80' Interstate Starter Spins

732 Views 17 Replies 9 Participants Last post by grizly, Jun 20, 2009

bluzman

Discussion Starter · Jun 14, 2009

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Greetings All, I just bought an 1980 Interstate and I'm workin' out the bugs. When starting the bike the starter only engages when it feels fit. Normally the starter motor just spins without turning over the engine. I put a brand new starter in the other day, same problem. Eventually the starter engages and I'm off and running. But as you can imagine, sitting in a parking lot hitting the starter button until it engages is a bit troublesome to me

, emoticon is representation of passing Harley rider.

Thanks in advance!!

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Hobie1

· #2 · Jun 14, 2009

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Greetings, It sounds like thestarter clutchassemblymight be gummed up. One thing that you can try is to drain a quart of oil out and put in a quart of Marvel Mystery Oil(MMO) and gently ride the bike for a couple of hundred miles. Then change the oil and filter. BTW, what weight of oil are you using right now?

Hope this helps.

Hobie

clarkjh

· #3 · Jun 14, 2009

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Mine did the same thing. I am rebuilding the starter clutch while I have the engine out for other repairs. I am hopping that that will fix the "Hit" or "Miss" on the starter, the rollers on mine were rusted and pitted as well as the springs didn't want to push the rollers out so that all three would make contact.

bluzman

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jun 14, 2009

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I recently input Amsoil 10w40; I run it in all my cars.

Hobie1

· #5 · Jun 14, 2009

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bluzman wrote:

I recently input Amsoil 10w40; I run it in all my cars.

Did it help your starter problems? Also, does it have any friction modifiers such as moly in it? If so, you might want to remove it from your engine before it gets embedded in your tranny clutch as it supposedly will screw it up(slippage).

Hobie

daveman

· #6 · Jun 14, 2009

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Mine was doing the same thing when I first bought it...I drained out 8 oz's or so of oil, put in the equivalent amount of Seafoam, ran about 300kms (180-ish miles), drained & refilled with 10w 40 & no more problems since...

Worth a try!

Dave

bluzman

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jun 14, 2009

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No friction modifiers or molys in Amsoil.

Dancinbear

· #8 · Jun 15, 2009

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Daveman has the answer......... my 86 did this after winter lay-up. The oil (rotella 15-40) was new from storage. Added 1 1/2 oz of seafoam per quart of oil.... did not drain any oil out. Bump started the bike and rode all day. It has started every time since. Drain out oil/seafoam mix after a few hundred miles.

ENJOY.

bluzman

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jun 15, 2009

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Thank You Gentleman!! I'm gonna give the seafoam a shot. I'll post results.

Have a good week!!

bluzman

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jun 17, 2009

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Hey Gents, I've ran about 200 miles with the seafoam mixed in with the oil. I'm seeing little or no improvement. I have not changed out the seafoam/oil mix yet. Should I change the mixture before I'll see results. Maybe the starter clutch is too far gone??

By the way, I added about 8oz. of seafoam to the crankcase.

Thanks!!

JBz

· #11 · Jun 18, 2009

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What i would do is add about a 1/2 quart of atf to your engine oil and run it for a few hundred milesand see what dont happen. Are you having topull start it now or do you live by a hill. JB

clarkjh

· #12 · Jun 18, 2009

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I did the wild bill hickock show version of starting mine when it wouldn't engage. Pushing the bike from the side, once at a jogging pace, tramp it in 1st and then swing the leg over the moving horse while trying to avoid hitting the car, truck, house, tree, and basketball net. This all within 30 feet of driveway.

James

TJ859

· #13 · Jun 18, 2009

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Hey bluzman my 87 did the same thing through the winter whenI would only start it up once in awhile,whenI did an oil change this spring I swicthed back toBardahl oil10W40 for MotorCycles after a couple hunred kilometers the problem was gone anywaythats what workedwithmy Ride.

bluzman

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jun 18, 2009

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Mornin' from the Heartland, I keep hittin the button; sometimes it takes 5 hits, sometimes it takes 20. It always starts eventually:X

I just got back in the wind recently and was hoping to make it til fall before having to pull the engine.

Have a great day, All!!

rcmatt007

· #15 · Jun 18, 2009

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very common problem in these olde-wings.... always worse after a lay-up... sometimes a starter clutch rebuild works, sometimes it doesn't.... most of us just live with it

good advice on the seafoam or try MMO

bluzman

Discussion Starter · #16 · Jun 20, 2009

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Sup' Folks, I'm discourgaged this morning. Drained the Seafom/oil mix last night. Dumped some oil in it(10w40 cheapie oil), took it out for a ride. Now it's the same, actually it's worse. I bought this bike about a month ago hoping to get some miles in before winter. Anyone think the MMO is worth a try; I put $1.85 oil in it; so not much to lose. Time to get after it; there's plenty of summer left.:gunhead:

bluzman

Discussion Starter · #17 · Jun 20, 2009

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Repost......I just went outside, pushed the starter button. It's been setting overnight, turned right over, turned the key off, pushed the button, slipped, again, turned right over. We might have some progress Gents. Thanks to y'all. I'll post again later, Via Con Dios!!!!

Grizly-Triker

· #18 · Jun 20, 2009

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MY old 80 did the same thing to me but an old winger told me about the old dirty oil from a long winter nites rest... Changed it and NO problems after...

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