Motorcycle Repair: RevTech hard crank(very hard crank), american iron horse, starter clutch

Question
I know it's not a Harley engine but:  I have a 2006 model revtech 110inch epa cert. engine installed in a 1993 electra glide. The engine simply will not crank over, starting issues since day one. I have broken 3 different starters and 3 different starter clutch drives. I have a 500cca battery 2ga cables, additional ground cable a terrys 1.7kw starter and have checked the ign. timing. RevTech insists that this engine does not require compression releases however I'm running out of options. Can you help.

Answer
Billy I've worked on quite a few big-inch motors.  I can tell you without hesitation that if you don't have compression releases you are going to have battery problems, starter clutch and starter problems and maybe even some wiring problems from heavy amp draw.  You have to have good grounding cables and your starter has to be well grounded to the inner primary also.  Like no paint or coatings to interfere.  I've even seen 103" motors have these problems eventually if they don't have compression releases.  If your motor has plugs in the center of the rocker boxes for compression releases it's easy.  If not, you have to drill holes in the heads.  Simple manual compression releases are fine, and the hole that is drilled all the way through the head only needs to be about 1/16" in diameter on the better kits.  The pilot hole for the release has to be larger but it should not be drilled all the way through.  All the "good" aftermarket chopper manufacturers have compression releases as standard equipment on any motors over 100 cu.in. (like all the 107's, 113's and 124's).  What does that tell you?  And the manufacturer's like American Iron Horse that didn't have compression releases up to 2002, now have them on all their motors.  Get it?  Good luck and although you may have other problems that I'm not aware of from your description, you still should have compression releases.  Ask any big-inch mechanic with experience.  And have someone install them that has done it before.  Billy, I just reread your question and want to make it clear that your starter should crank over that motor without a problem, but it will start much easier and for a long time once you have compression releases.  If your motor literally is not turning over, you have other serious mechanical problems like maybe your jackshaft alignment, etc.