Hello everyone.

I recently purchased my first Harley a 1999 XL883C and love this bike.

I went out and put 300 miles on it the first week I had it, but now I have some trouble with the bike. This bike has 12000 miles on it and it was purchased as used.

Last night while cruseing down the highway, the bike suddenly died,
acted as if out of gas, flipped over to reserve, no refire.
Coast to a stop, check tank for gas, plenty of gas.

Bike turns over but will not fire, so I pull plug wire, turn key on and hit the start button,
Get one spark, than nothing.
Both plugs wires act this way.

So I turn off key and let bike cool down, thinking it might be a bad coil, 30 minutes later turn key back on and hit started button.

It fires but as soon as I let loose of the starter button is dies.

Hit starter button again, no fire.

Shut off key, turn key back on, hit starter button, fires up only to die as soon as I release the starter button.

Stumped as to what is wrong I call for a lift home.
Next morning(this morning) bike acts the same way.

Anyone have a sugguestion as to what my problem is?

I am thinking key switch or starter button has gone bad.

 

Key switch maybe - starter button probably not. Coil maybe.

 

It kind of sounds like a coil to me.

 

Older Harley's have a vacuum operated electrical switch (voes). It controls the ignition timing. They do fail. Get a service manual, it will be very helpful.

 

Service manual is on order, should be here in a copule of days.

This is the first time I have had trouble with any bike I have had, sad to say but the other two where a 2009 Kawasaki 500 wich I put 11000 miles on it before tradeing it for it a 2009 Yamaha 950 Tourer, I still have the 950 with 12500 miles on it and not one bit of trouble.
This 1999 XL883C had 11700 on it when I purchased it the Friday of labor day weekend.
It is a sweet little bike, handles great, but a bit low on power compaired to the other bikes I owned.
This 883 is all stock ecxept the P.O. decked it out with a lot of chrome

 

Check your ignition coil, Should have 3 ohms resistance across your top two leads, your spark plug connections should be 20-30K Volts. quick easy tests. New coil only costs like $40 for an OEM type.

 

UPDATE:

Tried jumping the coil last night when I got home, hooked a wire from the posative post of battery to the left side of the coil / white wire with a black stripe ( left side as sitting on bike) right side wire was green.

Turned on the key, press the starter button, bike fires up, but stops as soon as I relise the starter button.

So this afternoon after getting out of bed ( I work until 2:30am, get home at 3:30am)
I put the battery bnack into place, reinstall the battery cover, load bike on trailer and haul it to the dealer.
Unload at the dealer, push it into the shop, talk to the service man, tell him the problem.

Try startinig the bike once again and the damn thing fires up and stays running.

He said to leave it for a couple of days, they will try to see if they have any problem as I described.

Says it aint the first time someone has brought in a non starting bike only to have it fire up at the shop.

 

this would concern me a little

since he is a mechanic and should have thought to check the things already mentioned in this post not just tell you leave it here for a few days (translated leave it here while I decide how to make it cost you a bunch of money) LOL just my thoughts I would keep an eye on the guy

 

No problem should take a few days to diagnose. If it starts, take it back out and wait for the problem to occur again. If it does, bring it back, have them diagnose it on the spot and give you an answer.

Time alone will not decide how a bike operates, but the conditions it's in will.

 

If it fired right back up after reinstalling the battery, you might of had some tension on the battery lead going to the starter while you were testing. I'de check the tightness of your connection on the starter...You probely did already. but just incase.