Starter chatter

[Poor Ol Harry]

OK, I'me past the hydrolock....along with desmog ,pingle petcock & a complete carb job / 6 new needle valves & could not be any more pleased with the way it runs & idel.....only thing is when I push the starter I hear a weak chattering sound & it stops a second or two after it starts.I'm sure this is hydrolock related but not exactly sure where to look & is that a DO NOT RIDE warning?Thanks in advance for your input

[Michvalk]

My guess would be, the starter took a beating with the hydrolock. Not sure how the starter works as I never had to take mine out. There is some kind of mechanism that engages with the starter drive gear that could be causing the noise. Just a guess

[fudgie]

Might pull the started and take a look. Its a bitch to get out. 

[saddlesore]

  A couple of months ago my starter would stay engaged.  Since I had cleaned the starter switch a while before that I knew it wasn't the switch.  It turned out to be the button itself sticking.
  Maybe?

[Hoser]

Take the button completly apart and clean everything you can find that makes contact. or replace it.  My button actually shorted and welded itself and would not move.  an early warning is it won't start if you push it all the way in.  It would start if I pushed the button part way in, all the way it would not. I was in South dakota at the time, after it shorted and froze up and would no longer move, I push started it, and left it running the 500 miles I had to go to get home, gas stops and all.  I bought a new assemby,button, shut off switch,  wiring and all.   Works fine now.  Pain in the a$$ then.  Hoser 

[Dorkman]

The chatter you are hearing may be the solenoid.  If your voltage is low due to a weak battery or poor connection, the solenoid will chatter but not have enough juice to turn the starter.  In your case, it may have just enough and finally catches.  Recommend checking the cable from the battery to the solenoid, then charging the battery.

[Grandpa Bigbuck]

If you pull your starter and look in the big hole chances are this is what you are going to see after a hydrolock. Notice the tooth missing off of the gear on the left.

[Patrick]

I agree with Bigbuck.  Since you said the 'chatter' continues for a couple seconds after engine start, I think you may have a damaged or missing tooth or two. The starter has to come out to take a look.

[Ricky-D]

No starter solenoid on the Valkyrie.

***

[1500Rider]

I have a similar chatter when I start my Valkyrie. Just for a second or so when it starts then it goes away. Almost sounds like the ball in a paint spray can. It has done this since I bought the bike.

The previous owner figured it was a gummed up starter clutch (can't remember Honda's proper name for it). I haven't had a chance to investigate it further since I bought it. Have had it stripped down since spring doing a rebuild and repaint. Not going as far at the engine/starter though so will have to see. Put in some Shell Rotella oil and Seafoam to see if that eventually clears it up if it is indeed the starter clutch mechanism. Didn't know about the hydrolock issue when I bought the Valkyrie so never thought to ask. Guess I'll find out after putting some miles on it when spring comes around.

[Dorkman]

No starter solenoid on the Valkyrie.

***

True, thanks.  Not really a solenoid, referred to as a relay or switch.  Some more poop (or crud) on the relay: 

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,45295.0.html

[Hoser]

Truth be told, the broken tooth is probly in the oil pan, it should run a long time if you don't hydrolock again.  Noise will not go away, but should not hurt anything.  Strain the old oil when you change it, you might find the tooth.  Hoser

[pouch]

when mine hydrolocked i didnt have a clue what had happened. i took the engine out pulled the back cover and found a little gear between the starter and the main gear had striped out and broke the rear cover where the shaft for the little sat. i still didnt know anything about hydrolock. what it took in size of sockets ,i thought i was working on a d-9 dozer. fixed it put it together and started it ok good job not so the next day i started it to find the starter slam hard again. i pulled the plugs and the one next to my leg on the right shot gas 12 ft. i ordered a dan mark electrical fuel shut off and ive been doing good. mine also makes a funny noise when i start it but i have gone to inzane on it and to gotf.but i guess im ok. till its not. this is not a job for the faint at heart. on mine the little gear has probably lossed a tooth but its going to have to make me do this again by failing. sorry for such a long exp. but i wanted you to know unless you shut the fuel off each time by a danmark youre in trouble. hope this helps pouch

[Bigun]

LOL when I pulled the plugs on mine it painted the walls in my garage. Was extra carefull to not let the girl friend smoke in there for quite a while afterward.

[.]

I hope I'm not butting in and hijacking this thread but I've seen a number of posts on this and I'm curious: Just how common IS hydrolock on the Valkyrie?

[Hoser]

Hell of a lot more common than it  should be.  Only weak spot I know of on a great bike. Rebuild, or buy aftermarket petcock, and keep the fuel clean are the cures. I went with an aftermarket petcock. Hoser  ???

[Ricky-D]

It's not that common at all.

Seeing all the Valkyrie's that were produced.

There have been only a handful of actual reports on the forum.

It's a real testament to the sturdiness of the Valkyrie and it's systems.

***