I have a 2008 sportsman H.O. efi. Lately sometimes the electric start would work sometimes it just clicks. so im not mechanically inclined. i took it to the dealership for repair and the said that the bendix was bad. so they said it worked fine. so they moved it to the front of the store. then they went to move it again and it wouldnt start so they realized that the new bendix had stripped the gears out of my old starter.
is this possible? if so should i pay them 512 to fix this when i went online and saw that a new bendix and starter from amazon cost $70. they told me at the dealership that the oem starter was $330.
What should i do?

 

Think someone's try to get to you! Simple test light will tell if the solenoid is working. Just put the lead on the battery and when you crank the engine over the power should jump to the starter wire. OR you can simply jump across the two posts on the solenoid to see if the starter works. If starter doesn't work,check that battery,solenoid,and starter connections are tight. Check here if you need a starter and bendix.DB Electrical - Polaris Also if you're not sure about the battery,have it load tested(any auto store can do it) Plus check when running that you're charging 14 volts back to the battery. Even if just the starter OR the bendix is bad,best to replace both and be done with it! Cheap enough at this site to be able to do so. OPT

 

Yes the OEM Bendix is $170 I bought the aftermarket one for $70 years ago and it works great. The Starter is $330 but I think there is cheaper aftermarket ones of them also. Here is one for $42.http://www.db-starter-alternator.com...-4-stroke.aspx

My starter use to work on and off ,and just click ,it turned out to be just a sticking brush that needed cleaning inside the starter.

$500 to change a bendix is nuts it a super easy thing to change. Here is a video on it. Should of talked to us $500 earlier.

You can change a bendix in your backyard in a hour and a half including stopping for a beer break.

Once the pull rope cover is off you can see the starter gear/teeth to see if its stripped.

My dealer wanted $330 for a Rad Fan not including to instal it. I found a new OEM fan on Ebay for $65 and installed it in a 1/2 hour.

 

I just went thru the starter problem, with my 91 trail boss 350. the dealer wanted $350 just to install the new. the dealers new starter was way over priced. which is what all dealers do anyways. car or bikes, however after buying a cheap starter bendix set online on ebay, $65. 6 times of starting the bike, the starter went out. I then ordered a heavy duty starter and installed it. it's working great.
but I will say this. replaceing the starter on my bike was not an hour job. it took taking everything off both sides almost. in order to even get to the starter, which took 2 specialty tools. one to remove the flywheel and one for the clutch.
replacing a starter is not brain surgery.But I can see where it would tie a shop up for half day or more. hence the price the dealer gave me. having said all this. I wish I had bought the best starter I could find the first time around. in my book doing anything twice sucks. good luck

 

A lot of people don't realize the time it takes to change a starter out on the 250,300,and 400 2 strokes until they attempt it themselves. We sold the cheap starters also for awhile at my old shop,but quit after they wouldn't hold up.
DB electric has a standard set and a gold series heavier duty(supposedly) starter and bendix for just a bit more money. If I had to replace one I'd get the better one.DB Electrical - Polaris
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