Heritage softail fouling plugs
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2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2023
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From: Wedt deer
Heritage softail fouling plugs
Hello, I have a 2010 heritage softail classic. Bike was running great and never had an issue until I touched it. I replaced the battery as it was over ten years old. Also replaced the grips. Rode the bike for about an hour. Next day started it up and it misfired through the intake. Started it again and it ran and sounded good for almost 2 hours. After the bike cooled off I pulled the plugs and they were carbon fouled (dry) but did smell like gas. On my first trip I did fill the bike up with 93 octane from a gas station that I've used before. My question would be could any of these things I did cause this to happen? Bad gas, battery pulled so something with the brains of the bike? Or grips? I was sure to follow the service manual for the grips and have them set to spec. Thanks guys any advice is appreciated.
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From: NorCal
Doubtful just doing what you did would cause that. Maybe some collateral damage? Something got knocked loose when changing the battery maybe? Go back and just give it a good look. Bad gas? Maybe. Drain it and replace it if you think that's a possibility. Otherwise may be just coincidence something failed when it did. Can you check for codes?
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2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2023
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From: Wedt deer
Doubtful just doing what you did would cause that. Maybe some collateral damage? Something got knocked loose when changing the battery maybe? Go back and just give it a good look. Bad gas? Maybe. Drain it and replace it if you think that's a possibility. Otherwise may be just coincidence something failed when it did. Can you check for codes?
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2nd Gear
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From: Wedt deer
I did forget to mention the plugs were put in less than 500 miles ago. I'm hoping it's a gas issue and not something else. Would it hurt to run some seafoam through it?
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From: NorCal
https://www.uti.edu/blog/motorcycle/trouble-codes
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2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2023
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From: Wedt deer
Here's a link to read on how to check codes. Are the plugs the correct one's?
https://www.uti.edu/blog/motorcycle/trouble-codes
https://www.uti.edu/blog/motorcycle/trouble-codes
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From: NorCal
Remember, YouTube and the Inet are your friend. Tons of how to stuff on there. Just use your discretion in which one's to believe. There are some idiots posting there.
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From: San Diego, CA
As brakeless suggested, check for codes.... it could point you in the right direction to start your diagnosis...
It has been my experience that when an issue arises soon after I did some work on a bike, the issue was caused by something I "fixed", moved, touched, or bumped when I did my work.
Barring a code pointing you in a certain direction, start with checking your previous work... I'm fairly meticulous when I work on my bikes... and yet I've made a couple big, stupid mistakes in my day.... No, I'm not going to share them...
When you replaced the battery, what connectors/cables did you have to handle and/or move? Check those connections and make sure they are clean & tight... both ends of the cables.
When you changed grips, did you remove the switchpaks.....?? Very easy to pinch a wire, or bump a connector leading to a bad connection. Check the wires/connections to any switchpak you had to move/remove...
Of course, it is possible that it's a coincidence that something failed just after you did some other work, so keep an open mind as you do your diagnosis...
Keep us posted on your progress....
It has been my experience that when an issue arises soon after I did some work on a bike, the issue was caused by something I "fixed", moved, touched, or bumped when I did my work.
Barring a code pointing you in a certain direction, start with checking your previous work... I'm fairly meticulous when I work on my bikes... and yet I've made a couple big, stupid mistakes in my day.... No, I'm not going to share them...
When you replaced the battery, what connectors/cables did you have to handle and/or move? Check those connections and make sure they are clean & tight... both ends of the cables.
When you changed grips, did you remove the switchpaks.....?? Very easy to pinch a wire, or bump a connector leading to a bad connection. Check the wires/connections to any switchpak you had to move/remove...
Of course, it is possible that it's a coincidence that something failed just after you did some other work, so keep an open mind as you do your diagnosis...
Keep us posted on your progress....
Last edited by hattitude; Oct 4, 2023 at 12:18 PM.
Thread Starter
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2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 6
Likes: 2
From: Wedt deer
As brakeless suggested, check for codes.... it could point you in the right direction to start your diagnosis...
It has been my experience that when an issue arises soon after I did some work on a bike, the issue was caused by something I "fixed", moved, touched, or bumped when I did my work.
Barring a code pointing you in a certain direction, start with checking your previous work... I'm fairly meticulous when I work on my bikes... and yet I've made a couple big, stupid mistakes in my day.... No, I'm not going to share them...
When you replaced the battery, what connectors/cables did you have to handle and/or move? Check those connections and make sure they are clean & tight... both ends of the cables.
When you changed grips, did you remove the switchpaks.....?? Very easy to pinch a wire, or bump a connector leading to a bad connection. Check the wires/connections to any switchpak you had to move/remove...
Of course, it is possible that it's a coincidence that something failed just after you did some other work, so keep an open mind as you do your diagnosis...
Keep us posted on your progress....
It has been my experience that when an issue arises soon after I did some work on a bike, the issue was caused by something I "fixed", moved, touched, or bumped when I did my work.
Barring a code pointing you in a certain direction, start with checking your previous work... I'm fairly meticulous when I work on my bikes... and yet I've made a couple big, stupid mistakes in my day.... No, I'm not going to share them...
When you replaced the battery, what connectors/cables did you have to handle and/or move? Check those connections and make sure they are clean & tight... both ends of the cables.
When you changed grips, did you remove the switchpaks.....?? Very easy to pinch a wire, or bump a connector leading to a bad connection. Check the wires/connections to any switchpak you had to move/remove...
Of course, it is possible that it's a coincidence that something failed just after you did some other work, so keep an open mind as you do your diagnosis...
Keep us posted on your progress....
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