70 Ironhead starter issue

2106 Views 9 Replies 6 Participants Last post by SpeedRcr, Jan 12, 2012

Blue Collar Moto

Discussion Starter · Jan 11, 2012

Already changed the starter and solenoid with a set I know worked. Still not working for s**t. Gears look fine and battery has full charge when I start hitting the button. Been collecting kicker parts when I find them but still going to be some time before I can get them all together.

Question is, with the primary cover off can I bump it to see what's going on in there? Without the support of the cover? Or would it be a disaster?

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vtwinmotors

· #2 · Jan 11, 2012

I would say disaster. If you have a old primary cut it up as to have a support for the bendix gear. I know that sounds pricey but if that bendix jumps out when you hit the button could crack case or if your fingers are in the way it would eat them. You could cut it and use the top 4 bolts to hold it in place. Maybe you could build something that could support that bendix. Good luck.

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c6vette

· #3 · Jan 11, 2012

it wont be a disaster at all. i used to have an ironhead i started without the cover plenty of times while working on the clutch. from your post i dont really understand what the issue you are having with the starter is though

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Blue Collar Moto

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jan 11, 2012

Cool. Thanks. Unfortunately the old cover is the one on there at the moment. I'll just keep picking up kicker parts for now.

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Blue Collar Moto

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jan 11, 2012

c6vette said:
it wont be a disaster at all. i used to have an ironhead i started without the cover plenty of times while working on the clutch. from your post i dont really understand what the issue you are having with the starter is though

It throws but will only engage the gears to turn the engine about 1 in 30 times. Wires are all good, some replaced. Everything looks good.

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whizzerick

· #6 · Jan 11, 2012

Happened to me. The 'Bendix' is shot:

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Blue Collar Moto

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jan 11, 2012 (Edited)

whizzerick said:
Happened to me. The 'Bendix' is shot:

Thanks.
Is there something more that can go wrong with them than the teeth being worn? I can try swiping the good one off my 79 IH that worked good.

Been trying to get one of the bikes going in time to get to the Love Cycles party in AZ next month. Won't go if all I have to ride is the little 360 Scrambler. Would be great to have both the starter working proper and all the kicker parts by then. Long Beach Swap will be my last hope on the kicker parts at the end of the month.

If I had a bunch of $$$ to throw at these projects all of them would be running a long time ago hahaha!

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shovithead

· #8 · Jan 12, 2012

THe gear rarely goes bad, unless you have a bad ring gear. The bendix, has internal parts that fail, way before you can wear out the gear itself. Even when you check it in your hand, it may work perfectly, but your hand is not 9 to 1 compression, times two. They are only about 25 dollars, and even if it is not bad, you have a new one to rely on for a while. If you push the button, with the primary cover off, it could cause problems. You may do it a few times with no problem, but if it hits the ring gear at the wrong spot on the flats, it could bend the shaft on the drive, or break the starter bolts off, or the case. So beware of doing that with no support bearing to keep the shaft straight in line with the ring gear. If you need kick starter parts, I have some used stuff laying around. Drop me a pm and let me know what you need. Hate to see you miss the run. Or if you got a hot old lady who has big milkers, send her out here, and I will return her, slightly used, with a brand new kicker set. haha (serious about the used parts, no OL necessary)

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whizzerick

· #9 · Jan 12, 2012

shovithead said:
The bendix, has internal parts that fail, way before you can wear out the gear itself.

Like Shovit says.

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SpeedRcr

· #10 · Jan 12, 2012

I had the same problem - the bendix was bad, new one helped but didn't solve the problem. Fully charged battery and I would only get about two attempts to start it before it wouldn't turn over again.
I took the starter motor apart and cleaned it all out - the brushes where actually so dirty the were sticking. Big difference, turns over with no problem and it is much faster than it ever was before.

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