Jerking, sputtering, and dead.
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Novice
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 24
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From: Vancouver, BC
Jerking, sputtering, and dead.
Enjoying a ride on my 06 Electra Glide in the sunshine when I gave it some beans to feel the roar and pull of the S&S T124 crate engine (carbureted).
Suddenly it started to intermittently jerk and sputter, even backfiring a couple times. I thought the battery terminal might’ve come loose, but after pulling over to check it wouldn’t start again (had to get it trailered home). Battery is new, terminals are tight, and it turns over, but sputters and coughs and doesn't want to run.
What would be the first things you would check before taking it to a shop?
Suddenly it started to intermittently jerk and sputter, even backfiring a couple times. I thought the battery terminal might’ve come loose, but after pulling over to check it wouldn’t start again (had to get it trailered home). Battery is new, terminals are tight, and it turns over, but sputters and coughs and doesn't want to run.
What would be the first things you would check before taking it to a shop?
Last edited by mark busse; Sep 5, 2022 at 04:18 PM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,186
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Enjoying a ride on my 06 Electra Glide in the sunshine when I gave it some beans to feel the roar and pull of the S&S T124 crate engine (carbureted).
Suddenly it started to intermittently jerk and sputter, even backfiring a couple times. I thought the battery terminal mightve come loose, but after pulling over to check it wouldnt start again (had to get it trailered home).
What would be the first things you would check before taking it to a shop?
Suddenly it started to intermittently jerk and sputter, even backfiring a couple times. I thought the battery terminal mightve come loose, but after pulling over to check it wouldnt start again (had to get it trailered home).
What would be the first things you would check before taking it to a shop?
Iknow it sounds stupid put is the fuel petcock on ?
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 231
Likes: 100
From: WI
Does it crank and not start? Or not do anything at all?
If it does nothing, you may have a charging issue.
If it cranks but doesn't start buell95 could be dead on with fuel issue.
If it isn't a fuel issue it could be spark related. Sometimes Harley coils (or any coil for that matter) will "leak" once they warm up. Let em cool off and they work just fine. But will cut out again as soon as they warm up a bit.
If it does nothing, you may have a charging issue.
If it cranks but doesn't start buell95 could be dead on with fuel issue.
If it isn't a fuel issue it could be spark related. Sometimes Harley coils (or any coil for that matter) will "leak" once they warm up. Let em cool off and they work just fine. But will cut out again as soon as they warm up a bit.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 5,315
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From: Granville New York
Check the 3 basic requirements for combustion...fuel...spark...air. Pick one and eliminate it from the equation and so on. Ya got those 3 and still no boom boom then you have to dig a little deeper...maybe timing.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 417
Likes: 146
From: Maryland
You didn’t say if it would crank or not or did any lights come on when ignition turned on? Also you said you checked the battery connections but did you check the ground going to the frame mount? I had a Dyna that had symptoms like you described and it was my ground wire from the battery to the frame connection.
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 24
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From: Vancouver, BC
Battery is new, terminals are tight, and it turns over, but sputters and coughs and doesn't want to run. Checking the ground hadn't occur to me, but I'll take a look.
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HDF Community Team
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 503
Likes: 241
From: CA
"Sputters and coughs" means you get occasional ignition? Check the spark plugs. How many miles since they were last replaced?
If they're clean, maybe consider replacing the coils. This would likely be one cylinder, so you could pull them both and see if one misfires.
If they're clean, maybe consider replacing the coils. This would likely be one cylinder, so you could pull them both and see if one misfires.
Last edited by bson; Sep 5, 2022 at 04:39 PM.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 17,912
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From: backwoods
Coil and cpk too.chrck for spark. If it starts after it coils could coil. I'd check spark,after tightening battery cable.
Little odd to me for carb bike to have fuel problem when running. Change plugs for hell of it.
Do you really need the s&s fuel filter? May need to check jetting if you remove. But I get idea every thing has fuel filters.
I'd check spark first since it turns over
Little odd to me for carb bike to have fuel problem when running. Change plugs for hell of it.
Do you really need the s&s fuel filter? May need to check jetting if you remove. But I get idea every thing has fuel filters.
I'd check spark first since it turns over
Last edited by Rounders; Sep 5, 2022 at 04:46 PM.
