Classic Motorcycle Build

Sportster Bendix Gear (Remove and Install)

Text and Pictures by Mark Trotta

The bendix gear is also referred to as the starter drive, and is located in the starter housing between the starter motor and clutch ring gear. Sportster bendix gear replacement requires removal of the starter motor on the right side of the bike and the primary cover on the left side.

Sportster bendix gear

Read: Electric Start Ironheads

Think of a bendix gear as a hand-tool ratchet. It can rotate freely in one direction and lock itself in other. This allows it to rotate one way to start the engine when engaged, and then free itself once the engine starts.

There are springs and ball bearings inside the bendix gear. With age and usage, the springs break, which will allow the gear to turn both ways, making it inoperable. When this happens, it will "whine" when trying to start.

The bendix gear installed on my 1976 Sportster is an aftermarket replacement. It has two primary motorcycle applications:

Sportster bendix gear

Shop: Bendix Starter Gear

Sportster bendix gear

Replacing Sportster Bendix Gear

On several-year Sportsters, including my old 1976 XLH, the primary chain and clutch assembly need to be removed to replace the bendix gear drive. There are many more steps necessary for this, and specialty tools are required. A service manual is very helpful.

If your primary cover and clutch assembly need to be removed, see Ironhead Clutch Removal.

Ironhead Sportster with primary cover removed

If the primary chain, compensating sprocket, and clutch shell need to be removed, see primary chain removal page.

Sportster bendix drive

Sportster Bendix Gear Removal

On the right side of the bike, remove the sprocket cover. Remove the cable from the starter motor terminal. The starter motor is removed with two long bolts.

The pinion drive assembly is on the inside top of the left engine case. Depress the retainer cup, remove pin from hole in plunger shaft. Remove the spring. Remove attaching bolts.

Sportster bendix gear

The fork that holds the pinion gear assembly in place is called the starter pinion lever. Rotate this until the fingers clear the pinion gear shifting collar, then remove.

Harley-Davidson Sportster starter shaft housing diagram

After you have the pinion gear assembly off the bike, place it between copper jaws in a vise. Tighten only until its snug.

The pinion shaft is left-hand thread. Unscrew the nut from the shaft.

The pinion gear assembly in order of disassembly is the nut, bearing race, pinion and shifter collar. Remove the lock ring to separate gear and shifter collar. Disassembled, the pinion gear assembly looks like the picture below.

Remove and replace bendix gear assembly on Harley-Davidson Sportster

Put a dot of thread-locking sealant on the shaft nut when reassembling the bendix gear assembly. Spin the assembled shaft in the bearings to check for free movement. Stake the starter shaft housing washer.

The aftermarket replacement was a little different looking than the factory original but it fit and worked fine.

Assembly is the reverse order of disassembly. Before you button up the motor, this would be a good time to replace your oil hoses.

Sportster bendix gear

The bendix-style starter drive on your old Harley has several drawbacks. The starter can still spin without engaging the flywheel, or it can jam during engagement. And if the engine kicks back while you try to start, it forces the gear to turn backward, damaging it.

Read: Ironhead Special Tools