1978 1/2 FLH Lost Spark
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1978 1/2 FLH Lost Spark
My bike started right up as usual, then after a few seconds, stopped running.
I've been working on my Shovelhead Dresser and lost spark. This has been one of the best starting and running engines I've ever had. I've been rebuilding the brakes, calipers, lines, master cylinders... It was taking me a while and I did start the bike occasionally.
After putting on the battery covers, I started the bike, and as usual, she fired right up...then died after a few seconds, like someone disconnected a wire...
52,000 miles, the coil and the plug wires, like most of the bike, look original.
I held the plug against the engine, no spark. I tried plug wires off of my running '94 Springer Softail, still no spark. I put a multimeter on the coil, 5+ ohms on the coil, so the primary side is good, right? I'm not having good luck testing the secondary side...
I pulled the battery covers and found a disconnected wire, it comes from the bottom through bolt on the starter, picture enclosed.
Can it be that loose wire? Does is go to that empty stud on the relay...it sure doesn't seem to, it's not long enough. And what's that empty terminal on the relay, no nut, no nothing, just a clean stud. That wire doesn't seem to match up to anything in the area...Except the other through bolt on the starter. Is that where it goes? I'm baffled...
The engine spins over just fine.
If it is the coil, can I try the coil from my running '94 Evo Springer Softail on it?
Thank you,
Arnie
I've been working on my Shovelhead Dresser and lost spark. This has been one of the best starting and running engines I've ever had. I've been rebuilding the brakes, calipers, lines, master cylinders... It was taking me a while and I did start the bike occasionally.
After putting on the battery covers, I started the bike, and as usual, she fired right up...then died after a few seconds, like someone disconnected a wire...
52,000 miles, the coil and the plug wires, like most of the bike, look original.
I held the plug against the engine, no spark. I tried plug wires off of my running '94 Springer Softail, still no spark. I put a multimeter on the coil, 5+ ohms on the coil, so the primary side is good, right? I'm not having good luck testing the secondary side...
I pulled the battery covers and found a disconnected wire, it comes from the bottom through bolt on the starter, picture enclosed.
Can it be that loose wire? Does is go to that empty stud on the relay...it sure doesn't seem to, it's not long enough. And what's that empty terminal on the relay, no nut, no nothing, just a clean stud. That wire doesn't seem to match up to anything in the area...Except the other through bolt on the starter. Is that where it goes? I'm baffled...
The engine spins over just fine.
If it is the coil, can I try the coil from my running '94 Evo Springer Softail on it?
Thank you,
Arnie
Last edited by Arnie Guitar; Nov 1, 2016 at 09:37 AM.
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Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Santa Klaus County, Cali
Looks like that wire is the ground wire that runs off the mounting stud for the starter motor.
Not sure what you are calling the soenoid but in your pic the electrical component on the bottom of the battery tray is the relay (the 4th stud is not used); the solenoid is on the left and mounts to the primary housing.
"52,000 miles, the coil and the plug wires, like most of the bike, look original." If the bike has 52K miles and the coil is the original coil, that could definitely be the source of your problem. When I bought my 84 FLH it still had the original coil with 65K on the clock. Got it home and only lasted about 15 miles before taking a dump as soon as the motor heated up.
Also check the wires runnning from your solenoid. There are 3, two heavy duty wires going to your starter motor and battery and a small one going to the relay. Make sure the nuts on both ends are tight. Make sure the wires are not cracked, exposed and not grounding to your frame or engine.
Not sure what you are calling the soenoid but in your pic the electrical component on the bottom of the battery tray is the relay (the 4th stud is not used); the solenoid is on the left and mounts to the primary housing.
"52,000 miles, the coil and the plug wires, like most of the bike, look original." If the bike has 52K miles and the coil is the original coil, that could definitely be the source of your problem. When I bought my 84 FLH it still had the original coil with 65K on the clock. Got it home and only lasted about 15 miles before taking a dump as soon as the motor heated up.
Also check the wires runnning from your solenoid. There are 3, two heavy duty wires going to your starter motor and battery and a small one going to the relay. Make sure the nuts on both ends are tight. Make sure the wires are not cracked, exposed and not grounding to your frame or engine.
Last edited by panz4ever; Nov 1, 2016 at 09:47 AM.
Thread Starter
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3rd Gear
Joined: Mar 2008
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From:
Looks like that wire is the ground wire that runs off the mounting stud for the starter motor.
Not sure what you are calling the soenoid but in your pic the electrical component on the bottom of the battery tray is the relay; the solenoid is on the left and mounts to the primary housing.
Not sure what you are calling the soenoid but in your pic the electrical component on the bottom of the battery tray is the relay; the solenoid is on the left and mounts to the primary housing.
Thanks again...
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