'07 Touring Owners Please Read - Service Bulletin Reveals Problem

[EGlideKid]

My '07 UC developed the very disconcerting problem of nothing happening when I pushed the starter button. After lots of troubleshooting and searching HDF, I came across a thread that iClick responded to where he posted a copy of a HD Service Bulletin #M-1231 dated (way back on) 9/26/08 that perfectly addressed my problem (Thanks iClick!). It turns out that HD didn't torque the '07 Touring starter bolts sufficiently (factory torque & shop manual originally called for 13-20 ft-lbs of torque on the starter mounting bolts). The "new and improved" torque value was boosted to 25-27 ft-lbs (plus blue lock-tite). This is said to stop all the problems of no start due to lack of adequate ground, or even a grinding noise coming from the starter during starting. Armed with the aforementioned service bulletin, I went out and checked the torque on the forward starter mounting bolt and found that I could turn it 1/4 turn by hand, and when applying a torque wrench to it found about 5-10 ft-lbs of torque on the bolt. I tightened it to 20 ft-lbs (I plan on getting the dealer to do the full service bulletin repair/inspection next week). I could not get to the rear mounting bolt, but after careful inspection of the mating surfaces, I noticed what looked like wear from the surfaces moving against each other. I have 34k miles on my bike, so my guess is that the MOCO decided not make this problem widespread knowledge in the hopes that we'd be outside our warranty period and then they wouldn't have to do the work for free, which could include replacing the starter itself. After tightening the forward bolt, the bike started right up with no issues. I would recommend all you '07 owners out there check your starter bolts at your earlier convenience for proper torque value - especially if you are experiencing intermittent starting problems.

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[OldPhat]

Thanks for the heads up on this, I will check it. Thanks

[S&RSGLIDE07]

Be sure to disconnect the battery before trying to torque the starter bolts. You could end up welding a wrench real easy.

[Mr Cujo]

Thanks EGlideKid...No problems to date, but I will follow up on that

[Bertk]

Here's a copy of the Service Bulletin in question.

[txfxstrider]

Thanks for the info but I have a question. Why did you only tighten yours to 20#s if the new spec is for 25 to 27? Just curious.

[matrix5]

Originally Posted by S&RSGLIDE07

Be sure to disconnect the battery before trying to torque the starter bolts. You could end up welding a wrench real easy.

No joke. I just pulled the maxi fuse and called it good. Didn't think about that hot wire directly from the battery. Ka-Pow! Oh well.... Gave the wrench character.

[88racing]

Thanks for the info!
But I am 2 starters past the original! Hopefully the dealers new how to torque those bolts.
lol's

[BlackGlide]

Thanks for posting, I will check mine.

[stubby001]

Thank You for the heads up! Have not had any problems, but will check it out.