Sportster Not Getting Spark

Question Hello, I have a 2000 XLC 1200 with 30,000 miles she sat for about 5 years. when I fire her up, she starts fine and sounds good. I ride her for about 5 minutes and she dies, she still cranks, she has spark and she is getting fuel but will not start. After she sits for about 30 minutes she fires right up and the same thing all over again. She has an HSR 42 Mikuni carb, I did not rebuild the carb but I did thoroughly clean the carb, petcock, fuel tank and replaced the spark plugs. Is there a way to test the ignition coil and ignition module. Or do you guys have any idea’s about this problem.

Answer Not sure how you can have, both, spark & fuel and still no start. You absolutely have to be missing one of them. You need to go back and verify that the Sportster not getting spark.
Are you getting fuel to your float bowl?
If so, is the float height correct?
Confirm that your needle valve is not hanging up.
Verify that your gas cap is vented. You can be experiencing vapor lock.
Check your fuel line routing. Make sure the line is not collapsing.

Ground your spark plugs and verify that you have strong, definitive spark, both, front and rear.
Check your speedo head for DTC’s.
A failing crank position sensor can cause a problem like yours. A bad sensor will sometimes fail when heat is introduced and begin working again once it cools.

If/when this occurs again, turn off your fuel valve right away to see how much gas is in your float bowl. Open your gas cap and listen for a possible vapor lock condition. Ground your spark plugs to check for spark. If this problem began after you cleaned your carb, start looking in that area 1st.

Related Videos:
How to Check and Fix Vapor Lock on a Harley-Davidson

Carburetor Rebuild

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19 Responses to “Sportster Not Getting Spark”

  1. Claud weaver

    WhyI I got tenacious Harley Davidson Sportster ain't getting no fire

  2. Curtis D Brown

    Ok 1993 1200 sportster no spark changed coil no spark changed ignition pick up sensor no spark changed ignition module no spark 12vdc to coil no spark WHY?????

  3. Ed

    Can’t get spark to a 1982 sporster

  4. Jeremy Dickerson

    I have a 2000 1200 Sportster all of the main components have been replaced starter switch ignition module, it is not a fuel issue I have no spark.

  5. JOE

    I replaced the starter on my 2000 sportster 1200 and now i have no spark. Can't figure out what I could have done. Any suggestions?

  6. Joe

    I replaced the starter on my 2000 Sportster 1200 & now there is no spark. I've backtracked, checked connectors, fuses, wires, grounds, coil, ECM and I must have missed something. Any guidance will be greatly apporeciated.

  7. Jesse Littleton

    Hi I have a 97 883 Hugger I replaced the handlebar dampers both sides vibration stopped then it came back any ideal what might be causing this and what I can do to fix this problem the dampers are hard rubber the old OME one's were wore out?

  8. Rich

    Missed something, you can have spark, and fuel, and not start if it's a bad crank position sensor, or pick-up coil etc. this also could explain the "resting period" then restart. The bikes cooling down and the CPS hs electronics inside that cool as well. It's loosing connection when it gets hot and shuts down.

  9. Jim Hewitson

    I have a2009 ultra my problem is after riding for 20 minutes when I come to a stop my voltage will drop to around 12 volte but if I release the hand or foot brake the volts start to return to 14 volts if I apply the brakes the volts starts to drop this happens only when the bike has run awhile I have replace the stator and regulator still happens at a loss now any ideas thanks

  10. Ynot

    Crank positioning sensor One min. Spark nxt time no spark ! Acting as if you had a bad set of points which you don't have if it get hot then shuts off you can spray freon on it and if it starts there's your issue . There are ways to check but you need a multi meter the sensor can be had on eBay or if you have another bike sportster same year switch out need a tiny screwdriver or the right tool to take apart the connector , but I'm almost 99 % sure it the crank sensor from your symptoms have replaced quite a few. Good luck