might want to check out the tech article on the home page regarding starter and cable upgrades...

Hello to the roadstar clinic.
My bike has been in hibernation for 12 months and I came to start it today, battery kept on a conditioner charger - all I got was the starter spinning...never experienced this before.

This forum has been fantastic in helping me discover the likely cause but I just wondered if anyone had experienced similar and found the loose starter/generator wheel not to be the problem?
For example, does the starter have to spin at a particular speed before it engages with the starter clutch?

It is not as if the bike has worn anything out as it has done less than 6000 miles. Yes I know this is a problem in itself for me and the bike after 10 years!

I initially believed that maybe the battery was in a poor state so I connected up a car battery, with some cheap/thin leads I might add, and after a few aborted (similarly spinning) starts, the starter motor briefly engaged and very weakly turned the engine over. It did start immediately though.

I have ordered a new battery to eliminate that but I suspect that this is not the problem. Battery has about 12.3V on my meter unloaded but I cannot vouch for the accuracy of the meter.

Any constructive comments and advice before I dismantle the bike very much appreciated.
Thanks in advance
David

Try it with the new battery and make sure all of the connections are tight and clean. If you still are having trouble, check back in with us and we'll see what else we can come up with to assist. And...

take off the decompression solinoid cover and see if its working. maybe work it by hand. dont bend the spoon.it only moves about half inch.

Flashback wrote:
might want to check out the tech article on the home page regarding starter and cable upgrades...

+1. I had a major starting issue on my '03. did the max air starter and battery cables. cleared right up. never let me down again. i always tell people that have this complaint to start there. they are $80 but i think any heavy gauge wires will work. its about getting all of the juice from the battery to the starter. 98" is a big motor and needs alot of juice to crank.

...I had a major starting issue on my '03. did the max air starter and battery cables. cleared right up. never let me down again. i always tell people that have this complaint to start there. they are $80 but i think any heavy gauge wires will work. its about getting all of the juice from the battery to the starter. 98" is a big motor and needs alot of juice to crank.

I just installed the Max Air cables as well. I really like them; they are worth the $80!

silver_fox wrote:
Try it with the new battery and make sure all of the connections are tight and clean. If you still are having trouble, check back in with us and we'll see what else we can come up with to assist. And...

Just reporting back.
New battery charged and fitted and everything restored back to normal .

Thanks for the advice. My shop took a few days to get me the battery so if I had not had a response I would have taken the alternator/starter clutch cover off unnecessarily (apart from maybe preventative action?).

David

Can you tell where you got your after market ignition relay from, cheers

Hello guys can you tell me if there is a better or stronger alternative to replace the ignition relay for a 99 model Roadstar, and if so were can one be purchased, from Sydney, Australia, here, thanx guys

Some here have used a warrior relay and report an improvement. I have no first hand knowledge...