Harley Starter Cable Boot

Let's now take a look at what's a very common problem. Not so much aesthetically, although it does look unsightly, but it does allow the environmental contamination to get to the top of the cable that feeds from the battery to the starter motor. More often than not, I see this rubber boot pushed out of the way, distorted. I don't know if it's created by the heat or it's just the way the rubber expands and contracts. What I like to do with these, I like to pull the boot back. Obviously, make sure your connection's good and tight. Make sure it's clean. I like to put a little bit of Loctite Dielectric Grease right on the top. And then I like to put a thin bead of Loctite Black RTV right around the base of the nut. This very thin bead, it'll allow the boot to stay where you place it once the RTV dries, but it won't impede in having to remove the boot. All you really need to do is get a 90 degree pick, run it around the boot. You'll break the seal between the mount, the silicone, and the boot. Now, you want to be careful when you install the boot back over the dielectric grease and the silicone. Make sure it seats where it should be. Wipe up any excess. At this point, you need to pull the boot all the way down over the mounting post on the starter. Use a 90 degree pick. Don't puncture the boot. Just get the boot to stretch out and cover the cap on the starter motor. At this point, you need to make sure you're gonna let the motorcycle sit, I recommend overnight, to let the silicone dry thoroughly. Use a couple pieces of tape. Just tape the boot down in place in the position that you want it to stay, as it dries. With the boot in its proper position, I've put tape over it to hold it in that position as the Loctite Black RTV silicone dries. Again, I like to leave it on overnight, so make sure you're done riding for the day. And also, make sure you remove the tape before you go to take your next ride. When you remove the tape, remove it carefully. Don't rip it away from the boot quick or you'll disturb that silicone seal you created to hold the boot in position.