Weak Battery can wreck a Starter?
 

My FLSTF was becoming hard starting and the starter would sometimes make a Crash noise when the engine would sputter on start up. On checking with a HD shop they advised me to change the battery as it was almost 4 years old even though it never failed to start the bike. Huh? After replacing the battery, it does NOT make the Crash noise anymore nor does it SPUTTER on startup. The shop "HD of Sacramento" also advised it will strip the teeth off of the starter and ring gear which makes a Crash noise when it is happening. Has anyone else had this problem with their Harley? I find the simple things like this to a complex problem very confusing. But lots cheaper. Only $70 for a new gel cell battery. Rather than a expensive trouble shooting at the dealers shop. My thanks to the Guys at HD of Sacramento because I was pulling my hair out trying to find the cause (not much hair left anymore).

"Feeling not so Rapido"
Rapido

I had the same problem with my Heritage last year. I was really skeptical when they told me to change battery. In fact the closest HD dealership wanted me to bring the bike in for service to have it fixed. Then I was out an about in a neighboring county, and the HD dealer out that way just told me to change the battery. Needless to say I bought the battery right then and there, they helped me out in the parking lot to change it and everything cleared up....absolutely amazing.

And you're right, a small thing like this that clears up what feels/sounds like a major problem is confusing. Oh well, glad you're set straight now with the battery.

Four years!!!! WOW! That's impressive...before I went to the gel battery, I would only get a year- year 1/2 tops! Now I have had the same gel battery for two 1/2 years and going strong. I admit I didn't do regular maintance as recommended...but I was happy to get a year 1/2 outta the old style. Now I live in Fl and ride weekly, so it never has a chance to get low;)

The mysterious starter noises disappearing are because the battery had just enough to turn it over but it wasn't getting the full voltage to the starter. Now that it has the proper voltage it kicks in just as designed and everything is operational. Cheap lesson brother. ;) Glad it didn't cost ya the "Trouble Shooting Expense" from the stealership!

HD of Sacramento is in my opinion an honest dealer and not a stealership. Amazing and hard to be leave in this world of money grabbers. Another honest dealer is one in Fairbanks Alaska. They fixed my knee slapper, wheel wobble problem during a 10000 service while I was visiting up there last year. All they charged was for the service. I had had that knee slapper problem for about 6 months and was ready to sell the f--ker to solve it and buy a BMW. Which brings up a whole new lean to stealerships.

Rapido

I replaced the Starter on my 2000 FLSTF to a heavy duty starter and tossed the old one. With a 95 inch kit and 10 to 1 compression they recommended either a heavyduty starter or a compression release. I optioned for the starter to leave the heads alone. Bike starts fine now with no grinding or hang on startup. I'm back on the road.

Rapido

I had the same thing on my 2002 Dyna. Had other electrical problems happening at the same time. Power was flickering off and on. Replaced the battery and problem solved. Had a dead cell. Battery was about 1 1/2 years old.

When I punched out my sporty and raised the compression the old battery didnt last a month. Got a sealed battery and 2 years later still runnin. The only time that you need releases is when you get way up in compression. We had a TP that rung out the stater gear after a few months. All the 10:5:1 motors have always just needed new batteries