Last night while cruising on my al-stock 74" FLH I heard a slight pop sound and the bike just stopped running. After rolling into the gas station, I tried to restart - the engine and starter cranked, but slightly faster than usual. Nothing fired. Haven't checked the plugs yet, but...why would it crank faster than before?

 

Not a lot of information but first thought is Bendix not engaging ring gear. Is the engine turning over or just the starter motor spinning.

 

If the starter is indeed turning the motor over...loss of spark wold make it turn a little faster...loss of compression would make it turn quite a bit faster

 

Didn’t know this Tom. Thanks. Didn’t connect the dots on why the bike would die. Checking for a spark is easy enough for the PO to check.

 

Pop could mean several things. Points or advance unit gave up the ghost maybe or worst case a valve has hung open. I would say a head gasket too but if it had fire it'd still run.

 

Valve stuck open or bent. My '77 did this years ago.

 

A long shot here. Since this happened right after the ‘pop’ wonder If the pop stripped the spark plug threads? May be time for a helicoil.