Watch a video about carbs.
Empty gas tank and pour the highest octane you can get. 93/91.
Doesn't work, take carb out/clean.
Doesn't work inspect spark plugs.
>pour the highest octane you can get. 93/91.
How does this help? Genuine question; I'm not a mechanic. I would have assumed you'd want a lower octane fuel so it would ignite easier with less compression.
i say this just because I've had better luck with higher octanes from reputable companies.
Shell/Chevron, people say it's nonsense but I have seen motorcycles/cars run poorly on 87 heck even 91 from a sketchy gas station.
I think if gas stations actually cared about the quality of gasoline then you'd be right.
Didn’t even hear them crank it, saw it sat for 2 years and that’s the usual diagnosis, if it’s carbureted then that’s where I’d start, along with checking coils and spark plugs
I don't use ether. A motor can get hooked on it. A little bit of fresh gas in the carb will get it to do something if the carb is stopped up. If it's flooded it will make it worse of course. He'd be smelling gas if it was flooded.
My best guess, based on it sitting a long time is stopped up carb, gas has turned into varnish over the years.
If the plugs are firing, all you need is fresh gas and maybe clean the carb. Gas goes bad and turns into varnish over time. Varnish stops up jets and it doesn't let it get enough gas to run. Poor a thimble full of gas in the carb and it will try to run but it won't last.
Haha 😄 Of course I'd like a fat boy really, but in the UK harleys are all stupidly overpriced. A non runner like this would still sell for likely £3,000 ($3712).
Sounds like it’s turning over well enough, so I’d move past battery for now. Check to see if it’s getting spark, and if it is, I’d work on the carb. Honestly the carbs are like $40-50 on Amazon, might be worth just buying a new one, make sure you have the right jets.
Gotta adjust the filbert flange and flux your capacitors but before you try any of that your battery sounds fine and you probably have bad gas / plugged petcock / gummed up carb from sitting. Gas goes bad faster than you think.
The starter sounds like mine did, when I had a dead battery after I forgot to load it over winter for around 2 months. In my case lights were still working, but the battery was too weak to start the bike. Loading the battery didn't help. I needed to replace it.
So he will definitely need a new battery, when it wasn't loaded regularly the last 2 years.
Furthermore the gas in the tank needs to be replaced too. I would also replace the oil and maybe the break fluid too.
If it would be my bike, I would replace battery and gas and see if it starts then. If it starts, I would let it check out afterwards by a Harley service. And if it doesn't start, that's needed anyway, but the service would need to pick the bike up, which raises the costs.
PS: I See, he already replaced the battery, so next to check fuel and spark plugs, right?
Hahah that sit , is going to require a nee gas tank lining and tank components…. Thats just to get it started .. running and not leaking is going to require a few grand
Likely didn't have fuel stabilizer added and carb orifices are clogged with sediment. First empty the gas and re fill with fresh, then charge the battery fully....if that doesn't work it's the carbs needing to be cleaned!
Put the battery on charge. Whilst it is charging zip down to the Auto Store and buy a aerosol of EZ Start. Now remove the air filter and push a two second squirt into the air intake. Hit the starter, if she tries to fire up but fails you have a fuel issue.
Good luck.
Take off air filter, make sure petcock is turned to reserve, spray carb cleaner into carb and give it a handful of try’s, if it still doesn’t start, then change spark plugs and try again.
Edit 1:carb cleaner trick will most likely only keep it running for a minute, but if it’s does start up, good indicator to clean the carb(besides the fact it’s been sitting for 2 years). Also new plugs take 2 seconds and cost $5 so just change those anyway considering.
Edit 2: Verify you have gas in the first place and that it is not gas that has been in there for two years….
Bad gas 100% drain at carb add new with fuel stabilizer. If that doesn't work. Pull carb and soak in gas for a few days. I worked on wheel line motors for a few years.
Depending on the type of gas it had last, I’m thinking either petcock is gummed up and not flowing or carb…possibly both. Cheap ethanol Gas is horrible.
I’ve ran across a lot of issues in small engines and cheap gas.
See if plugs are dry or wet after trying to start it.
If they're wet, check for a spark at the plugs.
If there's no spark, check the plugs, coil, wires, etc.
If they're dry:
Get an old rag for stray fuel.
Turn off the fuel petcock, disconnect the fuel line at the carb and aim it into a container. Turn on the petcock and be sure fuel flows.
If no fuel flows, check the filter and screen.
Drain the tank on reserve and add fresh fuel.
If there's fuel, remove the float bowl. Remove main and slow jets (Google location) and check that the small holes are open. Clogs can usually be cleared with a small wire, like one from a brass wire brush, and carb cleaner.
Hopefully, you've located the issue. 🤞
When they sit that long it's usually fuel related. Either varnished gas in the carburetor or the petcock. That bike has a vacuum operated petcock the diaphragm dries up and doesn't allow fuel to pass through the petcock. Make sure you're getting fuel to the carburetor. If you're not change the petcock.
First, make sure the choke is on. Second, make sure the petcock is set to ON/ or FUEL.
If it was on, empty gas tank, add highest octane gas. Try again.
If nothing, try starting while it’s jumped.
If nothing, time to swap plugs and take down the carb
It wants to, start with the battery. replace plugs & plug wires and make sure you’re actually getting spark. I would probably take a look at the carburetor and clean it as well as the air filter.
That battery sounds weak. Check the spark plugs first and maybe drain the tank and get some fresh gas in it. Definitely sounds like it has compression so I wouldn’t worry to much on that side of it.
I learned all about letting a bike sit and what it can do to it, the hard way. Let it sit for 6 months while I was gone and turns out it also had bad gas in it. It was also 2 years old, completely rusted the tank which gummed up everything. Pretty much needed an entire fuel system.
Check the fuel shut off valve. Gets people all the time. People shut the valve off and run the fuel out and when they go to restart it they don’t turn the valve back on.
If its a carb I'd spray just a bit of starting fluid just to see if it will catch but be very careful with it and if nothing happens then I'd check the plugs I would even take the filter off most likely it needs charging also but if it does start with starter fluid and doesn't stay running then you know you gotta go through the fuel system.
Check spark, fuel, and compression
If they were getting gas and spark but no compression they'd probably hear some back firing so I'm guessing it's either lack of gas or spark
It sounds like there is an amount of compression, so probably spark, or more likely a fuel issue.
Carb is probably clogged . Check spark . If you have spark that carburetor is probably gunked up
Watch a video about carbs. Empty gas tank and pour the highest octane you can get. 93/91. Doesn't work, take carb out/clean. Doesn't work inspect spark plugs.
>pour the highest octane you can get. 93/91. How does this help? Genuine question; I'm not a mechanic. I would have assumed you'd want a lower octane fuel so it would ignite easier with less compression.
i say this just because I've had better luck with higher octanes from reputable companies. Shell/Chevron, people say it's nonsense but I have seen motorcycles/cars run poorly on 87 heck even 91 from a sketchy gas station. I think if gas stations actually cared about the quality of gasoline then you'd be right.
Easy enough to check plug before pulling carb out. Probably not the cause, but probably needs replacing anyway.
Yea I was thinking about that after I posted 😂. But either way carb definitely needs to be cleaned out if there is two year gasoline in the system.
Bad gas, drain everything including carb float bowl.
It’s this or spark 👆
9 times out of 10 it’s due to the battery.
It is cranking, good enough. Most likely a different battery won't help. Check for gas and spark. One of those is the problem.
Thanks but I’ve just installed a new one so it cant be beacause of the battery.
I'd check spark and fuel.
Condensation in the gas tank that settled to the bottom, entered the fuel lines and is now in the carburetor.
spark plugs or bad gas
Did you look at the video? Cranks fine. Bad gas.
Dead battery bad gas
Clearly the battery is turning the starter…. So not that lol
Didn’t even hear them crank it, saw it sat for 2 years and that’s the usual diagnosis, if it’s carbureted then that’s where I’d start, along with checking coils and spark plugs
This.
Drain the gas and get some fresh stuff Get a fresh battery or jumper
What have and haven't you done besides punching the starter button?
Made a Reddit post.
That’ll never work
Have you checked the plugs?? Battery voltage?? Gave her a snort of starting fluid? Have you done ANY trouble shooting??
I don't use ether. A motor can get hooked on it. A little bit of fresh gas in the carb will get it to do something if the carb is stopped up. If it's flooded it will make it worse of course. He'd be smelling gas if it was flooded. My best guess, based on it sitting a long time is stopped up carb, gas has turned into varnish over the years.
While I disagree with spark, the idea of starting fluid would let op know its bad gas if it started for a second.
Lack of fuel Lack of spark Lack of compression
Bad gas
It sat for 2 years.
Gas may now resemble that crap the forms above chicken broth that has been refrigerated for a few weeks
Rebuild carb, your gas has gone bad.
Battery, bad gas, carb float sticking, shit floating around in gas tank. Luckily all easy fixes
Damn I'd love a sportster
Not this one
If the plugs are firing, all you need is fresh gas and maybe clean the carb. Gas goes bad and turns into varnish over time. Varnish stops up jets and it doesn't let it get enough gas to run. Poor a thimble full of gas in the carb and it will try to run but it won't last.
It's pronounced skirtster.. jk 😜
Haha 😄 Of course I'd like a fat boy really, but in the UK harleys are all stupidly overpriced. A non runner like this would still sell for likely £3,000 ($3712).
I can't imagine. Tough to get parts?
More just the UK "rarity and nostalgia" thing. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/bike-details/202310263352531 Here is the cheapest one on uk autotrader
Maybe see if it fires on starting fluid first so you know it will run if you get fuel to it
If it has compression, fuel and spark. It will run. Start there.
Sounds like it’s turning over well enough, so I’d move past battery for now. Check to see if it’s getting spark, and if it is, I’d work on the carb. Honestly the carbs are like $40-50 on Amazon, might be worth just buying a new one, make sure you have the right jets.
I can't let mine sit for a week or it won't start lol
Drain the old gas. Charge the battery. It will fire up most likely.
Gas goes bad pretty quickly.
2 yrs means gelling in the carb. Drain what you can, add fresh fuel and Stabil and crank on it. A little ether won’t hurt.
It doesn’t start because it sat for two years. Fresh gas, carb rebuild, new intake seals, new battery. New plugs.
I hope op didn't actually have a bike that sat for 2 years and just tried to crank it with zero maintenance.
Gotta adjust the filbert flange and flux your capacitors but before you try any of that your battery sounds fine and you probably have bad gas / plugged petcock / gummed up carb from sitting. Gas goes bad faster than you think.
Totally dead battery ... but the fluids need to be changed too.
How is a starter being cranked over and over again a dead battery? It’s literally the only thing that’s not dead
The starter sounds like mine did, when I had a dead battery after I forgot to load it over winter for around 2 months. In my case lights were still working, but the battery was too weak to start the bike. Loading the battery didn't help. I needed to replace it. So he will definitely need a new battery, when it wasn't loaded regularly the last 2 years. Furthermore the gas in the tank needs to be replaced too. I would also replace the oil and maybe the break fluid too. If it would be my bike, I would replace battery and gas and see if it starts then. If it starts, I would let it check out afterwards by a Harley service. And if it doesn't start, that's needed anyway, but the service would need to pick the bike up, which raises the costs. PS: I See, he already replaced the battery, so next to check fuel and spark plugs, right?
Fuel or battery
My best guess is because it sat for 2 years
Dead battery is common. Old/bad fuel/spark is another one. It may also be carburetor issue.
What have you done to get the bike ready to start? Battery seems weak.
It’s a Harley.
Hahah that sit , is going to require a nee gas tank lining and tank components…. Thats just to get it started .. running and not leaking is going to require a few grand
My thought is the batter sounds “adequate” to start it. I guessing no gas getting to the carb. Or no spark. Is the petcock open? Do you have gas?
“Always” the battery for sportsters. At least with mine it always turns out to be a battery issue lol.
Likely didn't have fuel stabilizer added and carb orifices are clogged with sediment. First empty the gas and re fill with fresh, then charge the battery fully....if that doesn't work it's the carbs needing to be cleaned!
New battery and a carb rebuild and it's g2g
Weak battery and plugged jets.
As everyone who's been there said, spark and fuel. Condensation is the enemy of fuel systems.
Ain’t got no gas in it mmhmm
Probably your carburetor
Yep, check 4 compression, check for spark, pull and check fuel lines, pull the carb.. check the main and idler jets,
Then put it up for sale and buy a Dyna Wide glide… problem solved
Last time it ran was fuel stabilizer used. Could have clogged up carb
Sparkplugs Clean carb Petcock valve Starter relay Everything that was wrong with my sportster after sitting for 2 years. Besides dry rotten hoses.
Ain’t got no gas innit
Put the battery on charge. Whilst it is charging zip down to the Auto Store and buy a aerosol of EZ Start. Now remove the air filter and push a two second squirt into the air intake. Hit the starter, if she tries to fire up but fails you have a fuel issue. Good luck.
Could be or battery petrol crystallizes after sitting for long period of time so could be that also
Shit fuel? Clogged fuel shut off, gummed up carb, do u have spark ? Check ur basics. Intake fuel,compression, spark
Neglect
This happened to my wife's 1200 Sporty. The fuel went bad and gummed up the fuel pump (inside the fuel tank). Had to replace the pump.
Got to do some troubleshooting.
Take off air filter, make sure petcock is turned to reserve, spray carb cleaner into carb and give it a handful of try’s, if it still doesn’t start, then change spark plugs and try again. Edit 1:carb cleaner trick will most likely only keep it running for a minute, but if it’s does start up, good indicator to clean the carb(besides the fact it’s been sitting for 2 years). Also new plugs take 2 seconds and cost $5 so just change those anyway considering. Edit 2: Verify you have gas in the first place and that it is not gas that has been in there for two years….
Gas. Drain the tank. Check the carbs.
You probably got bad gas at the bottom of the carb. Drain that out, along with the gas in the tank and try again
Bad gas 100% drain at carb add new with fuel stabilizer. If that doesn't work. Pull carb and soak in gas for a few days. I worked on wheel line motors for a few years.
Charge battery first.
Stale gasoline. Yes pump gas has an expiration date and becomes ineffective over time. Drain the tank, change the plugs and put fresh gas in it.
Bad gas
Fuel system. Gas goes bad in a couple of months anymore. So more than likely the carb or injectors are clogged.
Get some new plugs fresh gas, clean the carb, charge the battery and go from there
Depending on the type of gas it had last, I’m thinking either petcock is gummed up and not flowing or carb…possibly both. Cheap ethanol Gas is horrible. I’ve ran across a lot of issues in small engines and cheap gas.
If it's carbureted then you should clean it and drain the old gas. That's usually the problem with carbs and it's not that big of a job.
Bad gas
130% chance because it's a sportster.
See if plugs are dry or wet after trying to start it. If they're wet, check for a spark at the plugs. If there's no spark, check the plugs, coil, wires, etc. If they're dry: Get an old rag for stray fuel. Turn off the fuel petcock, disconnect the fuel line at the carb and aim it into a container. Turn on the petcock and be sure fuel flows. If no fuel flows, check the filter and screen. Drain the tank on reserve and add fresh fuel. If there's fuel, remove the float bowl. Remove main and slow jets (Google location) and check that the small holes are open. Clogs can usually be cleared with a small wire, like one from a brass wire brush, and carb cleaner. Hopefully, you've located the issue. 🤞
Spark plugs & battey. then clean all the gunk & crap out of the carb
You clean the carb?
Carbureted?
Jets clogged.
Carb cleaning good old corn fuel
Bad gas
Fresh gas, new battery, try again
Check spark and fuel. Pull plugs, squirt some fresh gas in cylinders put plugs back in and try it that will tell you the issue
Give it a kiss of ether. See if it wants to fire up. Bad gas, or maybe the plugs are flooded with fuel
Take off the on / off fuel pit cock. See if it’s clogged.
Drain carb bowl Pop the air filter off and spray some starting fluid in there she’ll start up
If it’s a carbureted bike then the jets are probably clogged… dismantle the carb, clean it then put back together
It sat for two years, you answered your own question. Check fuel and spark
When they sit that long it's usually fuel related. Either varnished gas in the carburetor or the petcock. That bike has a vacuum operated petcock the diaphragm dries up and doesn't allow fuel to pass through the petcock. Make sure you're getting fuel to the carburetor. If you're not change the petcock.
Did you change the gas , spark plugs and check air filter ?
Clean/replace the jets and put a fresh accelerator diaphragm in.
Yup get some clean fuel in it. Make sure it's sparking.
Carb is gunked up.
It doesn't look like it's dripping oil. Anyone knows a good Harley drips oil. Lol
That’s one of the bikes that’s ever existed for sure.
Old gas.
What year?
check the carburator petcock and the fuel lines
I'd the battery is good gas is probably bad
Bad gas? No spark??
First, make sure the choke is on. Second, make sure the petcock is set to ON/ or FUEL. If it was on, empty gas tank, add highest octane gas. Try again. If nothing, try starting while it’s jumped. If nothing, time to swap plugs and take down the carb
I like your username pal
I see your a man of culture yourself
It wants to, start with the battery. replace plugs & plug wires and make sure you’re actually getting spark. I would probably take a look at the carburetor and clean it as well as the air filter.
I'd go with fuel first. Just pull the float bowl off and to see if there's any crap in there.
Mine does this if sitting for a period , change the plugs
Either air, fuel, or spark
That battery sounds weak. Check the spark plugs first and maybe drain the tank and get some fresh gas in it. Definitely sounds like it has compression so I wouldn’t worry to much on that side of it.
Carburetor is all gummed up
Its the carb. Sitting for 2 years that carb is clogged up and needs to be cleaned
I learned all about letting a bike sit and what it can do to it, the hard way. Let it sit for 6 months while I was gone and turns out it also had bad gas in it. It was also 2 years old, completely rusted the tank which gummed up everything. Pretty much needed an entire fuel system.
2 years is going to be shit fuel in the lines. Drain and clean, charge that battery while your doing that
"I know what's wrong with it, ain't got no gas init!"
Probably the fact that it sat for 2 years.
Did your sat outside in the rain ?
It ain't got no gas, mmhhm
In all seriousness, check the vacuum line on the fuel petcock.
Answered the question befor he asked it.
Check the fuel shut off valve. Gets people all the time. People shut the valve off and run the fuel out and when they go to restart it they don’t turn the valve back on.
If its a carb I'd spray just a bit of starting fluid just to see if it will catch but be very careful with it and if nothing happens then I'd check the plugs I would even take the filter off most likely it needs charging also but if it does start with starter fluid and doesn't stay running then you know you gotta go through the fuel system.
Most likely cause is bad fuel or gummed up carb. Check the fuel, fuel filter, float bowl in the carb and clean it out if it dirty.
Rebuild carb