that, it must first pull the starter gear shift lever all the way in, throwing the bendix all the way into the ring gear.
You said you replaced the bendix (starter drive gear???), but that doesn't make sense UNLESS your starter gear shift lever is broken (or not properly installed) and NOT throwing the bendix into the ring gear.
Take a look in there and let me know what you find.
the motor is not turning and the starter gear shift lever is fine the bendix (starter drive gear) is brand new i just put it on today. I had the same problem before i replaced all these parts that is why i replaced them .the mark on the starter ring gear is on the back side of the starter ring gear. for some reason they wont engage.
Taylor,
it is not possible for the solenoid to make the contact that spins the starter motor unless the bendix is engaged in the ring gear.
this is not phsically possible unless something is broken, allowing the solenoid to pull all the way in without engaging the bendix in the ring gear. you did say the starter was spinning?????
I can't see it.....you'll have to find it. the most likely possibility is the starter gear shift lever....sometimes the welds break at the pivot tube..... and/or pivot tube or bolt.
Did you try to spin the bendix both directions by hand? just because it's new doesn't mean it works.
try disconnecting the battery negative and go in there and manually push the lever in so that the bendix comes out into the ring gear and see what happens. (DO NOT try that without first disconnecting the battery......you will be manually engaging the contacts in the solenoid and the starter will run, weather your hand is in the way or not)
let me know what you find.
Motorcycle Mechanic
30+YRs,MMI,HD tech,HD early,engine rebuild/perf,bike builder,kit bike program manager, cci 2001-2004
I pushed on the lever and the bendix did engage with the ring gear. I connected the batt and pushed the starter button. The bendix didnt turn but every thing else did . So i guess its the bendix huh. should i go ahead and replace the shift lever since ive got every thing elese in there new