shovel problems

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Jul 26, 2013 | 11:08 AM

bonesmutley

Thread Starter

Cruiser

Joined: Jul 2013

Posts: 114

Likes: 0

From: vancouver

shovel problems

Hi all, i am new to here, been reading and following it for a long time.

i bought a 79 shovel thats had some work done,ie hardtail chopper done in the 80s i think.

bike runs, i rode it for about 2 hours the other day, the changed the oil and gear lube, bought new plugs but when i went to put em in, the right side of the bikes old plugs were shorter than the left sides, i put the new ones in anyways and it wouldnt run well. so i pulled em out and put the old ones back in.

now, i rode it on the highway about 45 minutes, then into heavy traffic and it started chugging , back fired and died. i waited five minutes then ran it a ver short distance then it did it again. this went on till i got where i was going. at first i thought was over heating. once at my buds house we threw a charger on it and i rode it 10 to 15 minutes before it dies again. i looked at a blown 20 amp fuse and it was effed so i changed that.

anybody have any insight to what this could be?
will the bike do that if the battery is dead?
whats with 2 different types of spark plugs. and whats the gaping, i read around .42 for dyna ign but the old ones were closer to .30.

thanks and love the board.

Jul 26, 2013 | 05:41 PM

johnjzjz

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Nov 2006

Posts: 12,878

Likes: 5,449

From: la la land jerzey

put a volt meter accross the battery and start it up once running it should read 14.2 or better if the battery is down it might read 13 and change but never anything in the 12s with some engine speed --- if thats ok than look

Jul 26, 2013 | 05:59 PM

scaldwellk

Tourer

Joined: Feb 2012

Posts: 347

Likes: 2

From: South Central PA

Any pics, I would love to see it?

Jul 26, 2013 | 07:45 PM

bonesmutley

Thread Starter

Cruiser

Joined: Jul 2013

Posts: 114

Likes: 0

From: vancouver

Here is a link to pics.

http://townspooks.tumblr.com/

I took the battery in and he checked it added acid and I'm now charging it.
We did put a volt meter on it before it does and it was reading below 12 so it was toast. I now got the proper plugs in, 2 short on one side and 2 long on the other, I guess that was how some bikes are set up.

How would I know if the charging system is working? Would a volt meter tell me that?

What do you gap short plugs at? I think it's .35 and the long ones are .30

I do have a dyna ign.

Thanks
Bm

Jul 26, 2013 | 07:55 PM

johnjzjz

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Nov 2006

Posts: 12,878

Likes: 5,449

From: la la land jerzey

i answed how to check to see if its charging above

and dyna plug gap is ok at 35 but what is the colis OHMs it must be 5.0 like a point ignition not 3.5 electronic ignition coils and if you have dyna coils what color are they

Jul 26, 2013 | 08:10 PM

bonesmutley

Thread Starter

Cruiser

Joined: Jul 2013

Posts: 114

Likes: 0

From: vancouver

The ign is dyna twin fire dc6-4.

The old plugs were all gaped at .30

Should I have all four the same? I was told long ones .30 and shorties .35

Jul 26, 2013 | 08:21 PM

johnjzjz

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Nov 2006

Posts: 12,878

Likes: 5,449

From: la la land jerzey

if you have 2 plugs in the head with different gaps the one that has the path of least resistance is the one doing the work not the other > and the other one is at a partial fouled condition

set them exactly the same because short and long plugs have a different approach to heat ranges sooo its very important to gap them the same