Hey guys, so I just bought a 1996 ultra classic and it's been an awesome bike up until a day ago. So the other day I took it out for a ride and about 15 minutes in I got a back fire but figured the bike was just cold, it had not been riden all day. Got some food and jumped on the bike it started fine and I took off, 5 or 10 minutes after that it backfired again and then I lost power and the engine quit running and I couldn't get it to start again, the battery is brand new and is fully charged, I have power going to the radio, blinker, spirometer lights, and the horn, but when at turn the **** to ignition I have no head lights and no power going to the starter switch so I can't even crank it over, any ideas? I checked the stator with a multimeter and it appears to be in good shape, reads OL ever time I check it. Any help would be appreciated thanks!

 

Check the main circuit breaker. My 94 Softail main is on the fender flap near the starter.

 

I had an ignition problem with my 95 EG.
It was a relay under the seat by the battery.
Everything but the ignition worked.

 

Wiring diagram here - 99948-96_en - Wiring Diagrams & Electrical Troubleshooting Guide - 1995 & 1996 All Models | Harley-Davidson SIP

 

Aloha,
have had the same issue without the backfire few days ago.
It was the ignition switch itself.
No headlight, no ignition.
So I replaced the old switch into the now housing.
A contact in the ignition switch was burnt, probably because it was not pressed in to the correct depth and therefore always an arc was present.
It's not hard to disassemble the ignition switch.
The hardest part is to remove the whole lock from the bike.
Remove the passing lights, outer fairing, parts from inner fairing and radio.
Plan for the whole game 1-3h depending how good you can screw.
A workbook is helpful if you it the first time.
I always make pictures from the important individual disassembled to know how to assemble in the right position.

 

Nice link!

 

From here - Home | Harley-Davidson SIP

Enter bike VIN and get all sorts of information on it.

 

Aloha,
probably that helps.

 

And for 1996

 

Had a similar issue on my 94 Ultra and it was this power connector behind the fairing. Large red wire had "burned' itself from the connection. Replaced the wiring outside of the connection and all good 10 years and going.




Griz