Big bang on start
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,159
Likes: 11,249
From: San Diego, CA
But since you asked the above questions, I will offer my humble opinion.
"What does my punctuation have to do with my Harley problem??????" If you want people to read, understand, and respond to a post about a problem, proper punctuation, including the proper use of paragraphs, is extremely helpful. I believe it will increase participation to a question.
"what do you care ,,,as long as you can read it???" Being able to read something, and being able to understand the meaning of what is written, are not the same thing.
Punctuation is a big part of effective communication with the written word. A coma added to a sentence can alter the meaning of that sentence.
The use of proper punctuation, will also make a written statement or question easier to read and understand.
OP, I did not go back and read the post that started this specific punctuation debate, so this is not directed at you. It is a general comment on poor punctuation.
I have not finished reading, or bothered to participate, in numerous threads over the years simply because I found it really difficult to follow what the poster was saying. Trying to help with the diagnosis of a problem, simply from a report of that problem on the internet, is hard to do. It becomes harder if you can't follow the poster's question.
The punctuation doesn't need to be perfect for effective communication, but poor punctuation, home-made abbreviations/spellings, and/or the total lack of punctuation can really hamper effective communication.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 13,104
Likes: 13,047
From: Texas, USA
Now you're back inquiring about your punctuation. As hattitude alluded to in an earlier post, proper punctuation, spelling and grammar can make a post more readable. This may increase participation in the thread and responses to your concerns. Many people, myself included, may avoid a particular thread or post if it is difficult to read or understand.
Let me give you an example of what is posted at times. This was a post, verbatim, in another thread today. It is called a "wall of text" and very difficult to read.
Greetings,
I have a bizarre issue with my 1997 Dyna Super Glide. I bought it from a relative about a year ago, the bike (as far as I know) is just about as stock as it gets, everything was running great and It was garage kept. From time to time it would cough through the carb and I would get an afterfire after turning it off that's about it. About three weeks ago I tore it down for a paint job, new LED lights, and an exhaust wrap. Everything was done by the book (I own the shop manual) all went on smooth with new gaskets for the exhaust, plug n' play turn signal conversion kit etc. I started her up and took her for a ride after it was back together, ran perfectly. Two days later I went out for an evening ride and she just didn't want to start. All I got was a constant backfire (pop/pop/pop) through the exhaust, and when it did finally start it ran rough as hell and constantly backfiring, huge pops.
So I dove in head first, I'm not a grease monkey but I do know my way around engines to a degree.
The battery is solid, it tests 12.9 after rest, I put new gas in + seafoam, changed the Coil, spark plugs, the plug wires, broke the carb down cleaned it(which it didn't even need by the looks of it), new carb to intake manifold gasket. After all of that I went to start her up and I could tell it wanted to start, so I really pushed the carb hard up against the seal to the manifold and she fired up and ran strong. Great, so I need a new intake manifold. It looks like, ok... I took the bike for a spin around the block after getting it all back together, beautiful, opened the throttle up on the home stretch, outstanding, no complaints! ...
A few days later I went out to fire it up again just to check on it to prepare for the ride to the stealership to get a new intake manifold... and guess what, pop/pop/pop turning, turning no start, struggling. Ran through the whole thing again, I read somewhere to try a compression test to seek out leaks. So I ran one, obviously the bike was cold and I couldn't start it so the test will be a little off, but I can get an idea. I remove the air filter, the plugs, open the throttle wide. I'm getting 130 on the back cylinder, cool.
Now onto the front, 0 PSI... ZERO, how is that possible? I quit working on it and come back to it the next day thinking the stress has me missing something. Nope, same result, I even tried putting some oil in the hole to help get SOME type of reading, 0 PSI.
I'm at a loss and I'm just throwing parts at it at this point. It could be timing, but I don't see how that could be so intermittent?
I know that's long-winded but is this something you guys could help me with? I just want to be thorough. This is a truly mind melting and infuriating issue. How could it run so well, and then the next start have no compression, what gives??
**Side note, the cam position sensor plate was going bad as evidenced by the nasty brown drip from the nose-cone. I did order a new one thinking initially this was why it was backfiring and refusing to start, but then it fired up the day the carb was seated properly, so I abandoned that repair. I still have the part and kept it as a backup (if it aint broke dont fix it). Could that be my issue?? What am I in for here, I feel like it's going to be thousands at a mechanic.
Thanks!
I have a bizarre issue with my 1997 Dyna Super Glide. I bought it from a relative about a year ago, the bike (as far as I know) is just about as stock as it gets, everything was running great and It was garage kept. From time to time it would cough through the carb and I would get an afterfire after turning it off that's about it. About three weeks ago I tore it down for a paint job, new LED lights, and an exhaust wrap. Everything was done by the book (I own the shop manual) all went on smooth with new gaskets for the exhaust, plug n' play turn signal conversion kit etc. I started her up and took her for a ride after it was back together, ran perfectly. Two days later I went out for an evening ride and she just didn't want to start. All I got was a constant backfire (pop/pop/pop) through the exhaust, and when it did finally start it ran rough as hell and constantly backfiring, huge pops.
So I dove in head first, I'm not a grease monkey but I do know my way around engines to a degree.
The battery is solid, it tests 12.9 after rest, I put new gas in + seafoam, changed the Coil, spark plugs, the plug wires, broke the carb down cleaned it(which it didn't even need by the looks of it), new carb to intake manifold gasket. After all of that I went to start her up and I could tell it wanted to start, so I really pushed the carb hard up against the seal to the manifold and she fired up and ran strong. Great, so I need a new intake manifold. It looks like, ok... I took the bike for a spin around the block after getting it all back together, beautiful, opened the throttle up on the home stretch, outstanding, no complaints! ...
A few days later I went out to fire it up again just to check on it to prepare for the ride to the stealership to get a new intake manifold... and guess what, pop/pop/pop turning, turning no start, struggling. Ran through the whole thing again, I read somewhere to try a compression test to seek out leaks. So I ran one, obviously the bike was cold and I couldn't start it so the test will be a little off, but I can get an idea. I remove the air filter, the plugs, open the throttle wide. I'm getting 130 on the back cylinder, cool.
Now onto the front, 0 PSI... ZERO, how is that possible? I quit working on it and come back to it the next day thinking the stress has me missing something. Nope, same result, I even tried putting some oil in the hole to help get SOME type of reading, 0 PSI.
I'm at a loss and I'm just throwing parts at it at this point. It could be timing, but I don't see how that could be so intermittent?
I know that's long-winded but is this something you guys could help me with? I just want to be thorough. This is a truly mind melting and infuriating issue. How could it run so well, and then the next start have no compression, what gives??
**Side note, the cam position sensor plate was going bad as evidenced by the nasty brown drip from the nose-cone. I did order a new one thinking initially this was why it was backfiring and refusing to start, but then it fired up the day the carb was seated properly, so I abandoned that repair. I still have the part and kept it as a backup (if it aint broke dont fix it). Could that be my issue?? What am I in for here, I feel like it's going to be thousands at a mechanic.
Thanks!
Greetings,
I have a bizarre issue with my 1997 Dyna Super Glide. I bought it from a relative about a year ago, the bike (as far as I know) is just about as stock as it gets, everything was running great and It was garage kept. From time to time it would cough through the carb and I would get an afterfire after turning it off that's about it.
About three weeks ago I tore it down for a paint job, new LED lights, and an exhaust wrap. Everything was done by the book (I own the shop manual) all went on smooth with new gaskets for the exhaust, plug n' play turn signal conversion kit etc.
I started her up and took her for a ride after it was back together, ran perfectly. Two days later I went out for an evening ride and she just didn't want to start. All I got was a constant backfire (pop/pop/pop) through the exhaust, and when it did finally start it ran rough as hell and constantly backfiring, huge pops.
So I dove in head first, I'm not a grease monkey but I do know my way around engines to a degree.
The battery is solid, it tests 12.9 after rest, I put new gas in + seafoam, changed the Coil, spark plugs, the plug wires, broke the carb down cleaned it(which it didn't even need by the looks of it), new carb to intake manifold gasket. After all of that I went to start her up and I could tell it wanted to start, so I really pushed the carb hard up against the seal to the manifold and she fired up and ran strong. Great, so I need a new intake manifold.
It looks like, ok... I took the bike for a spin around the block after getting it all back together, beautiful, opened the throttle up on the home stretch, outstanding, no complaints! ...
A few days later I went out to fire it up again just to check on it to prepare for the ride to the stealership to get a new intake manifold... and guess what, pop/pop/pop turning, turning no start, struggling. Ran through the whole thing again, I read somewhere to try a compression test to seek out leaks. So I ran one, obviously the bike was cold and I couldn't start it so the test will be a little off, but I can get an idea. I remove the air filter, the plugs, open the throttle wide. I'm getting 130 on the back cylinder, cool.
Now onto the front, 0 PSI... ZERO, how is that possible?
I quit working on it and come back to it the next day thinking the stress has me missing something. Nope, same result, I even tried putting some oil in the hole to help get SOME type of reading, 0 PSI.
I'm at a loss and I'm just throwing parts at it at this point. It could be timing, but I don't see how that could be so intermittent?
I know that's long-winded but is this something you guys could help me with? I just want to be thorough. This is a truly mind melting and infuriating issue. How could it run so well, and then the next start have no compression, what gives??
**Side note, the cam position sensor plate was going bad as evidenced by the nasty brown drip from the nose-cone. I did order a new one thinking initially this was why it was backfiring and refusing to start, but then it fired up the day the carb was seated properly, so I abandoned that repair. I still have the part and kept it as a backup (if it aint broke dont fix it).
Could that be my issue??
What am I in for here, I feel like it's going to be thousands at a mechanic.
Thanks!
I have a bizarre issue with my 1997 Dyna Super Glide. I bought it from a relative about a year ago, the bike (as far as I know) is just about as stock as it gets, everything was running great and It was garage kept. From time to time it would cough through the carb and I would get an afterfire after turning it off that's about it.
About three weeks ago I tore it down for a paint job, new LED lights, and an exhaust wrap. Everything was done by the book (I own the shop manual) all went on smooth with new gaskets for the exhaust, plug n' play turn signal conversion kit etc.
I started her up and took her for a ride after it was back together, ran perfectly. Two days later I went out for an evening ride and she just didn't want to start. All I got was a constant backfire (pop/pop/pop) through the exhaust, and when it did finally start it ran rough as hell and constantly backfiring, huge pops.
So I dove in head first, I'm not a grease monkey but I do know my way around engines to a degree.
The battery is solid, it tests 12.9 after rest, I put new gas in + seafoam, changed the Coil, spark plugs, the plug wires, broke the carb down cleaned it(which it didn't even need by the looks of it), new carb to intake manifold gasket. After all of that I went to start her up and I could tell it wanted to start, so I really pushed the carb hard up against the seal to the manifold and she fired up and ran strong. Great, so I need a new intake manifold.
It looks like, ok... I took the bike for a spin around the block after getting it all back together, beautiful, opened the throttle up on the home stretch, outstanding, no complaints! ...
A few days later I went out to fire it up again just to check on it to prepare for the ride to the stealership to get a new intake manifold... and guess what, pop/pop/pop turning, turning no start, struggling. Ran through the whole thing again, I read somewhere to try a compression test to seek out leaks. So I ran one, obviously the bike was cold and I couldn't start it so the test will be a little off, but I can get an idea. I remove the air filter, the plugs, open the throttle wide. I'm getting 130 on the back cylinder, cool.
Now onto the front, 0 PSI... ZERO, how is that possible?
I quit working on it and come back to it the next day thinking the stress has me missing something. Nope, same result, I even tried putting some oil in the hole to help get SOME type of reading, 0 PSI.
I'm at a loss and I'm just throwing parts at it at this point. It could be timing, but I don't see how that could be so intermittent?
I know that's long-winded but is this something you guys could help me with? I just want to be thorough. This is a truly mind melting and infuriating issue. How could it run so well, and then the next start have no compression, what gives??
**Side note, the cam position sensor plate was going bad as evidenced by the nasty brown drip from the nose-cone. I did order a new one thinking initially this was why it was backfiring and refusing to start, but then it fired up the day the carb was seated properly, so I abandoned that repair. I still have the part and kept it as a backup (if it aint broke dont fix it).
Could that be my issue??
What am I in for here, I feel like it's going to be thousands at a mechanic.
Thanks!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,159
Likes: 11,249
From: San Diego, CA
Well only because you asked.....
No, punctuation won't solve your issue, that's not the point. It's about effective communication.
IMHO... It is not easy to try and suggest a possible solution to a problem when you are not present and able to see, hear, and check things first hand.
We are at the mercy of your description of what the problem is. We also need to understand your description for the history of how it started and what, if anything, you have done to diagnose or fix the problem.
If the description is hard to follow and/or understand, it can be as frustrating for those trying to help as it is for those experiencing the problem...
I obviously can't speak for everybody, but the times i have made a comment about punctuation, it was because I was frustrated at not being able to understand the problem at hand. My comments were offered as a suggestion for the OP to possibly clean up the description and allow more people to better understand the issue.
I found out quickly how many people take that as an insult, and the thread gets derailed.
These days, if I cannot understand the problem because I'm having a bad comprehension day, I will ask a question.
But if I cannot understand the problem because the description is hard to follow or understand. I just move on to the next thread.
And as Bone Doc mentioned above, I am not alone.
No, punctuation won't solve your issue, that's not the point. It's about effective communication.
IMHO... It is not easy to try and suggest a possible solution to a problem when you are not present and able to see, hear, and check things first hand.
We are at the mercy of your description of what the problem is. We also need to understand your description for the history of how it started and what, if anything, you have done to diagnose or fix the problem.
If the description is hard to follow and/or understand, it can be as frustrating for those trying to help as it is for those experiencing the problem...
I obviously can't speak for everybody, but the times i have made a comment about punctuation, it was because I was frustrated at not being able to understand the problem at hand. My comments were offered as a suggestion for the OP to possibly clean up the description and allow more people to better understand the issue.
I found out quickly how many people take that as an insult, and the thread gets derailed.
These days, if I cannot understand the problem because I'm having a bad comprehension day, I will ask a question.
But if I cannot understand the problem because the description is hard to follow or understand. I just move on to the next thread.
And as Bone Doc mentioned above, I am not alone.
Last edited by hattitude; Apr 2, 2023 at 09:04 AM.
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 36
Likes: 32
From: Illinois
Well my 2 cents - The comma is very powerful. A football player was being interviewed years ago after winning the championship. At the end of the interview he was quoted saying, in print, "I'd like to thank my parents, Mike Ditka and God." I doubt that Mike Ditka and God are really his parents.
Thread Starter
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Advanced
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 72
Likes: 10
From: pemberton b.c.
OK OK I get it know,, i grew up in the drafting world.., reading and drawing plans, hence, the capital letters.
As for the comas. more comas are more pause time..
But really,,, thanks for all your help. Yes its fixed,, just needed more fuel in the rear cylinder.
As for the comas. more comas are more pause time..
But really,,, thanks for all your help. Yes its fixed,, just needed more fuel in the rear cylinder.
Last edited by stewd8; Apr 2, 2023 at 04:15 PM. Reason: spelling
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