Question:
Help!!! Harely Davidson 1340 EVO backfiring really bad!!!?
anonymous
2008-01-06 13:06:56 UTC
I have a 1994 Harley Davidson, with 80K miles, that is backfiring under throttle. It comes and goes. Sometimes it will backfire really bad when I hit the throttle and other times it will act just fine. Something loose? I took it to both of the Harley Dealers in my area and the first told me it was the jets and charged me $500 but that did not work, then I took it to the second and they rebuilt my carb and charged me $500 and that did not work. So I bought a new S&S carb for another $500 and it still backfires. I have also put new wire and plugs on and adjusted the timing. I am $1500 + into this problem and it still backfires really bad about 70% of the time it is running. Help!!
Twelve answers:
bikinkawboy
2008-01-06 18:54:09 UTC
First of all, discount the time for a rebuild suggestion. You could be running oil through a worn out engine like poop through a tin horn and that isn't going to make it miss sometimes and not others.



Since it does it under accelleration, I'd be looking at ignition rather than fuel. Whacking open the throttle increases combustion pressure which can snuff out a weak spark. First of all, install new plugs if you haven't already. Gap them to Harley's specs but not over. The wider the gap, the more energy needed to initiate a spark.



If you have a multi meter, check the resistance in the resistor cap (plug cap). If you get more than 20,000 ohms, it's time for a new one. I like to see 12,000 or less myself. Also see if the plug wires are touching metal because of the possibility of leakage through the old wires. Does it run worse or start hard when the weather's foggy or wet but run better when dry? If so, that's a sign that the old plug wires need replaceing.



However, I expect it to be something else. My first guess would be the ignition coil. It has some age on it and has lived in a pretty hot environment. Heat eventually caused the insulation in the wires inside to break down, letting it short out. Sometimes you can find little cracks in the outside plastic insulation, but other times they look fine. I can't remember if Harleys have one or two coils, but I bet that's the problem.



In the late '70s and early 80's Kawasaki had similiar coil problems with their early pointless ignitions, especially the coils roasting under the tank on the hot running 1300's. They got so hot that Kawasaki had to put insulation on the bottom of the fuel tank because you could open the lid and see the gas boiling at the bottom of the tank.



If you can, get good high power coils like Dyna. If you can get something with more get up and go than the OEM, you can increase the spark plug gap .005 or so and that will make it run better, especially on startup. If you get aftermarket coils, make sure the primary resistance is correct for your bike. Most Dynas are 2.5 ohm which is a common requirement for electronic bike ignitions. There are coils out there with more like .8 ohm resistance, and if your bike needs 2.5 ohms, you'll need to add a resistor of around 1.7 ohms between the positive lead and the positive terminal on the coil.



It could be a corroded connection somewhere between the coils and cdi box, but considering the age and mileage of the bike, I'd suspect the coils first. Even if the OEM coils are ok, new high powered coils will make the bike start and run much better.



There's good mechanics out there, but too many of the young guys don't spend enough time reasoning out the problem and are too quick to start changing parts. The backfiring under hard throttle should have been a tip off that it's ignition and not carburation. If you can, find some old fart like me that's been around the block several times or some older long haired dude that grew up wrenching on the pre-evolution jobs. Most likely he's had all sorts of breakdowns and failures. If you need more help, email me. Good luck, buddy.
anonymous
2008-01-06 17:44:37 UTC
take it back to the dealer that fixed it the first time and tell them to fix it again because you should have a 90 day warranty on repairs and tell them to fix it right this time. when they hit you with a bill ask them why you are paying twice for what they should have fixed the first time.
electraglidebiker
2008-01-07 20:16:08 UTC
Ok, here is a stab in the dark from a Harley Certified Mechanic. It is ELECTRICAL!!!!! Where, that is a wire tracing component testing nightmare. I would start with checking all your grounds, test, wiggle and test again. If your grounds are good then start from the stator and test, wiggle and test again though out the entire ignition system. If you find nothing then buy a manual and start testing components. Take your time, anyone can do it if your patient. And for the fella that says Evo engine wear out around 80,000mi, CHANGE YOUR OIL MORE OFTEN!!!! I ride a 96' Electraglide that has had a backfiring problem that was all ignition and it has 183,782mi and counting!!!!!
anthony
2014-10-06 18:50:39 UTC
The problem is in the ignition system but there are several venues that cause thisproblem. Your charging system isnot working properly. It can be as simple as a battery or its connection is loose, or it can be your voltage regular needs replacing, worst off it may be your stator which rerquires time and knowledge to replace. All said, it never was your carb. There are telltale signs available in looking at the tip of your removed sparkplug. Check the internet for samples of spark plug tips and they reveal where your problem may be. I suspect the tip will be gray and the base black and that reveakls your timing is off.....and you need a simple timing correction. I have given you a better venue to look at and correct the problem and those bastards who checked and repaired your bike are ripoff artist......
ehrlich
2016-10-30 07:53:38 UTC
Harley Evo Ignition Module
anonymous
2016-05-23 02:06:56 UTC
The battery may be bad or going bad, but Harley's require some serious grunt to crank them over and if the battery was bad, I'd think you'd be having starting problems. Missing under accelleration is a classic symptom of worn out spark plugs or a shorting secondary winding in the ignition coil. Of the two, the former is very common, the latter not very common (although I'd have had that happen.) Just because the plugs look fine physically, that means nothing. With use, they build up resistance internally and that's what causes them to misfire. My experience has been that with a bad coil or plugs, it will run fine under normal conditions but with a weak battery or electrical system, the misfiring will be be more pronounced and noticed under steady throttle.
Gary
2015-08-02 04:33:07 UTC
proper spark plug gap
Scott R
2008-01-06 19:29:57 UTC
I like the guy that says its an ignition problem



The fact that it does it sometimes helps rule out

carb and other answers you got here.



Stock carbs on those really work well, don't have much to wear out. Easy to jet, and the jetting doesn't change once you get it set.
ugly joe
2008-01-06 13:18:35 UTC
You may want to check the seals on the intake manifold. Another thing to try, do a compression test, may be time to grind the valves.





You may want to checking the timing and the timing advance curve. But I would double check for a leak around the intake manifold. these can be a little hard to get sealed.
Gary M
2008-01-06 19:37:51 UTC
sounds like you have been hosed. Has anyone done a leakdown test? Does your acceleration pump work? Back fire is either leaking exhaust valves, or a misfire, dumping a raw charge into your hot pipes causing the loud bang. in generall, its caused by as was stated previously bad ignition, coil misfire, i saw a guy dump tons into a sporty only to find the timing was wrong due to poorly assembled advance mechanism. It also backfired on any full throttle.

Nobody has repaired your problem, therefore you owe them no bill, take them to court one at a time and get your money back. then find some old guy on a HD that runs good, and looks like hell. chances are he knows the thing inside out and isnt swayed by chrome or poorly made performance accesories, and can fix your bike. As it is i would do a simple valve and decarbon job, its due, and look into borrowing known good parts, to test yours. Swap the ignition box with a known good one, then the coil etc. verify the advance, if that model has one isnt fallen apart inside. you will find it, but DO A LEAKDOWN TEST FIRST. its simple, anyone that wants more then $40-50 for one is a crook. this one simple test will tell you if your engine is good enough to not be the problem
anonymous
2008-01-06 13:29:20 UTC
You probably need an engine rebuild. Usually the average lifespan of a Harley engine is right around 80k miles which is what you have. You pistons, rings, and valves are probably just worn out and not working right anymore. Not only that but for 1500$ you probably could have had your engine rebuilt already. Sounds like the local dealers took you for a ride just as most Harley dealers do.
anonymous
2008-01-06 13:21:04 UTC
what about the pipes and the dealer cant really do a lot of work... id be looking for a non dealer shop


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