couple of issues I need help with, Please? - Harley Davidson Forums: Harley Davidson Motorcycle Forum

Lady Biker4life · 10-03-2009, 10:12 AM

a little background first: "88 sportster 1200. guy bought it new in
'88 but didnt ride it very much at all (he was afaired of it), then his neighbor bought it in '05 and same thing happen, he didnt ride it. then along came me and got it in '07. I on the other hand, have rode it more in just a short time then the other 2 guys put together. it only had 2500 miles on it when i got it and now almost 6000. So in '06, I had all the seals replaced, it was leaking REALLY BAD!!!!!

Ok, now, the problem: it has a "miss" when i ride it and when i stop the oil light comes on and thens gose off when i start going again. check the oil its good. it also wants to cought somethimes.

I am hoping to get home a couple of days before Biketoberfest and I am going to change the oil and the spark plugs.

anything eles i might do?

Motive · 10-03-2009, 10:13 AM

Sounds like bad gas.

**Dave63** · 10-03-2009, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady Biker4life

Ok, now, the problem: it has a "miss" when i ride it and when i stop the oil light comes on and thens gose off when i start going again. check the oil its good. it also wants to cought somethimes.

Pull the plugs and see what color they are.

It almost sounds like someone hung louder pipes on it, never rejetted, and possibly never uncapped the air/fuel mixture plug. so now it's running lean, because it's never been readjusted, or had a larger pilot jet installed.

As well, I can assume you put fresh gas in it already if you put more then 2500 miles on it.

Removing the tank, taking the petcock out and cleaning it inside may not be a bad idea.....

Also.... take the vacuum line off the petcock, attach a rubber hoe to the petcock fitting, and see if it holds vacuum. If not, it could be leaking, causing a fuel starvation issue, and as well, the vacuum leak is also causing the bike to run lean.

The oil light coming on is more then likely due to the idle being too low, with the popping and stalling issue.....

Rockerbox1 · 10-03-2009, 10:29 AM

oil light makes me think it's an oil pressure problem...at higher RPMs you build up enough pressure to keep the dummy light off, at idle, pressure drops and the light comes on.

I had a Ford truck once that would do that, it was because the main bearings were worn out so bad that it wouldn't build pressure, I had plenty volume, just no pressure. 320,000+ miles with no motor work ever done will kinda do that. I don't know if the rod to crank set-up on a Harley motor is the same or not. may even be a failing oil pump.....

Rockerbox1 · 10-03-2009, 10:30 AM

ok, what Dave and motive said, makes sense, I am probably way off base

Motive · 10-03-2009, 10:44 AM

What Dave said. I'd shoot for the petcock being clogged up a bit. A bike sittin that much has bound to have had condensation in the tank..which leads to rust, which leads to clogged fuel delivery.

Edit: Oh, did this start happening after dipping deeper into reserve than you have normally done before?

Osco · 10-03-2009, 11:04 AM

I was reading all the help answers,,,You guys,,,this Forum Rawks !!

Badassbrutus · 10-03-2009, 12:10 PM

Seafoam and fresh oil,when was the last oil change viscosity is probley low freash oil will probley not let the light come on.

BikerDave · 10-03-2009, 12:58 PM

If the carb hasn't been cleaned since you got it I would look there as well. It's possible that there's some gunk built up in there from sitting. I would bet the oil light issue is simply that the idle is too low.