Hey All,
Just got a '87 Sporty 883. When I looked at it, it started up fine (it was warmed up). Now that I bought it and got it home it acts like it doesn't want to start anymore. When it does start, it fires right up and runs good. It doesn't stall out or sound like it's going to. I let it run for a while and stop it, then start it again and it starts right up. If I let it sit and it gets cold it just cranks and cranks until maybe it decides it wants to fire up. I was thinking it could be the plugs, but I don't really know. Any thoughts or suggestions?
Thanks
Ed

 

Start with the plugs - there cheap - around 5 - 8 bucks. sounds like it is loosing the fuel in the carb from sitting - there are folks here who will help - welcome aboard

 

i also have an 87 sporty and ill be the 1st to tell you i dont know nuthin about them but i was told s&s carbs(if it has one) sometimes will leak fuel into the motor cousing the bowl to run dry and contaminating the oil mine seems to run great i havent had any problems yet and i love it its one fun bike to ride but thats the only hint i can give
glad to have you aboard i need a fellow older sporty owner to compare things with iv been told mine had alot of work done to it and would like to compair our bikes
o by the way lets see a pic

 

Right on for the advice. I might just try swapping out the plugs and see what happens. Hell I'll have to change em anyway when I do a tune up. I was on another forum where some guys were talking about priming it using the throttle when it's cold outside. I'll try some things and see what happens. Good to know there's help out here when you need it. I ain't got a picture yet but I'll get one sooner or later. As for mods on the bike, fat bob tank, straight pipes, forward controls, and some kind of different handlebars. Sounds nice when it runs. ;-)

 

gotta love those drag pipes it sure keeps the neibors on their toes [sm=roll.gif]

 

Yeah, now I can keep up with the guys across the street with their race car and harley.


[IMG]local://upfiles/9231/53F702F324D540D28504C25207182E05.jpg[/IMG]

 

Forgot to mention, that I got her started this morning. Just primed with a couple of twists of the throttle and it started right up. Once it got warm it was ready to go. It was 8:30 in the morning and I was riding around waking folks up. It was bout 30 degrees too, but I had take her out for a spin before I headed in to work.

Took the plugs out last night. They have a lot of carbon on them. A little oily too. I tried to clean them off as best I could. Maybe that did the trick. Shoot, all I know is it started up.

 

great to hear it started up, just my .02 - plugs are cheap insurance - go get a couple a sets and have a clean set a spares - you will be happy you have um someday, if nothing else, to save somebody else while riding

 

Yeah that sounds like a great idea....and some kind of a spark plug wrench so you can get 'em out
Do you have to gap 'em at all or just throw 'em in?

 

OK I thought I'd figured out what was going on but appearently not. Got about 1/2 mile from my house on the bike and it just stalled out. Was running fine just at idle. Did it again the next day. Of course I rode down a hill so I had to push it back up, damn it. Anyway, I replaced the plugs before all this happened the second time so I know it wasn't them. The battery is killed from trying to start it so much. I don't know if now the battery is causing me problems or it could be a carb problem or ignition or ???? It doesn't make much sense to me cause I've been able to ride it around and it hasn't stalled.
Thoughts???