So my '05 1200 engine wants to jump out of the frame. I'm thinking about have the timing checked and adjusted as necessary. Anybody have experience with timing being off?

 

A 2005 Sportster, or any 2004+ Sportster for that matter, provides no way to measure the ignition timing. They eliminated the timing hole beginning in 2004 and there's no longer a mark on the flywheel even if you could see it.

In stock form, it also has no method to adjust it. It's a crank trigger system, again beginning in 2004, and no adjustability is provided in either the crank trigger mounting or on the ignition module itself.

You can, however, add an aftermarket ignition module that provides adjustability. And if you really want to make sure it's set right, you can schedule some dyno time and adjust the ignition to get the best result.

But I think the issue you're describing probably has nothing to do with the ignition timing anyway.

 

I doubt if your timing has anything to do with this. In what way does it want to jump out?! At idle, or at speed, give us something to work with. Have you made any mods or 'improvements' recently?

 

Vibrates at all speeds so much I don't even want to ride it. Recently replaced the front isolators and that made it worse.

Something seriously wrong here. As far as timing, there is a bolt right at the crotch of the cylinders where the manual says it is.

 

There is plainly something seriously wrong. How long have you had your bike and what mods are there from stock? Had you made any changes recently?

 

I've had it a year. Came with Straight shots and I put stock pipes back on. Other than that, no mods that I'm aware of. Who knows what's in the carb, but I enjoyed riding it until I put new isolators on. Now I just want to sell it.

I have two other Harleys and they are smooth. This one is beyond vibration. It shudders.

 

I'm sure that whatever is wrong with it can be put right. It doesn't make sense to me that changing the front isolators has made it shake, unless there is something on the frame which is touching something on the engine, which there shouldn't be. The stock pipes should be supported entirely on the engine, with no part of them touching the frame (I just rebuilt my own).

I suggest you run an eye around your bike, making sure that nothing is bridging from the engine to the frame. If you start the engine, check all around to listen for something tapping or rattling, which shouldn't be. The solution is on your bike, you just have to find it!

 

Watched it idle yesterday and don't see any issues. Intuition tells me the firing sequence is off. Bent rod, maybe.

 

If you had a bent rod, the engine would be dead or at the least sound obviously on death's doorstep.

 

It wouldn't idle with a bent rod! If you can't make any progress, find yourself a local indy, who can experience firsthand what your bike is doing.