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Old Dec 9, 2022 | 06:40 PM
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Default Crank Position Sensor

I have the crank no spark issue going on. Got out my SM to read about removing and replacing the crank sensor......sounds simple until I got this 75 year old carcass under the bike trying to find the connector.
Has anyone replaced there crank position sensor? Ive watched you tube and everyone says 15 minutes and done......I can't even find the connector
I have a 2000 Softail

 

Last edited by Wagondog; Dec 9, 2022 at 06:41 PM.
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Old Dec 10, 2022 | 06:50 PM
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Yep, 15 minutes or so. It should have the connection down just behind the voltage regulator down low. The connector has a slot that slides on a stationary post to keep it in place. If you have the new one you will be able to tell which way to slide it to remove the old. If I remember correctly I removed the sensor before I removed the connector in order to give more play in the wiring.
 
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Old Dec 12, 2022 | 09:52 AM
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Originally Posted by Wagondog
I have the crank no spark issue going on. Got out my SM to read about removing and replacing the crank sensor......sounds simple until I got this 75 year old carcass under the bike trying to find the connector.
Has anyone replaced there crank position sensor? Ive watched you tube and everyone says 15 minutes and done......I can't even find the connector
I have a 2000 Softail

Have you found it yet.....

I believe the 2000 softail had the CPS with the long leads. I don't believe it is one of the CPS that have a connecter within about 6-8 inches of the actual sensor.

IIRC.... It runs across the front of the bike and then down the right side frame rail a couple feet. I seem to remember another thread on this. It was in among other wires along that bottom frame rail and hard to find...


NOTE: I just checked the online parts finder and it does show a 2000 softail with the long leads to its connector...



 
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Old Dec 12, 2022 | 10:43 AM
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My FXDWG had the long lead as well. Removing the sensor was the easy part, routing and connecting the cable took some time.
 
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Old Dec 12, 2022 | 03:14 PM
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Default Thank you Brothers

I finally had time to pick up the crank position sensor and install it. Definitely not the easiest task on a Softail. Took me an hour of getting to the connector and routing the new sensor.
First crank she started like a new bike. Im sure now that the frequent ignition issues I had was the sensor going bad.
On the good side she gave me a season of riding until this happened trying to start her to drain fuel for winter.
She got me in the garage then quit.
Thanks for the guidance I always get on the forum.
Merry Christmas to all the members on HDF.
 
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Old Dec 13, 2022 | 08:27 AM
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Curious as to how many miles are on your bike when the sensor failed?
 
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Old Dec 13, 2022 | 10:01 AM
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Originally Posted by MarlinSpike
Curious as to how many miles are on your bike when the sensor failed?
I am the second owner from a friend. She just turned 40k and she was never ridden hard. I used the CPS from Drag Specialties 52.00.
I am looking for a cam sensor to put in as well. Its still good but its also 23 years old.
 
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Old Dec 13, 2022 | 01:35 PM
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Decided to look around to find a cam position sensor to change just because it is as old as the crank sensor and may be next to go. Another reason is the sensors on the 2000 Softail was a one year part number, nothing before or after fits and was told it will be discontinued by HD soon. Found a new in package OEM HD cam sensor from a motorcycle shop on ebay for 69.00. It is on the way!
 
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Old Dec 13, 2022 | 08:05 PM
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to piggyback on this thread, my bike (02 Heritage with EFI, about 18k miles) just started coughing and hiccuping on the highway. Died once (like it just stalled) a couple weeks ago but after a few minutes got it started again. My local indy thought it would be the fuel check valve so he replaced it. Well that wasn't it because the same thing happened today. Stuttered a couple times then in a few miles more on the highway it felt like it just ran out of gas. Limped to the shoulder, waited a couple hours for a tow then back to my indy mechanic. He thinks it might be the CPS although he said he cleaned it when it was in the shop last. Are those symptoms consistent with a going-bad CPS?
 

Last edited by kotkinjs1; Dec 13, 2022 at 08:07 PM.
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Old Dec 14, 2022 | 03:01 AM
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Originally Posted by kotkinjs1
to piggyback on this thread, my bike (02 Heritage with EFI, about 18k miles) just started coughing and hiccuping on the highway. Died once (like it just stalled) a couple weeks ago but after a few minutes got it started again. My local indy thought it would be the fuel check valve so he replaced it. Well that wasn't it because the same thing happened today. Stuttered a couple times then in a few miles more on the highway it felt like it just ran out of gas. Limped to the shoulder, waited a couple hours for a tow then back to my indy mechanic. He thinks it might be the CPS although he said he cleaned it when it was in the shop last. Are those symptoms consistent with a going-bad CPS?
I can tell you the symptoms you describe are exactly what I experienced on my 2000 (carb) Heritage. Cleaning and rebuilding the carb seemed to make it better for a while but I was always riding expecting a stall out as if she ran out of gas, but she would Always restart until the final time it happened at home.
Earlier I replaced the coil looking for the cause so that was good. Final stall left me with NO SPARK when cranking. Listened to the guys on this forum with similar issues and replaced the Crankshaft Position Sensor (Drag Specialties). The bike started on the first push of the "start switch" after two weeks laid up in 30/40 degree weather......she never started that well.
Just described my experience so it may help you get to the bottom of your issue.
Ride safe!
 

Last edited by Wagondog; Dec 14, 2022 at 03:04 AM.
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