Just bought the missus a 2001 883 sporty. At first had trouble starting, so changed fuel. Next time, ran great.Waited a week, won't go.Spark great. Plug ends black, plugs new, right gap..Took fuel line of tap, fuel didn't flow until actually cranking engine? Bike was sitting quite a while prior to purchase..Any clues please?

 

id say you need to take the carb apart and clean everything. the fuel dosent flow because you need vacume to open the valve. when the motor is turning over it produces vacume to the line and the petcock.

 

Thanks for that. Saves me barkin up the wrong tree. Ride free..

 

Don't know what you ride but the Harley carb bikes have a fuel enrichner **** that is pulled out when starting the cold bike. Don't roll the throttle while starting. Once started let the engine warm up a little a gradually push in the enrichner **** after the bike warms up. Not pushing in this **** will foul out your plugs or carbon them up as you mentioned.

 

also the sportster section here in this forum has a TON of information and some pure geniuses when it comes to sporties. I learned alot just by reading through it and Charley and sportypig are great help when needed. Your post will prolly be seen better if it gets moved there.