Hey, just got a 97 sportster 1200 and it’s my first Harley. I bought it running and riding and it didn’t like idling but it sure did haul down the road. I’ve maybe ridden it 5 miles. It has an exhaust and se air cleaner. Put some new plugs cause old ones were black as night and it fouled this new set after about 15min. I have another post in the carb section about the idling and such. Went and got some more just to see and put em in. Started her up and boom…. a wonderful new knocking sound from the front cylinder. It sounds more in the middle than top or bottom end. Also sometimes when starting it, it makes a loud clanking sound right at the front midsection of the motor. I just don’t understand how it’d go from running alright to knocking and I pray it’s not bearings. It’s my first Harley so I’m still learning the ends and outs of these motors so maybe it’s something not super serious. Any help would be great cause I really don’t want to shell out the cash to buy a new top or bottom end for this thing. Pic is of the newest plugs and it’s idled for about 15 seconds with em.


Thanks!

 

Well my suggestion is to take it to someone who knows what they are doing with Sportsters.

I guess you did not do the things that were suggested to you in your other post or if you did; you did not report back of your findings.

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/carbu...l#post21039392



Good Luck with the bike and Best Regards.

 

I was about to tear into the carb. Went to start her up one last time and it wouldn’t. Plugs weren’t sparking at all so I tossed some new in just to see. With the new ones it started right up but now with a knock. I ain’t got a problem taking it somewhere but I’d much rather save my money and do it myself. I’ve built a couple engines so it’s not really an issue of being able more of time and money. I’d rather see what y’all think of the knock before tearing into it or taking to someone. Put a vid of it
Thanks

 

Do you have the front plug wire pushed on all the way?

 

yes. It does look like it’s up a little bit but it’s pushed down all the way and it’s firing

 

still knocking? Know any history on the bike?? Was it being ridden when you bought it?

 

yes. The guy said he rode it a few times a week so it hasn’t been sitting or anything. It hasn’t made a single bad sound before this
also the guy I got it from just went and got a new belt out on and fresh oil at my local hd dealer

 

Yeah you might want to check to see how much oil is in there.

 

Miles on the bike?

 

I was told it’s around 13k and the previous title reads it at 11374 when the previous guy got it . It doesn’t have a speedo