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

could you do something

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 27, 2009 | 02:23 PM
  #1  
mark10's Avatar
mark10
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,189
Likes: 9
From: la grange, il (near chicago)
Default could you do something

was buzzing around last night. sitting on the side of the rode was a man and his bike. i gave him the thumbs up and he returned the thumbs down.

so a couple turns and u turns and got back to the spot and i pulled over. he asked if i knew much about bikes to which i replied some, but not much.

he had a 2001 and it would crank but not even cough. he said it backfired and that was all she wrote. it was in awesome shape and clean. he said he had some work done to the engine but had never had any problems.

i waited with him, didn't like the place he was at so i put on my flashers. the tow truck, the flat bed kind came and i helped him load it and strap it down.

so my quesion is - who out there could have even started helping with some diagnostics past 'does it have gas' or 'did you try the reserve tank'.
 
Old Jul 27, 2009 | 02:27 PM
  #2  
frenchman's Avatar
frenchman
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,558
Likes: 5
From: Massachusetts
Default

Was it a carb or an EFI?
 
Old Jul 27, 2009 | 02:39 PM
  #3  
cadman311's Avatar
cadman311
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,892
Likes: 2
From: DUNDALK,MARYLAND
Default

You doing a code check or something like that.
 
Old Jul 27, 2009 | 02:49 PM
  #4  
frog13's Avatar
frog13
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,140
Likes: 17
From: Wisconsin
Default

Originally Posted by mark10
was buzzing around last night. sitting on the side of the rode was a man and his bike. i gave him the thumbs up and he returned the thumbs down.

so a couple turns and u turns and got back to the spot and i pulled over. he asked if i knew much about bikes to which i replied some, but not much.

he had a 2001 and it would crank but not even cough. he said it backfired and that was all she wrote. it was in awesome shape and clean. he said he had some work done to the engine but had never had any problems.

i waited with him, didn't like the place he was at so i put on my flashers. the tow truck, the flat bed kind came and i helped him load it and strap it down.

so my quesion is - who out there could have even started helping with some diagnostics past 'does it have gas' or 'did you try the reserve tank'.
There are some "road side" diagnostics, easy enough to determine if it is a fuel, fire or air problem. If you have all those something should happen. If you figure which one of those, you can eliminate further, for example you might get it down to a plug wire, coil, etc. if it is electrical. I stop and try to walk guys through or help when I can, but in these days I'm wary about touching anybody else's ride unless I know them, too much liability, even if what happens is no one's fault, people today are quick to judge. In the old days, everybody helped and if you were willing to give a hand, one was accepted. Times have changed ........
 

Last edited by frog13; Jul 27, 2009 at 03:00 PM.
Old Jul 27, 2009 | 02:57 PM
  #5  
old skool1983's Avatar
old skool1983
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,228
Likes: 3
From: New Port Richey FL
Default

i've tried helpin a few ppl out but i'm like you, i only know a little and what little i do know its mainly about my bike.

most of the time when i pull over to help someone i try to diagnose and if its not "that easy" (it hardly ever is) then i just offer to let them use my phone....thats the best i can do most of the time
 
Old Jul 27, 2009 | 03:03 PM
  #6  
DinoVelvet's Avatar
DinoVelvet
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,144
Likes: 1
From: British Columbia
Default

I stopped for someone a couple years ago who had the same problem...it was a carb engine and turned out he just flooded it.....told him to wait for a bit...1/2 hour or so later I tried it and it fired right up
 
Old Jul 27, 2009 | 03:26 PM
  #7  
robandlyn's Avatar
robandlyn
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,067
Likes: 0
From: Nashua,NH
Default

Wife and I were riding our bikes this past weekend in Southern NH (Rt.124 Jaffery area).
Comming around a downhill left hand turn and we see a bike down with rider still sitting
down after the fall. There were 3 of his buddies helping him. They were riding alittle fast
for this road and then downhill lefthand 90 degree turn came up too fast.
He was lucking because 4 more feet and he would have nailed a 4 foot deep culvert.
We carry water all the time (for drinking) and some paper towels. If we had our touring
bikes we would have also had a medic kit. It was a Softail Classic, bent up the engine
guard bars and headlights/aux lights. He got some wicked good road (gravel) rash and
a NASTY chunck of flesh (size of a half dollar) taken out of his elbow. We washed
out all his cuts and then 2 of their other buddies showed up (they were front riders).
One of them lived 10 min away so we straighten up his bike (all the controls & bars)
and had one of his friends pre-ride it before he rode. One thing for sure he was a
hurten puppy on the next day ! BTW ... He was wearing a half helmet and only had
a scratch on his nose (NH is a helmetless state and they were from MA).
Rob .....
 
Old Jul 27, 2009 | 03:44 PM
  #8  
mark10's Avatar
mark10
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,189
Likes: 9
From: la grange, il (near chicago)
Default

it was carb
and i have no idea how to do a code check - guess i should check that out at least for myself

back in the day i could figure stuff out - had a honda 750 4 cyl with 4 carb and i would tune/balance those 4 carbs which was a real trick

i had thought about checking that fuel was actually coming down the tube but then decided:
- i had no tools except for a pocket knife
- didn't want to spill gas over his pretty engine
- usually the gas hose doesn't get clogged so what to check next

i had thought about checking for spark but:
- i have gotten zapped doing this in the past and didn't want to get zapped, especially if i had drained gas all over the engine from the previous step
- didnt have then necessary tools
 
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-5

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-6

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jul 27, 2009 | 03:53 PM
  #9  
frog13's Avatar
frog13
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,140
Likes: 17
From: Wisconsin
Default

Originally Posted by mark10
it was carb
and i have no idea how to do a code check - guess i should check that out at least for myself

back in the day i could figure stuff out - had a honda 750 4 cyl with 4 carb and i would tune/balance those 4 carbs which was a real trick

i had thought about checking that fuel was actually coming down the tube but then decided:
- i had no tools except for a pocket knife
- didn't want to spill gas over his pretty engine
- usually the gas hose doesn't get clogged so what to check next

i had thought about checking for spark but:
- i have gotten zapped doing this in the past and didn't want to get zapped, especially if i had drained gas all over the engine from the previous step
- didnt have then necessary tools
You did the right thing. First, admitting your own limitations is key to stay out of other troubles. Second, you stopped! That alone says a lot. Then you hung out until help came. Even though it may be awkward with some, I'm sure the person appreciated not waiting alone. In this day of cell phones, roadside plans, etc., the only thing missing is someone to share the time with and you were it. Good for you!
 
Old Jul 27, 2009 | 03:58 PM
  #10  
dope_man_21's Avatar
dope_man_21
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,799
Likes: 8
From: Carrollton, Georgia
Default

I stopped a while back to help a guy out that had the positive wire broken off of his coil, luckily I had some ring terminals ans a pair of needle nose visegrips, the ring terminals turned out to be too big, but the visegrips came in handy, I eventually had to leave him sitting in the strip mail parking lot, but left him my pliers. About two days later I stopped to help another guy broke down on side of the road, this time the guy had everything he needed and I was there for moral support only. Both time though it was a good feeling to know that I stopped to help.
 



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:32 PM.

story-0
Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

Slideshow: Killer Custom's latest build relies on styling changes rather than performance upgrades, giving the cruiser an entirely different personality.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 18:28:05


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

Slideshow: From military-inspired singles to scooters and three-wheel utility vehicles, these Harleys took the company far outside its comfort zone.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-02 18:34:10


VIEW MORE
story-2
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-3
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-4
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-5
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-6
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-7
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-8
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-9
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