i have a 87 fxst with a new spyke starter,battery(300 cca),cables, drive clutch,shaft,solinoid. the works but it wont turn over with the plugs in. the motors stock, no bent valves, i lifted the rear wheel and turned the engine over with it in gear with no binding. the starters grounded to the frame. ive ever hooked my car battery to it and still nothing. ive been working on bikes since i was a kid and this has me stumped. any help would be appreciated.
If I understand correct, it will NOT even Turn Over with the plugs in..
Your statement,,,, """but it wont turn over with the plugs in. """ confuses me.. Or is it that it will turn over but just not start with the plugs in..?
Ok,, will it turn over with the plugs removed.?
Did this new starter ever work..?
Did you perform all the New installations.?
When you turn it by hand via the rear wheel will it turn over through all 4 strokes so that you know for absolutely sure that it's not hitting a stuck valve.. I've had that happen..
I know you said it has No bent valves & supplied alota other good info but humor me ok..
Are you sure the switch and the Button are good.? No broken wires & all good connections.. Circuit breakers are not tripping..?? All lights etc. work.?
Get back to us--- we have operators standing by..
__________________ "Fill your hands you son of a bitch"
Rooster Cogburn
ive turned it through many strokes just in case but its free spinning, the starter does engage and wants to turn it over but it just cant roll it over like it has a really low battery. all the other electrical works fine. when i put the starter in i did what spyke suggested (extra ground off starter to the frame).
i did everything to the manf. specs i turned it over many times and theres no binding, it wants to turn over but it acts like the batterys low but its not. all the other elec. works fine
I'm guessing this new batt shows a Full charge but did you do a Load test on it.? Sometimes even a new one will be defective..
Do a Load test to eliminate the batt as the prob..
Tell me this,,, did the New starter and Batt ever turn the motor over with Vigor.?
I bet everything worked well Before the new Batt and starter huh..
At the moment I suspect the new starter especially if you did your job correctly.. I suspect the Batt 2nd..
Before or After a load test try this..
Pull in the clutch lever (dis-engage clutch) before pushing the button..
That way the Batt & Starter do Not also have to rotate the clutch hub and all the gears on the main-shaft while spinning the motor.. That's a good idea to do all the time.. Sometimes it makes it Just easy enough for a weak Batt to barely do it's job..
Man, I wish I had more at the moment..
__________________ "Fill your hands you son of a bitch"
Rooster Cogburn
the original starter did this too, i did contact spyke and told them about whats going on and they told me to bring to starter by when im in town to load test it. im ruling out the battery, just for grins i hooked up my truck to it and it did the same thing. i accuired this bike like this(long story) and the owner was a goober ans couldnt tell me anything but it needed a starter.
Yes I read that you hooked up the auto Batt to it also but I just like to eliminate everything poss..
You know,,,,, I think many auto parts stores like Checkers, Napa, CarQuest, etc. etc. have a station in the store for checking starters, alternators, batt's, etc etc..
I do not think it matters whether or not it's a Car or Sickle component..
I rekon you can have the starter checked there..
But,, since the other original starter was having the same prob you gotta ask, what are the odds that this new starter is bad too..
I'm kinda surprised none of our other guys have Not entered into this prob..
Some of them like Wrightturn, Ace, & ShovelMike are pretty good with "juice" stuff..
If you are certain the switch and button and Batt and all the connections you made while doing the installations are correct and are NOT the prob, and since the motor will spin free with NO restrictions well,,, I believe I can no longer assist..
Good luck
__________________ "Fill your hands you son of a bitch"
Rooster Cogburn
Run a 12 or 10 gauge jumper wire directly from the battery positive post and touch it to the small terminal on the solenoid.Get back to me with the results
ace the bike is in myrtle beach sc and im in deleware. i had to file a lien on it and i couldnt take it out of state till i had a title il have it on june 1st il be going to get it shortly after and il try it and post what happens. what your trying to see is if any switches are bad. correct? just overriding the whole system i have done that.
Well,if you've done that,then you've eliminated the switches & the wiring.This leaves the battery & connections,the starter or the solenoid,or possibly the pull in/pivoting fork assembly.I'd start with good clean connections at the ends of every cable & a KNOWN GOOD BATTERY(one thats fully charged & load tested)
87 softail starting problems 
Re: 87 softail starting problems 
Linear Mode
