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

It Backfired...

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 29, 2009 | 09:07 AM
  #1  
Beerninja's Avatar
Beerninja
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 267
Likes: 0
From:
Default It Backfired...

I was sitting in the parking lot of the pass and decal shop on base and just got my base stickers, went to start her up she started to struggle for about 2 seconds trying to catch and then backfired (scared the crap out of the gate guards LOL) then I tried again and she started right up.

Now my questions is (since I am new to bikes and all) what could cause this new thing. I have had the bike for over a month and ride it pretty much everyday, and this is the first time this has happened.

Is it as simple as a carb adjustment or is it the sign of something that will cost alot more money?

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

2002 Fayboy carb'ed, and yes I do need a new battery but waiting for income tax. The battery I have now when I start the bike it rolls over once stops for like a couple of seconds like it stopped trying the fires to life.
 
Old Jan 29, 2009 | 09:11 AM
  #2  
glebo's Avatar
glebo
Grand HDF Member
Veteran: Army
20 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,366
Likes: 3,661
From: SE NC
Default

I think you'll be fine. Even with my EFI, it sputters/coughs back every now and then.
 
Old Jan 29, 2009 | 09:18 AM
  #3  
1Coastie's Avatar
1Coastie
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 786
Likes: 1
From: Sheridan, AR
Default

If the bike is not doing it on a regular basis, I wouldn't worry about it, It probably just got a little flooded, and when the excess gas caught it backfired. Being a military guy myself, I would have paid money to see the look on those gate guards faces when that thing went off! Riding on base can be a pain in the butt with all the requirements they have these days. I've went round and round with the gate guards on more than one occasion over what is and what is not authorized riding gear.
Where are you stationed?
 
Old Jan 29, 2009 | 09:55 AM
  #4  
oldairboater's Avatar
oldairboater
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 7,476
Likes: 5
From: Republic of Texas
Default

If it is carbed --than it was you. No big deal. With practice you can learn to do it on command starting your bike. If it is efi than you might have a problem.
 
Old Jan 29, 2009 | 10:02 AM
  #5  
Ultra110's Avatar
Ultra110
Road Captain
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 516
Likes: 1
From: New Hampster!
Default

Most likely due to the weak battery not spinning it over fast enough and it kicked back. My old bike does it every now and then when the battery isn't up to snuff.
 
Old Jan 29, 2009 | 11:00 AM
  #6  
joe.1955's Avatar
joe.1955
Stellar HDF Member
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,364
Likes: 110
From: Mesa, Az.
Default

The bike was objecting to that ugly sticker you're going to put on it.
 
Old Jan 29, 2009 | 11:22 AM
  #7  
monster fxstc's Avatar
monster fxstc
Banned
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by oldairboater
If it is carbed --than it was you. No big deal. With practice you can learn to do it on command starting your bike. If it is efi than you might have a problem.
Nah, EFI's do it too...if it's not happening often then it's not that big of a deal.
 
Old Jan 29, 2009 | 11:31 AM
  #8  
BigGdawg's Avatar
BigGdawg
Club Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 5,481
Likes: 4
From: Georgia
Default

They fire uneven and the back barrel fires and then it needs almost two revs before they both fire again. When the back barrel kicks first it sounds like a pistol shot. Typical.
 
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jan 29, 2009 | 11:50 AM
  #9  
Mordrapheus's Avatar
Mordrapheus
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,736
Likes: 3
From: Long Island, NY
Default

Hey a bike is allowed to fart now and then
 
Old Jan 29, 2009 | 12:04 PM
  #10  
BigGdawg's Avatar
BigGdawg
Club Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 5,481
Likes: 4
From: Georgia
Default

Hell, if it didn't happen what would you have to talk about?
 



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:38 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE