20 Most Recent 2000 Harley Davidson FXST Softail Standard - Page 9 Questions & Answers

I have a 98 softail and the mirrors just unscrew using an open end wrench. Also use the blue loctite when reinstalling for vibration.

I thought I just answered this question somewhere but I'll answer it again. This is a common problem on the 5-speed transmission.

It sounds like your shifter pawl return spring is broken inside the transmission. With your bike in neutral, lift up or push down on the shifter like you are going to shift gears. Feel the amount of spring tension that is supposed to return the shifter to the "center position" in preparation for the next shift. If the shifter does not return to center like it's supposed to, this is indeed your problem. You can check to see if the shift lever back at the transmission is loose but usually this in not the case.

This is a very complicated procedure to repair requiring the removal of all the "guts" in the transmission. Luckily, on the 5-speed transmission, both shafts with their gears come out with the trap door of the transmission. The problem is all the other stuff you have to take off the bike to get to this point. Unless you're absolutely sure this is the problem and unless you're a very experienced mechanic with some specialized tools, this is a job best left to the dealership mechanics.

If you are saying that you have replaced the starter motor and the solenoid and checked the springs and the starter drive fork and found the in good condition, let's assume that all this stuff is good. There are a few more things left. One is the ring gear of the outer clutch drum. Inspect it for damaged teeth. If that is found to be in good condition, the starter drive (Bendix) may be bad. This is the gear on the end of the starter jack shaft that has the one-way bearing in it. Sometimes they go bad and allow the shaft to slip inside the bearing. The starter spins but does not turn the engine over. The starter drive can be replaced by removing the left handed threaded nut off the end of the shaft.

If you don't think this is the reason for the "jumping out", the solenoid windings create a magnetic field that pushes the starter out to engage the ring gear on the clutch outer drum. This also holds the starter gear engaged. If the starter gear is jumping out, the solenoid could still be defective.

The only other thing I can think of is that the engine may be trying to start just enough to disengage the starter but not well enough to continue running.

Good Luck. Repost if necessary

I think your rear master cylinder is 5/8" in diameter since it is only a single disc in the rear brake. Dual disc front brakes usually have the larger 3/4" diameter master cylinder. If you take the master cylinder apart, you can either measure the bore or look on the rubber "cup". The size is usually on the cup.

You may want to check all of you engine mouting bolts to make sure they are torqued correctly. As to the shafts and chain they are really only replaced when out of limits. I would be very surprised if they were out of limits and the only problem. While I have not seen every 88B motor....we rebuild them and most often don't replace those items. Hope this helps.

JP

Have you cleaned the carbs? If fuel is left sitting in them for 4 months it could gel up and block them. If your leaving it for that long its a good idea to drain the fluids before putting her away.

Hey Cameron,
On most Harleys, the return line is the one closest to the filler neck.

Check your fuel petcock, check the vacuum hose to the petcock. Make sure it is not cracked or not sealing well at each end. Hope this helps.

JP

it sounds as if your inner primary is not lined up they do have a tendency to wear slots in the holes where they mount to the tranny and motor

yes, '00 fxst is MT90HB-16 rear (130/90x16) this is a bias ply, 130mm tire.

I would take it to someone who can help you through it personally, it is very easy to bend pushrods just rotating the motor if they are too tight. You could contact S&S cycle tech line and see if they have the new Crane contact numbers.

seems like ignition line short, like a plug cable or plug itself

If it is spinning & not engaging - could be the bendex in the starter.. Or its the solonoid - which kinda tells the starter what to do.. But might as well replace both starter & solonoid..

Hope this helps !!
Rate me good ;o)

Sounds like a blown fuse or bad relay to the starter

look at the connection on the horn if thatts not it check the fuse ,

short in the battery or a ground loose check main ground on battery

check for a loose ground

You carbs are letting the fuel into the float bowls all the time so when you have the fuel on it just runs over and leeks past the rings into the oil.
you will need to clean the carbs and may have to replace the float values and adjust the floats
hope this helps

I would check at the handlebar switch and go from there.I could be the short is in the switch.

I had the same problem. what i think happened was that some oil may have gotten on the front regulator. plus vibration. i got a new regulator. and just put it on today. i believe it got things to normal again