Hello. let me start by saying that I am a newbie to street bikes and new to Harleys. I have a sportster 883 and after taking my bike out of storage recently, had no problems with it starting and running fine. A few days ago I went to start it and would not turn over. Good charge and compression were fine. I went ahead and changed the spark plugs, thinking maybe I had fouled one, but with no luck getting spark to the plugs. I decided to go ahead and change out the wires. Put them on and lots of spark. Took the bike out and rode about 5 or 6 miles. No problems. Next day went to start it up, and no spark again. I thought maybe my coil was acting sporadic. I went ahead and changed it out, but still nothing. No spark to the plugs.
Curious as to what to do next. Could someone please help me figure out my next step. I have looked for a loose ground and haven't found one.
Thanks for the help!
Marc

 

check the connections of the small wires on the coil, they have a way of coming loose (both the push on connector and where the wire connects to the push on connector)..next I would check to make sure the coil is tighten to its mount...after that I would check the on/off switch on the handle bars ....while I was going over stuff for loose connections I would go to the fuse area and give everything a good spray until you get runoff with CRC powerlube (don't worry it wont short out anything) and check all the fuses, pulling each out and reseating them...then come back and tell us what you find...

I am assuming when you say it wont turn over you mean it turns over but no spark...

****, I just went back and reread what you wrote...So, next I would trace the wires to the spark controller and make sure they are sound, and then remove the controller cover and mark its location (it is adjustable clockwise/anticlockwise) and check the "bell" behind it makeing sure it is tight and seated in its correct location, they come loose sometimes and cause what you say is happening...

 

Is your battery up to snuff? Did you have it on a tender during storage? (that's where I would look first...they don't do well with a weak battery.)

Rick C.