I am now at a complete loss as of what to do to get my bike working. It has been a nonstop break fix break fix relationship since I bought it 5 weeks ago. Ive only been able to ride 8 days out of 5 weeks. I just had it at the harley dealer (that I bought this p.o.s. from) where they aligned the rear wheel for free because they sold me a bike with a broken and stripped swingarm shaft. lucky it didnt fall out and get me killed before i noticed. replaced that myself they payed for the part. they also washed it and it wouldnt start. So they flooded the engine, then lied about replacing my spark plugs. Failed to tighten three bolts and informed me that a previous cheapass installed contact points on it, and they were worn out. they didnt ask or fix anything beyond the alignment. Anyway, i rode it for two days and then needed to get rain gear because its WASHington (and the easy bracket bag holders both broke, sending my bags and gear tumbling. So she sat for 5 DAYS while I replaced that and now, wont start. I killed the battery trying . Replaced the spark plugs with some new ones and checked to see if the rain had affected the points again. Nope. Now I have charged the battery and it still wont start. So before I proceed to just foul another set of plugs on my awesome 1989 softail heritage classic metal display in my garage. What the hell else should I check? I dont like nor do I trust anyone else to work on my bike.
P.s. I have very little money and am going to school, so i cant be buying and replacing everything. She has S&S SUPER CARB E and v&h longshots. Cant say if anything was done internally. And I dont think anyone touched her because my family knows ill beat the $@*% out of ANYONE who does. I just changed all fluids new air filter and she has slightly faulty key switch.

 

Hang in there man, it'll come together.
find jetting specs for a similar bike make sure the carb and fuel are good.It was the 80's last time I had an S@S carb so I can't help.
Work out if it's got spark, borrow a manual or the net will have one.
It'll probably be the points man.

 

OK, here is how it goes....a bike needs air, fuel and spark to run, failing some form of mechanical failure it should work if it has all three at the right time.

Check it this way.

1: Has it got a spark?

No = change plugs, gap points, check wires, feed to coil, is coil OK? Is ign switch OK?

By pass ign switch to see if you can get a spark.

With motor turned so that points gap is open you can turn on ign and short across points with a screwdriver to see if that gives you a spark (saves battery).

Always try to use new plugs as Evos do odd things to plugs and they (the plugs) don't respond well to cleaning.

2: It has spark but does it have fuel

Yes = Does it have too much fuel? (float level wrong, choke stuck open, jet fallen out).

S&S will flood the bike in seconds if too much choke or too many twists of the throttle before starting.

No = float level wrong, carby full of crud, fuel tap blocked, vent in tank blocked (try it with cap off) vacuum line to fuel tap broken

Try spraying ether down the carby inlet and see if it tries to fire......if it does then you got fuel issues for sure.

3: Got spark and fuel

Is air filter blocked in some way, are manifold gaskets compromised somehow.

Is ign timing correct? (static time as per manual)

Does it have compression (Use tester to be sure)

Is valve timing correct (cam gear can slip on cam, rare but possible)


That will keep you busy, try all those things first but if you can let me know if you have spark or not I can give you more specific instructions but its nearly bed time in NZ so I won't reply for 8-10 hours or so.

 

Sometimes it takes a fresh pair of eyes to find the problem, I just fixed a Shovelhead for a local Harley mechanic because he had got too far into it and lost perspective and motivation.....You're a young 'un by the sounds of it (compared to me anyway), there's a heap of experience you won't have yet and you learn by sharing problems, don't let pride give you a headache....lack of funds yes, but if you are prepared to accept help it might save you money in the long run.

Going by your other thread on this problem I would start with the points, wrench said they were stuffed, he is most probably correct.

 

Spanner is on the right path- is it spark or fuel? Pull the plug- put the wire back on- (undo the wire to the other cylinder), and hold the plug tightly against something metal- like the jug. Crank it a couple times- any spark? If not, you know what to troubleshoot. If you got good spark, it's either timing or fuel.

Don't be mad- you bought an old bike, learn to work on it. For half the price of an hour's labor charge at the dealer, you can buy an HD service manual. I like factory manuals over clymers or chiltons books.

Report back....

 

The above information is right on. Try them and get back to us and we can keep steering you in the right direction.
John

 

You said the ign switch is wonky. That is where I would start

 

The first and best money for you to spend is on the factory manual - it will educate you, and keep you from spending cubic dollars to pay the dealership to do something that's probably well within your capabilities.

Fixing previous owner's shortcuts is a pain in the ***, but, you'll know your machine, be confident in it AND yourself once you get 'em all sorted out.

 

I have the service manual, problem is that it doesn't cover adjusting the contact points so i have no idea how to do that. (since it should be electric). i checked the spark, none not even a hint. so i know it's electrical. and i know gas works and the gas worked just last week. i don't understand how the system went bad after working 5 days ago, but whatever.

SO.. when i get more time i will try all of your suggestions, i'm looking into replacing the current point and condensor to see if that was the problem. is ther a way to bypass it? so that i can tell if that was it? my guess is no but thought i'd ask.

THanks for all the help and support.

 

Points are dead easy. Turn the motor until they are on the high point of the cam. (Widest open) Adjust the gap. If you dont have a spec, a matchbook cover has worked for hundreds of us at the side of he road. A bad condensor won't prevent it from running, but the points won't last.