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Starter crunch?

16K views 47 replies 15 participants last post by  rageglide 
#1 ·
I've been having this happen to me more & more on a regular basis.
When the bike is hot and I go to start it up again... Like at a gas station, the starter seems to just crunch into the gears and makes a god awful sound.
So I retry and the bike starts... It's never failed me from starting, but it sure don't sound normal.
Any ideas?

2010 FLTRX
No engine mods
 
#2 ·
It is NOT the starter it is the compensator sprocket. Replace the compensator sprocket with the SE Big Twin compensator Sprocket HD part #40274-08A for $249.95 and your problems will disappear. If your bike is still under warranty or if you have the ESP take the bike in and have them do the work and make sure they use the upgraded compensator. HD put the SE compensator in the 2011 and later models because the standard compensator caused to many problems such as starter clunk, grind or starter stall.
 
#9 ·
It is NOT the starter it is the compensator sprocket. Replace the compensator sprocket with the SE Big Twin compensator Sprocket HD part #40274-08A for $249.95 and your problems will disappear. If your bike is still under warranty or if you have the ESP take the bike in and have them do the work and make sure they use the upgraded compensator. HD put the SE compensator t rhe 2011 and later models because the standard compensator caused to many problems such as starter clunk, grind or starter stall.
hey ironmark I have aa 2006 RG, will that se compensator spocket fit it or is there differ one it
 
#4 ·
+++++++1 on that. Had the same thing happen to me. I replaced the stock POS compensator with the SE comp and also needed to do the starter clutch. Mine was out of warranty so i did the job myself. Its actually not a bad job and makes a world of difference
 
#5 ·
Not trying to high jack but I've got the 2011 and mine does it........ Only when hot and usually when I'm getting gas and everyone is watching.
 
#6 ·
I know the 09 and 10s had the shit comp. Not sure when they started putting the se comps in. You may want to look into it with the built motor you have. If wait too long it will wipe out the starter too. Its not a bad job to do
 
#7 ·
Thanks guys!
The bike is still under warranty, so I'll bring to their attention next week. I'm riding to to Port Dover For PD 13 then gonna ride down to Deals Gap. I really don't want any issues during my trip.
I appreciate the help!
 
#8 ·
If you bring it in to have it fixed under warranty theyll want to replace the comp with the stock on. Pay the extra money and have them do the SE comp. Well worth it
 
#11 ·
The compensator upgrade is only available for the 96" Big Twin starting in 07 until 2011. HD made the SE compensator sprocket stock equipment in all Big Twin engines. Your 88" big Twin doesn't need the upgrade.
 
#13 ·
I have that same crunching noise, just pulled it all apart, and the compensator gear that engages the starter doesnt look that bad, a few nicks all around and one tooth has a little larger nick, but I guess these gears are very picky huh? Should I just spend the $250.00 and get the SE clutch assy, hmmmmm. Tell me again how I need to do this. I hate spending all that and find out it's not the problem.
 
#14 · (Edited)
The starter doesnt actually engage the compensator. It engages the clutch basket ring gear. What ends up happening is the comp starts to get weak and for the most part creates slack in the primary chain which causes the starter to not engage the ring gear properly. At least thats how i understand it :). I do know its well worth the extra money for the SE comp though. According to my parts guy it has been known to take out a couple teeth on the ring gear.
 
#15 ·
OK Thank you to everyone, just got done changing out the comp for the se comp.....BIG difference!!!!! Smooth starts, no more noise........I think I'll gor for a little ride tonight, since its not 108 degrees anymore. Love this forum and everyone's input. Skip
 
#17 ·
Ok how hard is it to change? And an average guy do the job?
 
#21 ·
This happens a lot on my FLSTF- once again thx for pointing us to the fix.
 
#22 ·
Just got my bike out of the hospital. Had the SE HD compensator installed with labor and parts total price of $513. Still having the problem! SUX! Drago says i need a different set of cams not the 255s and maybe a set of heads with compression releases. Dealer says I need a set of manual compression releases installed in my heads.Well anybody seeing the problem after the updated comp.? guess I will be calling Drago for a set of reworked heads with manual releases over the winter. WTH cant put a factory kit in without doing all this? cant believe it! Guess I will email a factory service rep about this.
 
#24 ·
The problem may be in the tune, what kind of tuner are you running?
I have the 103 with the 255's and stock heads and no compression releases and pulling 107 lbs of rear wheel torque and there is absolutely no starter problems since I put in the SE compensator.
 
#27 ·
If It is a canned mapp then there my be a problem with the timing. The SE compensator usually is the fix for this problem but don't forget that there are situations were the starter is just bad no matter what or after having run the bike long enough with the stock compensator the strain on the starter has taken it's toll.
 
#26 ·
I've got my SE upgrade 1/2 done tonite. Disassembled primary cover, removed tensioner, and started removing metal from the primary case in order to remove the old compensator. Talked to my dealer today about the SE kit, and they have one left in stock, and says they are back ordered until the end of SEPTEMBER. Going to pick up the kit tommorrow a.m. Quoted 233 plus gaskets. Can't wait to get rid of the nasty sounding noises I've put up with most of the summer.
 
#29 ·
Got the upgrade finished yesterday afternoon. Picked up the SE comp at the dealer about 9am, drove 30 miles home and was done by noon. Had to grind some more off the case from the 10 to 7 area than I had anticipated. The noise when starting and shutting down is cured, and performs much better at slow speeds when in town i.e. a lot of stopping/starting and shifting. I took the time to perform each step correctly, and triple checked my work during reassembly, but it seems that there is a little more whine from the primary than before the work. Somebody please tell me this may be normal. I can tear it down again, but don't want to go there unless necessary. The problem that caused the initial teardown is gone.
 
#30 ·
xshovelfreak, does the new se upgrade come with the ring gear? I have a 07, stock 96" motor and drained my primary yesterday to find a broken tooth in my drain pan. Pulled the primary cover off to find two more teeth inside and and all 3 broken off the starter ring gear.
Hopefully the ring gear comes as an assembly with the SE comp. upgrade.
Also, are any special tools required for the job? Thanks
 
#31 ·
Ok....my bad, after further review I've REVERIFIED I need to do more research before I open my pie-hole!
I see now that the ring gear is behind the clutch and the compensator is mounted on the crankshaft and that it couldn't possibly come as an assembly, unless of course, I walk into the dealer and purchase a new bike.
Big thanks to everyone for keeping this forum filled with great information!
 
#34 ·
I still don't understand how a compensator fixes this problem.

My 2005 was notorious for the starter kick back and it had the older (good) style of compensator. I know my problem was associated to the higher compression. This would only get worse when hot when the bike had a chance to heat up the trapped mixture before I could hit the starter.

What's different about this starter 'crunch' problem from the kick back that caused Sportster knee and launched plenty of guys tryin to kickstart their bikes?
 
#36 ·
I dont know but when i got the "starter crunch" thing i did ask around and some people said that they just changed the starter or replaced the starter clutch and it was fine for them. Since i was dealing with this issue myself, i bought both the starter clutch and the SE comp. Not wanting to spend the $250 for the comp i dove into the starter first. Seemed fine til it got hot and then the crunch came back. Back in i go and tear it down. I replaced the comp and havent looked back. No issues at all anymore. I was told the bad comps will eventually take out the starter. Maybe i didnt even have to rebuild my starter
 
#38 ·
Well I've had issues with my starter and primary noise. After reading and doing home work I decided that I'd change to a se compensator. But, one of the parts sellers ( m & m) told me about this new compensator. I just bought it and should be in in a couple of weeks. http://www.mandmcycles.com/detail.aspx?ProductNo=MM002844
 
#39 ·
Also bought a Hayden tensioner. So I've just replaced the starter clutch and with these other parts, I should be set for awhile, until I find more Harley defective parts. I have an 09, and usually got a new bike every 2 years, but with all the mods and upgrades I've made, I just don't want to start over. That's going to eventually be a problem for Harley . I can't be the only one.
 
#40 ·
I still don't believe the compensator will fix kick back. I researched the compensator problems with the 96" and up and all I ever found were issues with excessive wear and noise. The compensator in my 2012 is sure as hell loud so that backs that up.. lol

Harley went to auto compression releases in the 103's for a reason, and It's a safe bet they did it to address the starter kick back problems. Travel limiters work well in my experience, but they can be noisy. Not that the lifters in the 103" aren't noisy at start up already...

Long story short, I hate to say this and I hope you prove me wrong, but I suspect you will still have starter kick back problems with the new compensator.
 
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