Starter Click, Click, Click

Energy One

BBChopper

Supports 2 Disabled Vets
Troop Supporter
If you get that starter click, click, click then it catches this may be your problem.
Dirty contacts in the solenoid. Pull the end cover off and remove the plunger then just take some emery cloth (150 grit) and clean them up.

Before:


After, still needs some work but you get the idea:

 

BubbleHead

Big Dog Biker test account
That is a great post BB ! I'm sure many BDM owners have faced this issue by now. My buddy's 05 Bulldog has this issue and he has been stumped. I will pass this on to him. I'm sure he'll appreciate this very good piece of information. Thanks
BBD
 

seatmaker

Well-Known Member
Looks like the result of sea salt from those warm states. :rolleyes: Every seat I get from the ocean side states have a rusty tab on it.
 

dogvet

Banned
If you get that starter click, click, click then it catches this may be your problem.
Dirty contacts in the solenoid. Pull the end cover off and remove the plunger then just take some emery cloth (150 grit) and clean them up.

Before:


After, still needs some work but you get the idea:

While you're in there, place the solenoid plunger in the solenoid and make sure the plunger washer is in full contact with the upper contact that goes to the post. If that gets torqued to more than 80 in/lb, the contact will rotate and it will cause arcing and poor power transfer. If you don't see signs of full contact by the arc pattern, reposition the contact to be square with the plunger.

Image courtesy of BBChopper
 

Entropy

Taming The Bulldog!
NICE! My first seach for a recurring problem and I find it.
I've had my bike to the shop twice for this issue...but it still creeps back.

Do you have to remove the starter for this? Can it be done while on the bike?

I have a 2000 Bulldog and am not sure which cover to pull to access the contacts.

Guess I'll have to poke around more now that I can see what your looks like.

Thanks for the great pictures too!
 

N8KAM

Well-Known Member
Just did this repair to my buddies American Quantom.. Was able to do it with the starter in the bike... :up: (After disconnecting the battery):2thumbs:
 

Entropy

Taming The Bulldog!
Just did this repair to my buddies American Quantom.. Was able to do it with the starter in the bike... :up: (After disconnecting the battery):2thumbs:
Did the solenoid cover look similar to the pictures?
 

Fibersnake

Banjo Playing PsychoBilly
BB,

Great post and something that many have not see in awhile. Old School for sure for what you are doing used to be done all the time on many starter including cars, trucks, bikes, etc. Back before everyone ran down to AutoZone and bought new ones.

Hell many old Alternator Shops worked on them and even carried the contacts. They are still available from some companies but are very hard to find a dealer that knows what one is talking about or where to get one.

Once again great post and will help out many.
 
Ok dumb question but my pitbull has a starter problem off and on when you hit the switch it turns over just a little bit then nothing like it dont have the power to turn over the compression stroke both times it has happened to me now i have to get a jump start and let it power up for 4-5 mins then it starts when this happens the start gets VERY hot
 

CCRainman

Well-Known Member
Ok dumb question but my pitbull has a starter problem off and on when you hit the switch it turns over just a little bit then nothing like it dont have the power to turn over the compression stroke both times it has happened to me now i have to get a jump start and let it power up for 4-5 mins then it starts when this happens the start gets VERY hot
Sound ike you have a weak battery. Get 1 with a least 310CCA.
 
wires are tight and put new battery in. it has done it to me once when i came out first thing in the AM even when i put jumpers on it nothing had to wait awhile then it started right up then today i rode it to 3 places with it starting normal. (which is try the starter 2-3 times before it cranks over) then i stoped to eat and it would not make it past the compression stroke. im thinking the starter is weak. cause after trying to start it 2-3 times where it hits the comp. mark the starter is HOT and im taslking 1-2sec press of the start button
 

Fibersnake

Banjo Playing PsychoBilly
Outlawcrew,

By chance did you put in the relay that some of the early models had that would basic shut the lights and other non needed items off while cranking. There was some discussion here on that before, but I do not have it handy. Will look into it if you do not find it first.

Also do you have compression reliefs and if so, are they working properly?

Jsut some thoughts.
 
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