Took a ride today to get some dinner, come out of the restaraunt, suit-up, climb on and hit the button WWIZZZZZZ goes the starter. Damm not this again, Thats the THIRD starter clutch in this thing AND I have the compression releases in. No warnings this time either, it just went. Luckily there were a couple of other bikers around who came over with their opinions and suggestions and were willing to give me a push. This thing is a beast to push even with a little hill, (VERY little hill) I am going to have to find a better type of starter clutch, anyone have any experience with the ALL's BALL's starter clutch? I am out of warranty now so I may try to do this one myself.

Anyone know any tricks or things I should be looking out for?

How big of a pain in the A** job is this?

Any help or suggestions are welcome

 

I had an Accel starter clutch on my '84 for about 15 years until it finally wore out. So I put a Harley
one on and it lasted 1 year. Then I replaced it with the Accel heavy duty type again and
no problems since. The Accel heavy duty starter clutch has a brass color to it. They make
a standard duty one as well I think, but I've not tried it.

 

Thanks for the heads-up on the ACCEL drive. I checked it out and they are not available for my application (2001 FLH) only the earlier years. I also called SPYKE and asked about their K-9 starter drive, its's GAWD awful expensive but listed as having a LIFETIME WARRANTY [sm=smiley25.gif] but they said the manufacturer they had contracted with was not holding tolerances. so that part will not be available for about 6 months. So I'm back to the ALL BALL's part. a friend has run their starters and has had good luck. also said they were customer friendly. So I just put one on rush order along with some TERRY battery cables. Now i'll run to the Harley shop and pick up the neccessary gaskets and o-rings so I have everything when my parts come.

I hope this one works longer than the rest.

 

ALLS ***** ARE GOOD <better then H-D

 

Terry Components makes a much better starter clutch too! The stock ones blow on motors with >10:1 CR. I don' t care if you have comp releases or not, it will kick back sooner or later and it WILL munch the cheezy stock starter clutch. My old RG was a F'ing ROCKET, but it had an appetite for starter clutches that pushed me over the edge.... [:@]

I also tried the Gen II or III "HighTorque" starter and even change to the EVO ring & pinion gear combo... but that sucker could munch the best of'm...

You may also wanna take a look at the timing curve, espically if it's carb'd (not EFI). Some of the better iginitions (Daytona TwinTec, etc.) will let you config the motor to spin up to two revs before firing as a means of battleing the "dreaded kick-back"....

That's why it was my "old RG"....

 

Just finished it up this morning, had to wait on parts. I went with the ALL BALL's starter clutch, put the S.E. clutch spring in while I was in there, also got the Terry's battery cable's. Pretty simple straight forward job, just a lot of stuff you have to take off to get to the parts you really want to work on.

These cams (tw-400) don't seem to be as hard on the starter as the S&S 585's I had, but the damage may have already been done. and that was WITH the S.E. 1.4 high torque starter, hope this part lasts longer.

It is high compression 10.5-1 HTCC heads and pistons. I've got the S.E. adj ign and am using map CS-3 +3 if you are familiar with this unit.
I do like the looks of the DTT unit. that delayed start feature may be a good point. and yes it is a carb.

BTW I like those Fatcats on your RG.

 

Thanks! I'm really happy with the FatCat. It's my 2nd one.... THe old RG had one too.

I am really not familiar enough with the S/E ignition to offer any valuable insight... sorry.

My Starter clutch issues improved when I changed from a Dyna 2000 to the DTT ignition...