what's wrong with my sporty?
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Joined: Feb 2014
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From: Alva, fl
what's wrong with my sporty?
I put this in general because I don't know what system is the problem. I've got a 96 sporty 1200 with 21k miles on it. Just changed the oil and primary as well as the spark plugs and plug wires. Took it for a short spin after and it ran fine, matter of fact it ran better than it has the last 2 months since I bought it. The old plugs were black and the front one wasn't even installed all the way.
Anyways today(Thursday technically Friday morning, oil changed on Tuesday) I took it into town, about 20 mile ride, and it was a little rough. When I started it up to head home it was extremely rough riding to the point that my back hurt by the time I got home and the only thing I can think of to describe how it sounded would be to say it sounded like the chopper scene from full metal jacket.
So any ideas on what could be the problem? Oh and I checked the oil and its still at the proper level, although it did appear to be dirty already but that might be because I was checking it at night with a flashlight at work.
Anyways today(Thursday technically Friday morning, oil changed on Tuesday) I took it into town, about 20 mile ride, and it was a little rough. When I started it up to head home it was extremely rough riding to the point that my back hurt by the time I got home and the only thing I can think of to describe how it sounded would be to say it sounded like the chopper scene from full metal jacket.
So any ideas on what could be the problem? Oh and I checked the oil and its still at the proper level, although it did appear to be dirty already but that might be because I was checking it at night with a flashlight at work.
Last edited by smokinwill; Apr 11, 2014 at 05:33 PM.
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From: Alva, fl
Just changed them on Tuesday so I didn't check them yet but I'll do that in a few hours after I get some sleep. I'll check back when I get up to see what everyone has suggested so I can check everything.
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From: Alva, fl
Update: Haven't been able to check the spark plugs yet cuz I'm waiting on access to tools(I don't have a spark plug socket), but I checked the oil in daylight and with maybe 100 miles on it since the oil change its already dark. Looks like muddy water to me and the wife said it smelled like gas. I did use HD's brand of oil 20w-50.
Not positive but don't think it should look like muddy water on Friday when I changed it on Tuesday and only put at most 100 miles on it.
Not positive but don't think it should look like muddy water on Friday when I changed it on Tuesday and only put at most 100 miles on it.
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Joined: May 2008
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From: South Carolina
I bet there is some debris in the carb, and the needle and seat are not sealing properly. Carb overflowing gas into the engine. That would make the bike run poorly, and could also contaminate the oil with gasoline.
Boom! Good answer.
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From: Alva, fl
Ok checked the spark plugs, there's some carbon in them but they look ok. Also checked the compression at both plug points and their both sound 60-75 psi do figuring that's ok. Gonna pull the filter again and see if I can see any debris in the carb and make sure it's seating properly when closed.
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Seasoned HDF Member
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From: South Carolina
Checking the filter isn`t going to tell you much, you need to remove the float bowl from the carb and give it a good squirt with carb cleaner.
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Novice
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From: Alva, fl
Edit: I'm not much of a mechanic. With a car I can do the basics;I.E. oil change, tires, fluid checks filters spark plugs and such...anything else I usually have a Haynes manual to look at to help me through. Haven't yet been able to get a manual for the bike yet though.
Last edited by smokinwill; Apr 12, 2014 at 12:38 PM. Reason: addendum
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From: Grays Creek, NC
If you don't let the bike heat up properly before riding you will foul plugs on a carbed bike, just looking at the plugs won't tell you if there fouled. You could start the bike and feel if both cylinders are getting warm or pull one at a time and leave it connected to the plug wire and let the plug set on the cylinder making contact to see if you have a spark.
My wife had an 04 883 and we went through plugs a lot while learning about the bike, finally got fed up and bought a EFI 09 1200.
My wife had an 04 883 and we went through plugs a lot while learning about the bike, finally got fed up and bought a EFI 09 1200.