starter question

[debeat]

Hello all, I am in the midst of another starter failure. I put a new starter clutch on my FLSTS about 5000miles back and now need to do it again. My question is: would it be better to rebuild it, again.... or replace it with a completely new starter. And what could be the cause of the recurring problem. Maybe there is some other threads on this issue someone could point me to... thanks

[springer-]

Did you use a Stock HD starter clutch or a cheap aftermarket starter clutch?

[debeat]

I put on a stock HD replacement....

[springer-]

The starter clutches usually last longer than that. If the starter itself is fine, I would just replace the clutch. A new starter is just going to cost more money and will have the same clutch on it.

[lowrider01]

is your bike stock ?compression stock ?may be just a weak starter

[lowrider01]

Have you went through all connections ? a loose ground will eat a starter up .clean all connections with a wire brush,cables and frame,trans,where ever your cables attach.

[toybox99615]

parts fail some times for no apparent reason. It is common enough that manufacturers have a guarantee or warranty period on their products. You just might have had bad luck with no connection to anything wrong with the rest of the bike. Ask any auto parts store about how many parts they get back every day becasue the new part failed out of the box.

That said were I taking the starter off my bike or anyone else's I'd be taking it to a local auto electric shop. Most larger towns have an auto electric shop or two that specialize in rebuilding starter, etc. I'd be taking the starter in to one of those places and have them do a rebuild on the starter.

Dealers and smaller bike shops typically do not have either the test equipment or the knowledge to rebuild a starter. That is especially true of the testing part. There is more to a rebuild than simply replacing brushes, bushings and drives. Unless the shop can actually test the field winding and the armature all they are doing is hoping what they did is adequate. Properly rebuilt and tested by a shop that knows what to do and how to test it will give you a better than new unit.