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IH: Engine Control

Starter/Solenoid


Starters

Starter Motor Variations

Prestolite starters have raised ridges running the circumference of the end cap (OEM).
Hitachi starters have a smooth surface on the end cap.
Nippon Denso starters have the solenoid attached.

67-73 Prestolite only. Separate Solenoid
74-E76 EITHER Prestolite or Hitachi. Separate Solenoid
L76-80 Prestolite only. Separate Solenoid
81-later Nippon Denso Solenoid Attached

This means all 67-73 & L76-80 came with the Prestolite Housing and Starter Motor.
Its on the 74-E76 that things are muddied.

On 74-E76, there were 3 housings that may have been fitted.
Which one any bike got was a toss-up.

If you had a Prestolite motor you had a Prestolite matching housing.
If you had a Hitachi motor you had a Hitachi matching housing.
– On these, the motor, thru bolts, and housing were matched.

However, the 3rd possibility was a combination housing:
It had a Prestolite housing but with a set of Hitachi mounting holes added.
- It had both bolt patterns.
The Pretolite holes were at the 12:00 & 6:00 position (1/4-20 bolts).
The smaller Hitachi holes were skewed clockwise from those (6mm bolts).
This skew moved the Hitachi motor cable stud slightly below the 3:00 position.

For those who own a 74-e76 this means if you remove your starter motor and see only 2 holes in the housing - you need to use the same brand motor as removed, or you need to change the housing to match the replacement motor brand. If your housing has 4 holes, you can replace the old starter with either a Prestolite or Hitachi brand motor.

There is no mention of the 4-hole housing in the parts books. They came on some bikes, but with no known part number to order them.

Reference these threads:
http://xlforum.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1521782 - Dr. Dick Post#4 quoted above
http://xlforum.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1715008


The 1981-later starters are the same Nippon Denso version as used on the Evolution model engines.

For additonal information, see the Evo Section - Starter/Solenoid


Solenoids


Check Solenoid Cover for Conductivity

  • Some solenoid covers used from 1977 had the ability to conduct electricity. The pigment in the black paint contained excessive amounts of 'carbon black' mixed in the rubber compound which was the medium. The high concentration of carbon could cause a slow battery drain condition when left for extended periods. 1)
  • This would be difficult to detect as the electrical charging system would test out OK.
  • FL/FX models had an aluminum oxide paint color which could also create this problem.
  • Inspection:
    • Set a voltmeter to 10 scale.
    • Connect a jumper wire to the outside solenoid cover and the battery positive (+) post.
    • Then, connect the volt meter to the inside solenoid boot and battery negative (-) post.
    • If the needle reads anything or even flickers while keeping solid contact, the cover is conductive.
      • If the cover is found to be conductive, replace the cover (31457-77). Test the new cover as above before installing it.


1)
HD Service Bulletin #M-776 dated May 9. 1980
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