Petcock left to "ON" for 5 days.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 519
Likes: 1,436
From: North East Iowa
I think they went to bed on you.
Pull the plugs out before you turn it over. You want to push the gas out of the cylinders and without the plugs you don’t have any spark to start it.😀
Good luck and be safe.
Pull the plugs out before you turn it over. You want to push the gas out of the cylinders and without the plugs you don’t have any spark to start it.😀
Good luck and be safe.
Thread Starter
|
6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2024
Posts: 12
Likes: 3
From: Hawaiʻi mostly, Texas sometimes
Thanks for your response. I have a lot to learn. I don't have a ton of time at the moment. Think this will all be okay if I do it in a week or two? I will not ride it before I do this though.
Last edited by Lava1900; Jun 30, 2024 at 11:55 PM.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 519
Likes: 1,436
From: North East Iowa
I think if you wait a couple of weeks you probably don’t even need to pull the plugs unless you want to check them which wouldn’t hurt. It should have ran down the cylinders by then but I would pay attention to the advice you got earlier about the oil. That gas will wash the oil off your cylinder walls so I guess I wouldn’t let it sit too long.
Some really knowledgeable people on here and most of them will be glad to help and give you good advise.
Good luck and enjoy your scooter!😀
Some really knowledgeable people on here and most of them will be glad to help and give you good advise.
Good luck and enjoy your scooter!😀
Intermediate
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 41
Likes: 20
From: New Zealand
don't pull the plugs and crank it over, that may cause it to keep cranking until batterie burnt out if not disconnected.
Just disconnect the leads for plug in.
For plugs out and use clamp on batterie earth so you can kill it if it doesn't stop cranking.
Just disconnect the leads for plug in.
For plugs out and use clamp on batterie earth so you can kill it if it doesn't stop cranking.
6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2024
Posts: 11
Likes: 5
From: Texas
The reason you want to turn it over with the plugs out is that liquid doesn't compress, if there was fuel in the cylinder you could bend a rod. Take the seat off and be prepared to disconnect the battery ground cable if the starter sticks, it's not going to hurt anything if it cranks for a minute, it's just unnerving if your not prepared.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21,095
Likes: 12,640
From: South Carolina
It may be a simple leak at the fuel hose between the carb and the petcock...
If fuel was going past the needle and seat in the carburetor, I think it would have come out the overflow vent in the float bowl.
If fuel was going past the needle and seat in the carburetor, I think it would have come out the overflow vent in the float bowl.
Last edited by Dan89FLSTC; Jul 1, 2024 at 04:41 PM.
Thread Starter
|
6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2024
Posts: 12
Likes: 3
From: Hawaiʻi mostly, Texas sometimes
Think that's a possibility even if a spark plug was wet with gas last night?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 7,736
Likes: 1,524
From: Coromandel Peninsula New Zealand
The best course of action is caution, assume the worst and be prepared to deal with it but so long as you don't try to start it until checked over, you won't have done any lasting damage.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2024
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Bayside Melbourne
You are now a part time mechanic
You own a shovelhead. First thing go and buy an extensive repair manual. Keeping these older bikes running is an act of both love and loathing. For every 1000 miles you ride. You'll be wrenching and working on it for at least 12hrs minimum until you know nearly every nut, bolt, screw, wire and exactly where they all go and do. Give it a couple of years and get used to ingrained grease,oil and grime in your hands. Don't worry though because you wear gloves when you ride 😁🫡 Shovelhead forever man
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 7,736
Likes: 1,524
From: Coromandel Peninsula New Zealand
You own a shovelhead. First thing go and buy an extensive repair manual. Keeping these older bikes running is an act of both love and loathing. For every 1000 miles you ride. You'll be wrenching and working on it for at least 12hrs minimum until you know nearly every nut, bolt, screw, wire and exactly where they all go and do. Give it a couple of years and get used to ingrained grease,oil and grime in your hands. Don't worry though because you wear gloves when you ride 😁🫡 Shovelhead forever man
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Larryc5079
General Harley Davidson Chat
23
Apr 22, 2013 01:30 PM