Starting issue after lifter swap.
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 22
Likes: 1
From: KY
Starting issue after lifter swap.
2009 fatboy with s&s 583 cams, s&s quickee pushrods, s&s premium lifters, V&H Short shots, screaming eagle pro race tuner (orange), screaming eagle high flow intake.
So I had feuling lifters in my bike since last year, one collapsed and I changed them out with s&s premium race lifters without the bleed limiter. Had it all tuned last year before I changed lifters and it ran fine. Sometimes it was hard starting and would die if it was hot if I didnt let it catch up or get my fuel when starting, after that it was fine. So I changed the lifters out and adjusted the push rods back to 23 flats which is what I thought I had it at when it was tuned. Also noticed when I took the cam chest apart that the timing was a hair off so I adjusted that back to perfect post tune. Now the bike really has trouble starting, floods itself and I have to hold the throttle open to do the flood clear. After its started though it runs fine, also starts fine if its been running and I stop for gas or something. Well today I tried to start it and it would not start. I cranked it till the battery died. Charged it, bought new plugs and changed them. Cranked it again until the battery was dead, which didnt take long cause it wasnt fully charged. It absolutely will not start and I have no idea why. No odd sounds, runs just fine when started, but today it would not start. Idk if I should take it back apart and adjust the pushrods again or what. Im at a complete loss. I thought about hooking the tuner up to try and see what it said, but I dont know much about reading it or changing anything about the start up fuel. Just at a complete loss as to why it wouldnt start. Nothing has changed from 3 days ago until now, just wouldnt start. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
So I had feuling lifters in my bike since last year, one collapsed and I changed them out with s&s premium race lifters without the bleed limiter. Had it all tuned last year before I changed lifters and it ran fine. Sometimes it was hard starting and would die if it was hot if I didnt let it catch up or get my fuel when starting, after that it was fine. So I changed the lifters out and adjusted the push rods back to 23 flats which is what I thought I had it at when it was tuned. Also noticed when I took the cam chest apart that the timing was a hair off so I adjusted that back to perfect post tune. Now the bike really has trouble starting, floods itself and I have to hold the throttle open to do the flood clear. After its started though it runs fine, also starts fine if its been running and I stop for gas or something. Well today I tried to start it and it would not start. I cranked it till the battery died. Charged it, bought new plugs and changed them. Cranked it again until the battery was dead, which didnt take long cause it wasnt fully charged. It absolutely will not start and I have no idea why. No odd sounds, runs just fine when started, but today it would not start. Idk if I should take it back apart and adjust the pushrods again or what. Im at a complete loss. I thought about hooking the tuner up to try and see what it said, but I dont know much about reading it or changing anything about the start up fuel. Just at a complete loss as to why it wouldnt start. Nothing has changed from 3 days ago until now, just wouldnt start. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Road Captain
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 648
Likes: 35
From: San Diego
Aren't those quickees supposed to be at 24 flats minimum? That would put you at .125 preload on the lifters. I set mines to .140 from advice of some of the builders here when I had some tapping. Maybe you should try that.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 21,100
Likes: 7,629
From: Poolville
2009 fatboy with s&s 583 cams, s&s quickee pushrods, s&s premium lifters, V&H Short shots, screaming eagle pro race tuner (orange), screaming eagle high flow intake.
So I had feuling lifters in my bike since last year, one collapsed and I changed them out with s&s premium race lifters without the bleed limiter. Had it all tuned last year before I changed lifters and it ran fine. Sometimes it was hard starting and would die if it was hot if I didn’t let it catch up or get my fuel when starting, after that it was fine. So I changed the lifters out and adjusted the push rods back to 23 flats which is what I thought I had it at when it was tuned. Also noticed when I took the cam chest apart that the timing was a hair off so I adjusted that back to perfect post tune. Now the bike really has trouble starting, floods itself and I have to hold the throttle open to do the flood clear. After it’s started though it runs fine, also starts fine if it’s been running and I stop for gas or something. Well today I tried to start it and it would not start. I cranked it till the battery died. Charged it, bought new plugs and changed them. Cranked it again until the battery was dead, which didn’t take long cause it wasn’t fully charged. It absolutely will not start and I have no idea why. No odd sounds, runs just fine when started, but today it would not start. Idk if I should take it back apart and adjust the pushrods again or what. I’m at a complete loss. I thought about hooking the tuner up to try and see what it said, but I don’t know much about reading it or changing anything about the start up fuel. Just at a complete loss as to why it wouldn’t start. Nothing has changed from 3 days ago until now, just wouldn’t start. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
So I had feuling lifters in my bike since last year, one collapsed and I changed them out with s&s premium race lifters without the bleed limiter. Had it all tuned last year before I changed lifters and it ran fine. Sometimes it was hard starting and would die if it was hot if I didn’t let it catch up or get my fuel when starting, after that it was fine. So I changed the lifters out and adjusted the push rods back to 23 flats which is what I thought I had it at when it was tuned. Also noticed when I took the cam chest apart that the timing was a hair off so I adjusted that back to perfect post tune. Now the bike really has trouble starting, floods itself and I have to hold the throttle open to do the flood clear. After it’s started though it runs fine, also starts fine if it’s been running and I stop for gas or something. Well today I tried to start it and it would not start. I cranked it till the battery died. Charged it, bought new plugs and changed them. Cranked it again until the battery was dead, which didn’t take long cause it wasn’t fully charged. It absolutely will not start and I have no idea why. No odd sounds, runs just fine when started, but today it would not start. Idk if I should take it back apart and adjust the pushrods again or what. I’m at a complete loss. I thought about hooking the tuner up to try and see what it said, but I don’t know much about reading it or changing anything about the start up fuel. Just at a complete loss as to why it wouldn’t start. Nothing has changed from 3 days ago until now, just wouldn’t start. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 22
Likes: 1
From: KY
The pushrod adjustment is not the problem. You can adjust 23 flats or even 28 flats on a 32 tpi pushrods and it will not make a difference in starting... I don't believe the marks on a chain drive line up perfectly and it sounds as if you changed your cam timing. A quick compression test will confirm it. If the cams are off you will see about a 30-35 psi difference in compression between the two cylinders.... Do you have a FSM?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 19,900
Likes: 8,007
From: poway
If you actually changed your cam timing, then your tune will be off.
Add:
Who assembled and tuned the first time?
As stated you need to run a compression check.
Add:
Who assembled and tuned the first time?
As stated you need to run a compression check.
Last edited by Max Headflow; Jul 31, 2018 at 04:14 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 21,100
Likes: 7,629
From: Poolville
You mean turning over real fast? Like maybe it has very little compression because maybe the valves are adjusted too much? DO A COMPRESSION TEST.......
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Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 22
Likes: 1
From: KY
Update. Found the issue, it was the coil, so we replaced that and the bike started and ran just fine. Rode it for a while post install. Tried to start it today, wont even act like its getting fire. Im gonna have to do a compression test as soon as I get the chance. Yes its 583 ez start. I did the install myself with a mechanic friend of mine. Harley did the tuning and the back came back running strong at 83 HP and 90 tq. Post tune. Now its just flooding itself out for some reason as I can smell gas pretty back after trying to start it.
