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:

Cam Install question, won't fire

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 24, 2013 | 10:12 PM
  #41  
pauly3's Avatar
pauly3
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 355
Likes: 1
From: San Antonio, TX
Default

This is the 2nd negative post I see from Eshaw301 in the last 20 min. Totally uncool as we are all on here for help and not to get bashed! Totally uncool man! No we aren't soft we just don't need the trash talking!

Hope you get it figured out soon Streetin!
 
Reply
Old Feb 24, 2013 | 10:17 PM
  #42  
Tinman265's Avatar
Tinman265
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 959
Likes: 5
From: Oswego, IL
Default

Originally Posted by pauly3
This is the 2nd negative post I see from Eshaw301 in the last 20 min. Totally uncool as we are all on here for help and not to get bashed! Totally uncool man! No we aren't soft we just don't need the trash talking!
All 3 of Eshaw301's posts today have been worthless cut down remarks.

Eshaw301, just leave it be if you don't have anything constructive to suggest or offer....
 
Reply
Old Feb 24, 2013 | 10:20 PM
  #43  
WestTexasRanger's Avatar
WestTexasRanger
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,156
Likes: 27
From: Texas
Default

Originally Posted by pauly3
This is the 2nd negative post I see from Eshaw301 in the last 20 min. Totally uncool as we are all on here for help and not to get bashed! Totally uncool man! No we aren't soft we just don't need the trash talking!
I just read his post telling the guy who is having starting problems with his 103. He first tells the OP that his signature is a farce, then tells him to ditch his cams and get a better battery. He closes his comment by saying "You're Welcome" before the OP can even respond.

I guess Eshaw301 is having a bad evening.
 
Reply
Old Feb 25, 2013 | 06:27 AM
  #44  
HDV-GLIDE's Avatar
HDV-GLIDE
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 4,741
Likes: 45
From: Indian Land, SC
Default

Originally Posted by WestTexasRanger
I just read his post telling the guy who is having starting problems with his 103. He first tells the OP that his signature is a farce, then tells him to ditch his cams and get a better battery. He closes his comment by saying "You're Welcome" before the OP can even respond.

I guess Eshaw301 is having a bad evening.
or stayed for a week at a Holiday Inn Express, now he's a f'ing genius.......
 
Reply
Old Feb 25, 2013 | 06:44 AM
  #45  
Scrmnvtwins's Avatar
Scrmnvtwins
Stellar HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,664
Likes: 184
From: Indiana, USA
Default

Originally Posted by Streetin
I just pulled plug wires off and turned it over. Coil damaged by this?
No, As a Delphi project engineer on the development of that system I can tell you that you will not ruin the coil with a few revolutions with the plug wire off or secondary coil open. The open secondary creates additional stress in the encapsulated secondary winding and is a durability test for the product with the specification for operating open in days not seconds. Usually the coil fails during a thermal shock in open secondary where the spark finds an arc path thru the cracked epoxy. Your few cranks should not have cuased any issues.
 
Reply
Old Feb 25, 2013 | 06:59 AM
  #46  
Scrmnvtwins's Avatar
Scrmnvtwins
Stellar HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,664
Likes: 184
From: Indiana, USA
Default

Streetin,
1 - Pull your plugs
2 - Place a thumb over a plug hole and bump it over. If it blows your thumb off the hole you have some compression in that cylinder.
3 - Place a thumb over the other plug hole and bump it over. If it blows your thumb off the hole you have some compression in that cylinder.
4 - If either cylinder feels different, check your pushrods again. I am sure you have heard and seen many ways to do it but, if you watch the exhaust go up and down, then the intake goes up and down, and you continue to rotate that cylinder to TDC or anywhere close you have the lifters on the bottom of the cam circle. (Both valves must be fully closed at TDC to have compression for fire)
5 - Loosen the pushrods 1 at a time, and extend to the point of feeling no verticle movement with the pushrod seated in the rocker arm and the other in the lifter pocket. I make small adjustments spinning and feeling for "0 Lash". When you go from slop or clearance to "0Lash" start your adjustment then lock it down.
6 - Repeat pushrod adjustment for other pushrod.
7 - Wait 10 minutes before rotating engine to allow oil to bleed from the lifters you just adjusted, keeps you from bending a valve. Repeat steps 4 & 5 for other cylinder.
8 - Repeat steps 2 & 3, if you still have a difference in compression, should consider cam timing as the root cause.
 
Reply
Old Feb 25, 2013 | 07:20 AM
  #47  
Jackie Paper's Avatar
Jackie Paper
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Community Builder
Liked
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,612
Likes: 6,439
From: Honah Lee
Default

Originally Posted by Scrmnvtwins
No, As a Delphi project engineer on the development of that system I can tell you that you will not ruin the coil with a few revolutions with the plug wire off or secondary coil open. The open secondary creates additional stress in the encapsulated secondary winding and is a durability test for the product with the specification for operating open in days not seconds. Usually the coil fails during a thermal shock in open secondary where the spark finds an arc path thru the cracked epoxy. Your few cranks should not have cuased any issues.
Thanks to you I have a new folder on coil. Knew I had read the ECM was protected from voltage reversal and AC voltage from bad diodes in the regulator but had read cranking with high voltage wire not grounded could hurt coil but all the cases I have see proved it not to be the case. Good to hear someone who knows why. Not to get too far off subject but what cause the low voltage CPS (crank position sensor) to go bad? Is there more then just a little coil of fine wire in it? Thanks
 

Last edited by Jackie Paper; Feb 25, 2013 at 07:22 AM.
Reply
Old Feb 25, 2013 | 11:27 AM
  #48  
Scrmnvtwins's Avatar
Scrmnvtwins
Stellar HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,664
Likes: 184
From: Indiana, USA
Default

Originally Posted by RIPSAW
Thanks to you I have a new folder on coil. Knew I had read the ECM was protected from voltage reversal and AC voltage from bad diodes in the regulator but had read cranking with high voltage wire not grounded could hurt coil but all the cases I have see proved it not to be the case. Good to hear someone who knows why. Not to get too far off subject but what cause the low voltage CPS (crank position sensor) to go bad? Is there more then just a little coil of fine wire in it? Thanks
My responsibilities were specific to development of the ignition coil and manufacturing process as part of an entire engine management system managed by the systems engineer. Until now I was thinking the crank sensor was simply a dry contact magnetic hall switch so do not know how to answer your question around fine wire winding...
 
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 Feb 25, 2013 | 02:57 PM
  #49  
iclick's Avatar
iclick
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
Default

*** Deleted double-post ***
 

Last edited by iclick; Feb 25, 2013 at 02:59 PM.
Reply
Old Feb 25, 2013 | 02:59 PM
  #50  
iclick's Avatar
iclick
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
Default

Originally Posted by Eshaw301
Time to just take the bike into a shop and have them fix it. After doing my cam swap I swore up and down that it should be a crime for harley dealer or any shop for that matter to charge people for this job. That's how simple it is to do cam swap in a 103. But now, I see why they charge...for folks like the op that can somehow find a way to screw this up. Unbelievable!!!
In fairness to the OP, I've seen seasoned mechanics get the timing marks off. So if that's his problem he is in good company. No, I haven't done that yet, but I've only done two cam jobs, so give me a little more time.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:46 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