Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Shocked while touching rear spark plug wires??

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 21, 2016 | 09:51 AM
  #1  
Ndoggct's Avatar
Ndoggct
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 231
Likes: 6
From: Ct
Default Shocked while touching rear spark plug wires??

My bike is recently started to randomly stall during stops so I tried wiggling the spark plug wire to see if it was seated correctly and got zapped.. Does this mean my wires are bad or maybe my plugs? Thx
 
Reply
Old Sep 21, 2016 | 09:52 AM
  #2  
JustDave13's Avatar
JustDave13
Extreme HDF Member
Veteran: Marine Corps
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 16,271
Likes: 15,108
From: Somewhere SW
Default

Unless they weren't properly seated on the plug I would say it's time for a new set of wires.
 
Reply
Old Sep 21, 2016 | 10:30 AM
  #3  
dribble's Avatar
dribble
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 3,751
Likes: 459
From: Here and now
Default

Electricity is lazy. It will follow the easiest path of resistance. I would replace the plugs and wires.
 
Reply
Old Sep 21, 2016 | 10:35 AM
  #4  
grbrown's Avatar
grbrown
Club Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
Default

Originally Posted by dribble
Electricity is lazy. It will follow the easiest path of resistance. I would replace the plugs and wires.
I would prefer to say the darned stuff is cunning and devious! Otherwise I agree, replacements are a good idea. But don't stick your fingers where......
 
Reply
Old Sep 21, 2016 | 11:13 AM
  #5  
moneypit1's Avatar
moneypit1
Road Master
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,229
Likes: 1,196
From: central wisconsin
Default

would that be called "stray voltage" ?
 
Reply
Old Sep 21, 2016 | 11:35 AM
  #6  
grbrown's Avatar
grbrown
Club Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
Default

Originally Posted by ldepatie
would that be called "stray voltage" ?
It certainly got away from where it shoulda bin!
 
Reply
Old Sep 21, 2016 | 11:40 AM
  #7  
danzio's Avatar
danzio
Stellar HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,178
Likes: 600
From: SoCal.....I'm only here for the weather
Default

I seem to remember my auto-shop teacher back in the 7th grade say "Never grab hold of your spark plugs with the engine running!". There's some high voltage running through that 5/16" piece of rubber.
 
Reply
Old Sep 21, 2016 | 11:43 AM
  #8  
MURPHCC1's Avatar
MURPHCC1
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,801
Likes: 3,800
From: Cape Cod
Default

......then don't do that!
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Sep 21, 2016 | 11:50 AM
  #9  
Orion-5's Avatar
Orion-5
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,066
Likes: 420
From: CT, a liberal Shithole
Default

I am not subject matter expert on your issue but I'd like to pass on something I learned as a teen in the US Navy.
Before grabbing any electrical conductor touch it with the back of your hand first. If you're zapped you'll pull your hand away.
If you grab the wire/cable/conductor and there is voltage the current may cause the muscles in your hand to close more tightly since muscles are controlled by your body's electrical system the nerves.
I remembered this and still use it today before grabbing any wire.


In shipbuilding I always did this and did get pop'd a few times.


Just sayin
 
Reply
Old Sep 21, 2016 | 12:01 PM
  #10  
Jaystn62's Avatar
Jaystn62
Stellar HDF Member
Veteran: Army
10 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,372
Likes: 250
From: NW Kentucky
Default

Older graphite sparkplug wires would zap you anytime. These are the type with older distributor and points ignition systems. The newer silicone based with some kind of core conductor usually won't shock you unless there is a break down of the insulation. This is probably what happened. Remember you are dealing with tens of thousands of volts and it can jump a long way. Even if you think the core is insulated. New plugs and wires should solve the problem.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:51 PM.

story-0
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-1
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-2
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-3
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-4
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-5
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-6
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-7
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-8
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
story-9
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE