My 2007 Dyna Street Bob did this exact same thing, hot or cold, sometimes it sounded so bad I thought the engine was coming apart. I replaced the starter with a cheap $100 Chinese rebuilt starter and it fixed the problem! It was actually one of the last things I replaced too, I have new plugs, new plug wires, new battery, new engine primary and transmission oils, and just cleaned the air cleaner. Starts up really quick now which I think helps too. I'm pretty sure it was from the starter not completely engaging and it was teeth against teeth, luckily the teeth on the engine side were not worn off. I'd replace the starter ASAP otherwise you may run into bigger repairs. I have a video on my channel about how I replaced the starter, it was super easy, it's held on by two bolts and has a couple electrical connections.
Sounds like there's a dog somewhere in the electrical system, probably getting shocked when you try to start it. That's why it barked right when you hit the ignition button. Your local vet would probably be cheaper than taking it to a dealer. Good luck.
THIS IS NOT THE COMPENSATOR ! Take note if you ONLY hear this sound when the engine is hot. The engine has not bled off compression when hot and you are trying to start a bike with compression. Next load test your battery to determine if it is weak. DO THIS BEFORE A HARLEY MECHANIC TELLS YOU IT'S THE COMPENSATOR or anything else.
Mine does this too (2002 Fatboy) only when hot, usually it works better if I pull the clutch and roll the bike back and forth before starting, maybe this is in my head only? What is the solution? Live with it?
I had the same problem only when hot. I ordered and installed a new OEM Denso stock replacement starter from J&N Electrical just over $200 (took less than an hour to install). I have taken it out around town and on two 6 hour trips since. No nasty noise and starts up fast and strong even at operating temp. I hope this helps. 2007 street bob -- 96 cu in.
Mine only does it when hot like at a gas station. When I stop for gas I'll throw it in 2nd or 3rd and Pull the bike back to relieve the compression. No clunk! This works for me
Wow guys that’s awesome. Mine started doing the exact same thing a couple of months ago only when hot. Question: is the bike hard to roll back in let’s say 3rd gear with the clutch disengaged and do you cut the engine off in 2nd or 3rd gear? I can’t afford a new starter or a rebuild and quiet frankly I don’t ride mine as often as I used to so it ain’t really worth it to me right now to dump a lot of money in it if I can get by. I just wonder if it will hurt the transmission over a period of time to let the piston roll up or down?
To anyone who has this issue today in 2020 try changing your starter ring gear, its a possibility it has teeth missing on it and its grinding bc it is rolling over chewed up metal with no teeth, the pinion should be fine but check that as well hopefully this'll fix anyone having the issue with the embarrassing noise
I was thinking the same thing (mine is doing it now) but my question is this: if it’s missing teeth then why does it only do it when it hot (been running) if I park it for a couple hours it will not do it EVER. Why do you think that is?
I think it is not a defective compensator and also not a defective bendix. I've changed the compensator and it did not solve anything ! Starting when the engine is cold : Never a problem. Starting when the engine is hot : Always a problem and terrible clunking sounds coming out of the primairy. What i've found out , is that it has something to do with a fuel problem when hot. ( too rich ) To avoid starting problems when hot , don't wait longer than 2 seconds before pressing the start-buttton after making contact , and the engine will start right away without clucking noise
Engine has not bled off compression when hot and you are trying to start a bike with compression. First load test your battery to determine if it is weak. DO THIS BEFORE A HARLEY MECHANIC TELLS YOU IT'S THE COMPENSATOR or anything else.
If you get the screamin eagle pro super tuner it will allow you to activate (if one is installed on your bike)the automatic compression regulator(release), or acr. If you are not sure if you have one installed just look to see if there are any wires coming from the engine head region if so then there is a good chance that you have them.
I had this problem, a really bad grinding noise on a Heritage Softail. I tried all the suggestions made in this and other videos. I eventually did a drop test and put on a new battery. Problem solved!
i read somewhere there is a part you have to get (sorry i cant remember it) to add to the compensator that stops it from doing that cuz mine does the same shit.... irritating i know.
Carl Loud another thing to do is get rid of that automatic chain tensioner and go with something like a Baker Attitude or a Hayden m6 .. automatic chain tensioner is the main culprit behind these failures. Been there done that and haven’t looked back since
Is it possible a weak battery could do this I'm experiencing the same thing in my 08 night train It never did this last summer and now I just got the bike out and out of nowhere this happens constantly I also have a lithium battery in the bike And I'm not a fan of that but it was in the bike when I bought it a year ago
Hi Rick! I have the same problem in my Dyna FXD 2009, this making me crazy!!! All day, i push the start button, if the engine is cold... ok. But i ride 5 minutes, stoping the motorcycle and this shit begins happen. My batery has 5 years, she is not good, discharge so fast i using the bike, I believe that it is not loading correctly by the time of use, but this sound.... maybe be compensator??? Anybody help!
What was the fix? My 08 ultra is doing the exact same thing. Battery seems strong. Used to do it only when hot, now doing it nearly all the time. Hoping for a cheap fix like lose battery terminals at starter, but it's a Harley, so...$$$$ is likely.
I have a 2009 FXDC that does this, but only when the engine is hot, and not all the time so its weird, but at least now I am seeing that it is happening to plenty others.
I have a 09 FXD with the same problem, when hot! Putting energy toghether to open the primary and inspect compensator... @Larry Jamieson what you will try to do?
If that were a car I would say BENDIX kick back default. Now considering Harley and what I know about them it may simply be the compensator BUT not the compensator at fault. When we ride these and pull them up and kill them and go to take them out of gear and put in neutral its possible the first gear could still be partially engaged and this would put the compensator in lock mode then when the engine kicks back it forces the Bendix gear the opposite direction. So try this. Before starting put one in neutral and rock the bike back and forth 6 inches up and 6 inches back. Then start and that may stop this from happening. My 02 softail did this horrible noise today after I pulled up and my front wheel was on my porch slab and its one inch higher and I killed the engine. When I went to start it again I think maybe the weight back stress didn't allow the compensator to disengage. Its not doing this now. The science of this could have been because the upper section of the primary chain may have kept tight tension on the front sprocket and because of this the compensator stayed engaged
Andrew Widman Harley-Davidson Automatic chain tensioner ( flawed design)is too tight on primary chain which destroys Compensator and other componentsbinside primaries...I had same issue but changed My tensioner to A Baker Attitude manual tensioner. I also changed starter clutch which stopped the grinding like in video. If you actually want to fix change out that tensioner and starter clutch and then think about adding a Baker Compensator... Harley-Davidson Compensator along with the automatic tensioner are destroying bikes. The automatic tensioner have no way to create slack once they get tight and basically pulls both Compensator and clutch hub towards each (super tight primary chain)other which can destroy more than one wants to know starting with starter clutches Anyways Hayden also makes a chain tensioner but from my experience Baker is the best way to go
My bike is sounding the same but whoever said check the spark plugs you better check yourself into a mechanic school because that has nothing to do with starting noise. So what ended up being the problem with your bike? Thank you
If that were a car I would say BENDIX kick back default. Now considering Harley and what I know about them it may simply be the compensator BUT not the compensator at fault. When we ride these and pull them up and kill them and go to take them out of gear and put in neutral its possible the first gear could still be partially engaged and this would put the compensator in lock mode then when the engine kicks back it forces the Bendix gear the opposite direction. So try this. Before starting put one in neutral and rock the bike back and forth 6 inches up and 6 inches back. Then start and that may stop this from happening. My 02 softail did this horrible noise today after I pulled up and my front wheel was on my porch slab and its one inch higher and I killed the engine. When I went to start it again I think maybe the weight back stress didn't allow the compensator to disengage. Its not doing this now. The science of this could have been because the upper section of the primary chain may have kept tight tension on the front sprocket and because of this the compensator stayed engaged
NorCal tight primary chain caused by automatic chain tensioner that has no way to create chain slack. That causes starter clutch and Compensator failures
@rick mcdavid did you find out what it was? mine does the same its a loud clunk clunk but does it when it wants to and often still started up untill the starter switch seems to went bad
What I started doing and seems to be working...is I turn the key on then hit the starter button for one second to let it make contact then push it again after that and it doesn't seem to do that. Otherwise, you can get a solenoid rebuild kit from J&P Cycles for around $20-25.00. Hate that f'n noise tho
My 07 dyna wideglide does this on a hot start only, I bought a new starter ring gear today and plan on putting it on im pretty sure thats my issue with the noise, but I do have a problem with the idle dropping low after I pull in the clutch pretty sure its the IAC BUT NOT 100% Sure, it runs fine but if i open her up, and then downshift when the idle isn't to high and let it rumble down and pull in the clutch it'll drop really low and die on me -.-
Rick McDavid how could the compensator have anything to do with the starting process. You would think you wouldn't even hear a compensator problem until after the bike was running
Rick McDavid bet it was all caused by that automatic tensioner which has no way to get slack on primary chain once it gets tight. Automatic tensioner is the main culprit of failing starters and Compensator. Baker drivetrain makes high quality parts like Baker Attitude chain tensioner and Baker Compensator.
Did u fix it I'm having the same problem I changed starter clutch but the problem is there some of them said its because of the crankshaft rod damage what's the real cause for this issue
If that were a car I would say BENDIX kick back default. Now considering Harley and what I know about them it may simply be the compensator BUT not the compensator at fault. When we ride these and pull them up and kill them and go to take them out of gear and put in neutral its possible the first gear could still be partially engaged and this would put the compensator in lock mode then when the engine kicks back it forces the Bendix gear the opposite direction. So try this. Before starting put one in neutral and rock the bike back and forth 6 inches up and 6 inches back. Then start and that may stop this from happening. My 02 softail did this horrible noise today after I pulled up and my front wheel was on my porch slab and its one inch higher and I killed the engine. When I went to start it again I think maybe the weight back stress didn't allow the compensator to disengage. Its not doing this now. The science of this could have been because the upper section of the primary chain may have kept tight tension on the front sprocket and because of this the compensator stayed engaged
Earl Guyton , yes I think your on to something there. Thank you for the info. If I or someone else I see, experiences this starting problem, I’ll definitely give that a try.
Earl Guyton definitely tight chain causes by the faulty automatic chain tensioner which cant release tension once it goes tight. I done went through all this trouble with my bike. I ended up replacing starter clutch then my Stock Compensator with a Baker Compensator and got rid of that crap automatic tensioner and replaced that with a Baker Attitude. My bike runs so much better than it did. Bakers parts cost a bit but worth every penny especially in the long run.. 07 and up have these automatic tensioner and many have had same issues like in video due to those destroying primary components and transmission
If that were a car I would say BENDIX kick back default. Now considering Harley and what I know about them it may simply be the compensator BUT not the compensator at fault. When we ride these and pull them up and kill them and go to take them out of gear and put in neutral its possible the first gear could still be partially engaged and this would put the compensator in lock mode then when the engine kicks back it forces the Bendix gear the opposite direction. So try this. Before starting put one in neutral and rock the bike back and forth 6 inches up and 6 inches back. Then start and that may stop this from happening. My 02 softail did this horrible noise today after I pulled up and my front wheel was on my porch slab and its one inch higher and I killed the engine. When I went to start it again I think maybe the weight back stress didn't allow the compensator to disengage. Its not doing this now. The science of this could have been because the upper section of the primary chain may have kept tight tension on the front sprocket and because of this the compensator stayed engaged
I have a 2011 road king it does this been looking and reading the forums they say it’s the battery not strong enough to turn over the hot engine because the compression is greater when hot then when motors cold it bleeds out makes since going to get my done , sounds horrible and embarrassing lol
I have same bike but only happens sometimes when hot, i think it still has compression, i have auto release but maybe some still remains, dont shut off till you hear the jakebrake sound
I'm having the same issue on a hot start only. I am pretty sure my problem is the starter ring gear has teeth missing, fucking hate the sound it makes tho -.-
@@rider0792 Im having the same issue. Usually only happens after the bike is hot. Will do it from time to time after it has been sitting. 07 Softail Deluxe
your battery seems strong my guess would be the solenoid have you taken a look at your spark plugs sometimes a nice clean set can help get an easy ignition keep us posted
I found a way to almost completely improve this situation. When you turn on the switch on the right, press the button within one second to start. I have never encountered this terrible noise again after Starting in this way.
Mark Gowin Compensator and automatic chain tensioner is causing these issues. If starter starts grinding on hot starts it will need a new starter clutch soon also
i have a 2013 street glide was having the same problem just took it the shop yesterday and they ran diagnostic on it and my battery was no good they are riding it right now and gonna call me and let me know if that fixxed the problem and it did do it only when hot or warm keep ya posted
Shawn Garner check your primary chain to see if its too tight. The automatic primary chain tensioner cause over tightening of the chain which gets even tighter once bike is at operating temperature. It will cause starter clutch to go bad and destroy clutch hub/ splines and bearings etc.. best check The chain to see if within spec of 5/8 -7/8 and if anything tighter than that it is what’s causing the problem
The new starter did it once and i checked all the connections, battery to starter to ground. Even if they look good and not corroded, they still need to be hit with sand paper for shiny metal and smooth ion transfer. Twice a yr and fires first half turn. 🤙🏽
