BDL 3" Belt Drive In Shovel Poroblem : V-Twin Forum: Harley Davidson Forums

mtnxtreme · 12-03-2005, 10:25 AM

Installed a new BDL 3" set-up in my 71 shovel (86" S&S stroker) Needless to say it took a lot of grinding and cutting here and there to make it fit. I ordered the kit which "includes the starter". The bike barely turns over, had to kick it to get fired, even with a car battery and cables attached. The stock starter had some trouble turning over the old stroker , but had better performance than this. Any ideas, anyone use this same set-up. ? Does their
"included starter " just suck?

springer- · 12-03-2005, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtnxtreme

Installed a new BDL 3" set-up in my 71 shovel (86" S&S stroker) Needless to say it took a lot of grinding and cutting here and there to make it fit. I ordered the kit which "includes the starter". The bike barely turns over, had to kick it to get fired, even with a car battery and cables attached. The stock starter had some trouble turning over the old stroker , but had better performance than this. Any ideas, anyone use this same set-up. ? Does their
"included starter " just suck?

I run the same 3" BDL belt drive on my Shovel and have the one that included the starter. My shovel is a 93" stroker and the starter turns it over without a problem. My bike is far from stock but it took very little grinding and cutting to make everything fit.

It sounds to me like you might have something binding the starter or the clutch hub. When you kick it over, does it turn hard? I had some clearence problems with the back side of my clutch basket and it rubbed the engine to transmission support plate and caused it to bind. This was partially due to the 5 speed conversion transmission I have installed and was of no fault of the BDL kit.

mtnxtreme · 12-03-2005, 01:40 PM

I'll check that clearance, but I though it was fine, when I remove the plugs, it turns over pretty decent though. Maybe it was just me, but everytime I went to finish this job there was a hurdle. They tell you about changing the clutch lever, but then I find out my cable is too long, the engine to tranny plate hit the frame in the back, I had to grind off abt. 1/2", the stock oil tank bracket had to be cut way more than they show you and barely fits, my forward controls hit the plate, even my kick stand hits the friggin belt when it's up, just seems like for what you pay they would at least let you know in the instructions (which sukked) what needed to be replaced so your constantly not runnin to the parts house.

newultraclassic · 12-03-2005, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtnxtreme

I'll check that clearance, but I though it was fine, when I remove the plugs, it turns over pretty decent though. Maybe it was just me, but everytime I went to finish this job there was a hurdle. They tell you about changing the clutch lever, but then I find out my cable is too long, the engine to tranny plate hit the frame in the back, I had to grind off abt. 1/2", the stock oil tank bracket had to be cut way more than they show you and barely fits, my forward controls hit the plate, even my kick stand hits the friggin belt when it's up, just seems like for what you pay they would at least let you know in the instructions (which sukked) what needed to be replaced so your constantly not runnin to the parts house.

The whole thing sounds pretty exasperating. Hope it works out better for you.

mtnxtreme · 12-03-2005, 08:10 PM

Thanks, but on the upside, the whole set-up looks awesome, and the bike is a lot smoother feeling, just gotta figure out this starter thing..........

petelogan · 12-04-2005, 04:03 PM

Not that I know sh1t from diddly squat, but there is no way a properly operating new starter on any motor will not work if you can kick start it (if I understood you correctly).

If you can kick start it, then there are two possible reasons why the electric starter won't do it.

Least likely, your cables or your solenoid are ****ed.

More likely, your battery is ****ed.

Either that, or I'm full of crap, which wouldn't be the first time:

mtnxtreme · 12-05-2005, 08:04 AM

Well, the old starter had the external solenoid, which I did away with, and hooked it direct (since the new style that comes with it has it internal), someone told me I could have left the old one, hooked it in series, and it acts like a boost, I dunno, also at the same time I installed a Crane single fire, maybe I shoulda put in one of there boosters, I'm hookin battery cables from a car to my battery to help it, it turns but real tight, the battery seems OK. I'll know more I will have time to fukk wit it tommorrow.