General Harley Davidson Chat Forum to discuss general Harley Davidson issues, topics, and experiences.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

accidentally put spark plug with closed gap in bike and now it won't start

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 11-02-2014, 04:59 PM
j.r.1982's Avatar
j.r.1982
j.r.1982 is offline
4th Gear
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Sevierville, Tennessee, United States
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default accidentally put spark plug with closed gap in bike and now it won't start

So I just finished a big bore kit from fuel moto and i dropped a plug and didnt check the gap. The bike started right up and sounded good then died and wouldn't start back without holding some throttle and keeping it running with throttle I didn't know the gap had been closed in the plug which was a dumb mistake but anyway now bike wont start back and i don't know if I fried something electrical or what I replaced the coil and was thinking of replacing crank sensor but after that I don't know what to try. Help please
 
  #2  
Old 11-02-2014, 05:26 PM
dgdamore's Avatar
dgdamore
dgdamore is offline
Outstanding HDF Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Reading, PA
Posts: 2,528
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes on 8 Posts
Default

The plug gap has nothing to do with why it won't start.
 
  #3  
Old 11-02-2014, 05:28 PM
TriGeezer's Avatar
TriGeezer
TriGeezer is offline
Seasoned HDF Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Carlsbad, CA
Posts: 32,016
Received 29,273 Likes on 11,143 Posts
Default

Uhh...well we assume you removed and regapped the plug?
 
  #4  
Old 11-02-2014, 05:31 PM
Ragtop's Avatar
Ragtop
Ragtop is offline
Ultimate HDF Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 7,101
Received 1,011 Likes on 576 Posts
Default

You should give more information, such as bike type and year.
I assume you have reset the gap properly?
I don't think what you describe should hurt anything though.
It's possible that your problem lies elsewhere.

Also throwing parts at the problem is not the way to fix it,
we used to call that "shotgunning" in the computer industry.
 
  #5  
Old 11-02-2014, 05:34 PM
bdtaylor1979's Avatar
bdtaylor1979
bdtaylor1979 is offline
Ultimate HDF Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Garland, TX
Posts: 5,132
Received 228 Likes on 186 Posts
Default

You might have flooded that cylinder since the gap was closed on the plug. I would pull both plugs and hit the starter and let the engine turn a few revolutions and see if any fuel comes out of the plug hole. If fuel does come out , I would make sure all the fuel is out of the cylinder, then put the plug back in and see if it starts.
 
  #6  
Old 11-02-2014, 05:38 PM
airfuel's Avatar
airfuel
airfuel is offline
Tourer
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: CT
Posts: 417
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Default

You could have really damaged the plug.

They are cheap.

New one!
 
  #7  
Old 11-02-2014, 07:11 PM
j.r.1982's Avatar
j.r.1982
j.r.1982 is offline
4th Gear
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Sevierville, Tennessee, United States
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Yeah I got new plugs new wires and yes gapped them correctly and i checked for spark and only rear cylinder is firing. What I was thinking that cause the plug wasn't gapped that it could have caused a closed circuit or ground and sent fire back to ecm or something eltricql. I don't know I'm stumped as to what is wrong. But yeah the bike is a 2011 superglide
 
  #8  
Old 11-02-2014, 07:20 PM
Hippie49's Avatar
Hippie49
Hippie49 is offline
Elite HDF Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Kentucky, USA
Posts: 4,018
Received 228 Likes on 146 Posts
Default

Needs to be in the hands of someone qualified. You are not.
 
  #9  
Old 11-02-2014, 07:27 PM
Crazy Biker's Avatar
Crazy Biker
Crazy Biker is offline
Elite HDF Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Lansdale, Pa
Posts: 4,357
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Originally Posted by Hippie49
Needs to be in the hands of someone qualified. You are not.
 
  #10  
Old 11-02-2014, 07:27 PM
rpking's Avatar
rpking
rpking is offline
Road Captain
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Creston, Ohio
Posts: 696
Received 11 Likes on 7 Posts
Default

is there gas in the tank? Is it fresh gas or old?
 


Quick Reply: accidentally put spark plug with closed gap in bike and now it won't start



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:02 AM.