Welcome from Houston Texas!
Well i am not the authority on the subject but, when i start mine (cold, not wormed up) i
turn on the petcock (left side below the gas tank) make sure engine kill button is in the run position and if it has a SnS carburetor on it, pull up on the choke (for lack of better word), its on top of the carburetor if its stock it could be in the same place or somewhere else on the carburetor, open the throttle all the way twice, and hit the start button.

Its not fuel injected so you wont here a fuel pump kick on when you turn the key.

 

Of course there could me more issues and someone more knowledgeable than me will hopefully chime in, but i'am just covering the basics because if someone didn't tell me i wouldn't have known.
Also,
Fresh gas?
Oil level?

 

 

Hi from the UK and welcome to HDF. I bought a new Shovelhead, back in 1974, although it is a long time ago since I sold it.

You really need to get better acquainted with your bike! It doesn't have fuel injection, as SD points out, so you won't hear a pump. If stock or close to stock, your bike doesn't have any fuses, it has circuit breakers instead, small aluminium boxes roughly the size of a relay. I recommend you buy the genuine factory manual, which you can get from a local dealer or on-line discount dealer. If your handlebar controls are stock, then your kill switch is on the righthand handlebar. Assuming your bike was running fine when you last rode it do NOT top up the oil, especially if low. What was there last season may now be in the crankcases and adding more will add to your woes!

We have a dedicated Shovelhead section, where you may find better help.

 

It would not crank if that relay was bad or the kill switch was off.. Check for spark, pull 1 plug put the wire back on, make sure the threaded part is touching ground,bare metal not paint, then crank. A spark should be observed when cranking. If it was running ok before storage I wouldn't worry about timing just yet.

 

Were the plugs wet with fuel before you pulled them? If so, check spark next as explained. No spark and you are checking points and condenser

 

Good call DonnieM, I forgot about the wet plug, I think unless its been altered it has an electronic ignition. So if no spark either pickup or module to be suspect.