Motorcycle Repair: sportster starter silenoid, harley manual, harley davidson sportster

Question
I have 2002 sportster with what i believe is a silenoid problem. Is there a way to check it electrically or through continuity while it is still on the bike. The harley manual makes no reference to this.

Answer
I don't know of any test for the solenoid. But you can remove the solenoid plunger, remove the disc and turn it around and reinstall it. Also I've had starters that wouldn't work and found the problem to be the drive gear inside the starter housing at the end that mounts to your bike. But unless you've got a couple of old starters laying around to get parts from it'd probably be cheaper and easier to purchase a new starter. David I was just looking through one of my manuals to help answer a question for someone else when I noticed some testing info for the starter solenoid. The manual is a Clymers M429-4, Harley Davidson Sportster Evolution 1991-2003 page 45. But to do the testing you have to remove the starter from the bike and you'll have to remove the primary cover to get to the 2 bolts that hold it on.