'03 Hugger - intermittent no spark starting problem - Harley Davidson Forums: Harley Davidson Motorcycle Forum

area51rider · 10-06-2009, 04:36 PM

Hi, I'm new to the forum but like what I see. My Sportster is an 03 Hugger 883 and it's a great bike. Usually it starts right up and I can ride away. Occasionally, it just cranks and cranks with no fire. I put on a spark plug tester and realized it was not getting spark. So far nothing I can do will fix it, I just have to let it set.

I had the carb checked over, and put in a new HD battery, and it still does this. The bike is 100% stock except for saddlebags.

I'd appreciate all the constructive ideas on fixing it.

thanks
a51

JimmyG · 10-07-2009, 01:32 AM

Hey area51rider, not sure about your problem, but people around here are big on introductions, so I'd go on up to the new to the community page and say hello. People are much more inclined to help you once you say hello all proper like.

JimmyG · 10-07-2009, 01:35 AM

also if your not getting any spark, did you try replacing the spark plugs? Is the enrichener knob working?

SCHMIDTYS · 10-07-2009, 06:33 AM

Hate to hear that you have to let it sit ! At least 2 things that cause this symptom on Sportys , The ignition switchs had intermittant problems and the ignition pickups would go bad . Toggle the ignition switch a bunch of times to see if it'll start and / or take the cover off the pickup , round plate on the cam cover , and look at the pickup , if it looks melted it's shot .
Now for your intro ...

**Dave63** · 10-07-2009, 06:45 AM

and learn to spell AMERICA corrrectly...

SCHMIDTYS · 10-07-2009, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave63

and learn to spell AMERICA corrrectly...

Dave's sharp this a.m.

Rockerbox1 · 10-07-2009, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave63

and learn to spell AMERICA corrrectly...

no sheit! or go live elsewhere

area51rider · 10-07-2009, 12:24 PM

New to HD, from Florida

area51rider · 10-07-2009, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyG

also if your not getting any spark, did you try replacing the spark plugs? Is the enrichener knob working?

JimmyG, I put in two HD spark plugs as well as going through the carb.

The bike is getting fuel - originally I thought it was flooding and fouling the plugs. I have a spark plug tester that goes inline with the spark plug wire to the plug and I can see it flash when the bike is running, and not flashing when it's cranking but not starting.

I will try the switch to see if it's causing problems. The wiring from it goes into the wiring harness so it will be a little harder to test to see if I"m not getting power out of it.

**Dave63** · 10-07-2009, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by area51rider

JimmyG, I put in two HD spark plugs....

This comment holds truer then you think. A friend of mine just had his 50K service done at a dealer, before going on a trip.

The dealer told him that the plugs were fine, and that there was no need to replace them.

100 miles into the trip, the bike starts limping, coughing and running crappy.

They pull into a dealership and of course, although open on a sunday, there's no mechaincs working. My friend says to the salesman, "Ya know.....being an old timer, why not just sell me a set of spark plugs?"

My friend installs them, and wa-la, the bike runs great and did, the rest of the 400 miles ride.

Now his bike has Delphi EFI, so the plugs are part of the ION knock retard system, but even on a carbed bike, if the plugs are going south, some strange stuff can happen, and like many people, we have e tendency to look for the strange and bizare, rather then the basics or the obvious.