New starter clutch slips almost as bad as the old one

Howdy yall, 86 Sporty 883 Evo, my old starter clutch slipped about 90%
of the time, finally dropped a remaned 1.2 kw starter and this one
slips about 70% of the time. I assume this will get worse as it wears
out.

Have you considered that sometimes a bad one slips by ? A new starter
should engage *every* time . Something ain't right .

Is it possible to shim or tighten or even weld solid the starter
clutch?

You're not a professional mechanic , are ya ? The short answer to that
question is "no" .

On another note I thought maybe, just maybe if I had some oil additive,
this was Lucas Oils Engine Saver, in there to help with that initial
bump when theres no oil in the motor there'd be a little less friction
and the starter clutch might stay engaged. Well, it didn't help, in
fact my valvetrain noise tripled and I got worried and changed the oil.
I think because of the low oil pressure these bikes have its too
difficult to push a very high viscosity oil through the passageways,
especially at start up. The Lucas oil poured like 90 weight! When I
changed the oil I went with a full synthetic 5-30w and it seems, maybe,
to start with less starter clutch slipping.

Any good quality *20w50* motor oil should work . 5w30 is way too light for
this motor . And your choice of oils has nothing to do with the starter
clutch .

Thanks bros!
Gotta love working on your chopper!

I ain't your bro , and I don't ride a chopper , but I'll still help you out
. You need to get a manual for that bike and learn how to work on it - or
find a good indie shop . A good bike with only one major flaw . Go to
alternator" .
I had an '88 XL1200, loved it .

On your starter what is your battery voltage a week battery or a bad
connection could cause your starter not engage.

Second if you do not have one get a maintenance manual

Third never us additives

Fourth use the proper oil weight for the temperature not automotive oil use
oil for bikes