Cranks but wont start
#1
05-11-2018, 01:36 PM
Cranks but wont start
Howdy, I have an 08 Sporty 1200 low that is not getting any fire. It was running Sunday but it was missing, then it died on me on my way home and wont do anything but crank. Anyone know how to check the coil? I have already checked fuses, grounds, resistance on plug cables, all connections, and looked for shorts. I assume the ECM is working because I have been cranking it and the intake smells strongly of fuel, which I assume meant the ECM was telling the injectors to spray. I don't want to just start throwing money at it without any real ideas of what direction to go. Can someone please help?
#2
05-11-2018, 02:03 PM
You could pull the plugs put them back in the plug caps and ground the plug threads to the engine and see if the plugs fire.
If they don’t you can start looking for a lose connection and or a pinched wire .If they do they may still not under compression.
Many bikes can damage the coil if the plug is not grounded so be sure plug is tight against the engine befor cranking it.
If you have a spare set of hands to hold the plugs and or push the starter button you can stick a thumb or finger over the plug hole for a poor boy compression check it will tell you “it got some or it ain’t got none”
don’t shock yourself.
If they don’t you can start looking for a lose connection and or a pinched wire .If they do they may still not under compression.
Many bikes can damage the coil if the plug is not grounded so be sure plug is tight against the engine befor cranking it.
If you have a spare set of hands to hold the plugs and or push the starter button you can stick a thumb or finger over the plug hole for a poor boy compression check it will tell you “it got some or it ain’t got none”
don’t shock yourself.
#3
05-11-2018, 02:57 PM
My buddy and I already tried that and determined it was not getting spark. We also traced out every wire on it looking for loose connections and pinched wires. That leads me to believe the coil is bad but they are not cheap and I don't want to just throw money at it. I would like to know how to test /check the coil but I cant seem to find any info online about a Harley 4 wire coil.
#4
05-11-2018, 03:04 PM
Seasoned HDF Member
The big twins will not fire with plugs removed. How did you check for fire? Fuel fresh? Obviously, something was wrong to make it miss. But once flooded especially if running and missing, will dump so much fuel in cylinders, you almost have to hit it with starting fluid after you crank it with plugs out if gas was bad or had some water in it.
I doubt a 2008 coil is bad. One of those 4 wires is the injector signal. The ECM also monitors coil and if the coil is bad, it will give you an error code. Is code check engine light on?
I doubt a 2008 coil is bad. One of those 4 wires is the injector signal. The ECM also monitors coil and if the coil is bad, it will give you an error code. Is code check engine light on?
Last edited by Jackie Paper; 05-11-2018 at 03:09 PM.
#5
05-11-2018, 03:28 PM
I did not know it would not fire outside of the hole. Is that a grounding thing? Because we had it grounded to the head.
It had a lot of historic codes but none of them were coil. It had a few sensor codes but I fixed most of them before I knew how to get to the codes.(I've only had the bike for 6 months). Unfortunately I dont have them here with me at the moment
It had a lot of historic codes but none of them were coil. It had a few sensor codes but I fixed most of them before I knew how to get to the codes.(I've only had the bike for 6 months). Unfortunately I dont have them here with me at the moment
#6
05-11-2018, 03:39 PM
I believe the ECM will not fire the plugs if it does not sense compression, screw an old plug into the hole then try your spark test again.
#7
05-11-2018, 03:44 PM
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