I have been told by a few people over the years that a mazda starter is the same as a sportster starter but I have never been able to find out which model it's from. Have any of you ever heard of this?

 

I have not heard that before. Keep in mind that there are two different ironhead starter motors, Prestolite and Hitachi. They have different thru-bolt diameters, where they attach to the case.

 

I'm going to take it to the part store and see if they can cross reference it. I'll let you know when I get it figured out.

 

Well, it is kinda true.
I can tell you this...........
Various small jap cars use the same "starter motor" as late sportster, as in sportster that use the one piece starter set-up, from around 81 up
But it is only the actual starter motor that is the same
the drive housing is different
As in, the side that faces the starter motor is the same, the side that faces the engine is different
so you just get to use the motor part, fitted into the original harley housing
I think toyota corona(some years) is a contender

 

my 89 flhs has a nippon-denso

 

I remember being told that they had to use the sportster housing but the starter motor out of a Mazda. I'm working on my friends '75 and he's a little tight on cash right now so I'm trying to pinch a few pennies for him.