Sportster Models 883, 883 Custom, 1200 Custom, 883L, 1200L, 1200S, 1200 Roadster, XR1200, and the Nightster.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Help bike won't start!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 29, 2012 | 11:13 PM
  #1  
shanvhere's Avatar
shanvhere
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: Houston, TX
Default Help bike won't start!

I have a 1200 2006, and this is what happened before it stopped.

I started the bike before college, as I was driving, I stopped at a stop sign, the engine felt like it was back firing. Thought it was because it was low on gas or just starting. I got fuel and while getting fuel it over flowed cause the pumped didn't auto stop. Went to school fine ran smooth and parked it. 2 hours later I went to start it, put the choke on and started.

All of a sudden the RPM started to go lower and lower then died. So I figured i was the choke, so I started it again and it would go then die. Now all it does it just crank and not start. Please someone give me some tips!
 
Reply
Old Oct 30, 2012 | 02:49 AM
  #2  
Roni's Avatar
Roni
Ultimate HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 8,218
Likes: 827
From: Reston, Va
Default

So, you have a bike with a carb. I believe '06 was the only year where you could get either a carb or an EFI bike.

In order to get combustion, you need three elements: fuel, spark and compression. Well, air also, but unless you've stuffed tennis ***** into your breather, that isn't an issue.

Since you think it's fuel issue, I would start by checking whether there is actually fuel in the carb. On most carbs, there's a bleeder valve on the float bowl. I suggest opening that up and seeing if any fuel runs out.


Another simple thing to check is for spark. Pull off the spark plug boot. Hold it close to the contact on the plug, turn the bike over and verify that you are getting an arc from the plug boot to the plug contact.

Let us know what you find out.
 
Reply
Old Oct 30, 2012 | 06:56 AM
  #3  
shanvhere's Avatar
shanvhere
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: Houston, TX
Default

Originally Posted by Roni
So, you have a bike with a carb. I believe '06 was the only year where you could get either a carb or an EFI bike.

In order to get combustion, you need three elements: fuel, spark and compression. Well, air also, but unless you've stuffed tennis ***** into your breather, that isn't an issue.

Since you think it's fuel issue, I would start by checking whether there is actually fuel in the carb. On most carbs, there's a bleeder valve on the float bowl. I suggest opening that up and seeing if any fuel runs out.


Another simple thing to check is for spark. Pull off the spark plug boot. Hold it close to the contact on the plug, turn the bike over and verify that you are getting an arc from the plug boot to the plug contact.

Let us know what you find out.

Sorry yes it's carb, I pulled the breather out and it was clean, I pulled the plug out and it had spark. I honestly think it is not getting fuel I would lift the float bowl and it would do nothing, if I think the float bowl is what it is, my carb is this one is it that device the I push up and it slides down?

http://www.harley-performance.com/stage-1-carb-kit.html
 
Reply
Old Oct 30, 2012 | 07:21 AM
  #4  
chappy99's Avatar
chappy99
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 669
Likes: 2
Default

Did you try to start it with the gas cap off.
 
Reply
Old Oct 30, 2012 | 08:13 AM
  #5  
cooperk851's Avatar
cooperk851
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Flordia
Default

Did you turn the gas on?
 
Reply
Old Oct 30, 2012 | 11:46 AM
  #6  
shanvhere's Avatar
shanvhere
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: Houston, TX
Default

Originally Posted by chappy99
Did you try to start it with the gas cap off.

I did not i'll try this when I get home.
 
Reply
Old Oct 30, 2012 | 11:46 AM
  #7  
shanvhere's Avatar
shanvhere
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: Houston, TX
Default

Originally Posted by cooperk851
Did you turn the gas on?
I tried the reserve and the on switch unless theres another switch
 
Reply
Old Oct 30, 2012 | 01:11 PM
  #8  
cHarley's Avatar
cHarley
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 16,320
Likes: 306
From: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh
Default

Originally Posted by shanvhere
I tried the reserve and the on switch unless theres another switch
The stock petcock is vacuum controlled, there's a small black vacuum hose connected to the backside of the petcock. If that hose comes off or is leaking, fuel won't flow from the petcock.

With your A/C cover off so that you can see into the carb throat, you should be able to see fuel squirting into the throat when you twist the throttle. If you don't see fuel squirting, you're not getting fuel to the carb.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Oct 30, 2012 | 01:21 PM
  #9  
Dual-Linkerts's Avatar
Dual-Linkerts
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 393
Likes: 1
From: Southern Indiana
Default

Originally Posted by cHarley
The stock petcock is vacuum controlled, there's a small black vacuum hose connected to the backside of the petcock. If that hose comes off or is leaking, fuel won't flow from the petcock.

With your A/C cover off so that you can see into the carb throat, you should be able to see fuel squirting into the throat when you twist the throttle. If you don't see fuel squirting, you're not getting fuel to the carb.
Yea no fuel can come out of the fuel valve without vacuum.
Get a can of starting fluid and give that carb a shot of it and see if it starts that will elliminate any electrical issues.
 
Reply
Old Oct 30, 2012 | 01:40 PM
  #10  
shanvhere's Avatar
shanvhere
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: Houston, TX
Default

Originally Posted by Dual-Linkerts
Yea no fuel can come out of the fuel valve without vacuum.
Get a can of starting fluid and give that carb a shot of it and see if it starts that will elliminate any electrical issues.
I seen a hose from the bottom of the carb that goes down behind the where my right foot is and is not connected to anything, I thought this was normal. Is that what your are taslking about?
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:19 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE