I have 1972 xl 1000 harley starter is just spinning not engaging i have replaced starter the selenoid and the bendix stilll not working

Try a new solenoid first.

take starter out to replace bendix

This is a possibility. The header says you're working on a 1979 XLH 1000cc Sportster. This is not a 250cc bike and it takes a good battery to start and engine of this size. I've never seen a CCA rating on the battery requirement in a service manual but it does say that the battery should be capable of at least 32 Ahr.

Good Luck
Steve

If the starter spins but the engine does not turn, it's not your starter. It is your starter drive or Bendix on the starter shaft. Disconnect the battery. Take the outer primary cover off. Take the wires off the starter solenoid, remove the pin, cup and spring on the inside of the primary, and remove the solenoid. With this off, you can remove the starter shaft. Clamp the starter shaft in a vise with soft jaws on it. You don't want to scar your starter shaft. You'll see a round thing on the end of the shaft with two flats on it. Use a wrench to take this off. IT HAS LEFT HANDED THREADS. Slide the old Bendix off and put the new one on. Put a drop of Loctite 271 red on the threads and put the nut back on the end and tighten. Put your bake back together in reverse of how you took it apart. When you buy the replacement Bendix, but a good one. Do not buy the Chinese version, they're junk.

Good Luck
Steve

Or the big washer in solenoid is burnt & sticking take apart sand big copper washer & part it touches reassemble .. you may also ask this ? at harleytalking.com they have helped me...

Your starter drive or "Bendix" is bad. Disconnect the battery, remove the outer primary, remove the starter solenoid and pull the starter drive shaft, with the Bendix on it, out. Clamp the starter drive shaft in vise with soft jaws and remove the nut on the outer end. It has left handed threads. Replace the starter drive with a high quality unit such as ACCEL. Avoid the cheaper Chinese units as they don't last. Reassemble your bike.

Good Luck
Steve

Thirty over is nothing. I just finished a rebuilt on a 1970 model and we went 0.050" over on it. It was already at 30 over and the pistons scored.

Anyway, don't use one of these cheap Chinese made bendix's. Get an ACCEL. They may be made in China but they're better. You can't get good Shovelhead parts anymore.

Now, before you put the outer primary back on, use your hand and operate the fork that shifts the bendix into engagement with the ring gear. Does it engage like it's supposed to. You'll probably have to turn it just a bit. Now, do it again with the outer primary on. Does it still engage smoothly?

Now, here's the cause of most starter grinding problems on a shovel. The starter, ring gear, and outer primary are all out of alignment. The starter housing, the one with the big gear in it is supposed to have alignment pins in it as well as the outer primary. These pins are to ensure that the starter drive and the ring gear are properly aligned with each other. With the starter and outer primary on, you should be able to pull on the plunger of the solenoid and the starter drive engage fully and smoothly. Also don't forget the large brass washer. This keeps the drive from going too far.

If you're worried about low voltage, take the battery to an automotive parts store and ask them to load test the battery. If it drops below 10 volts, buy a new battery.

its either a bad or drained battery or the starter selenoid. check your battery voltage using a tester or put it on a charger, if that doesnt solve your problem you should look at your starter selenoid

Bad switch or Solenoid. depending on the bike.