Trying to get the engine timing specifications
Hi Alex Iam not too sure but I think this model had a neutral switch fitted that stopped the bike from starting in gear , and displayed a light on the clocks when the bike was in neutral .
If as you say the bike is jammed in first this is probably the cause
the jamming sounds abit more serious ?.. you may have bent the selectors and this will mean a gearnox stripdown , it is even possible you have damaged the lay shaft if the bike was travelling when you came off this would also mean a box strip down .
I dont think there is an easy answer to this one Alex loks like you will have to take the engine apart to fix this one ( one thing did strike me I had an old BSA that I slid on the gear shaft and did the same thing stuck in first turned out I had bent the gear shaft removal of the pedal and gentle tapping freed the gears off and I was able to use the bike again ? it may help I cant be sure be careful not to damage the case or the splines I used a small lump hammer and a block of 4x 4 against the shaft .. I also put a wedge behind the shaft to stop damaging the rear of the box housing ) hope this helps Regards vortash
SOURCE: Check engine light come on intermittently
i HAVE A 1999 SPORTSTER AND dont know of an "engine" light. Are you sure that is not an oil light or a temp light? We need more info. Like when exactly does it come on? Is it During steady cruzing, acceleration or deceleration, idling, engine warm or cold or all of the above?
SOURCE: Adjusting timing on Harley Davidson 1976 sportster
The advance timing should be 35° before Top Dead Center. This is how you find out which mark this is.
Get the rear wheel of the bike off the ground, remove the spark plugs, shift the bike into fourth gear, and remove the timing plug from the left engine case.
Now, take an ordinary PLASTIC DRINKING STRAW and insert it into the front spark plug hole. Do not use anything else or you stand a chance of it breaking and then you'll have to pull the head to get it out. The plastic straw will bend but not break.
Bump the rear wheel in the direction that it turns while riding down the road until the piston pushes the straw all the way up and just barely starts going back down. Look into the timing hole. You should see a timing mark. This is the Top Dead Center mark. Now, bump the rear wheel BACKWARDS until you see another mark. This should be the ADVANCED TIMING MARK. The piston should 7/16" down from top dead center.
On this model Sportster the timing is advanced by a mechanical advance mechanism. These units are notorious for wearing out and not contolling the timing very well. You must remove the breaker plate to inspect this mechanism. Mark the position of the plate before you remove it. If the pins and holes in the flyweights are worn, replace the unit. Replace it with a good needle bearing unit. Replace the points and reset the gap at 0.018 - 0.020".
SOURCE: 2007 harley davidson xl sportster 883 speedometer
If you're lucky it might be the speed sensor located in the gearbox casing. This is a hall effect device and is magnetic and so can pick up metal fragments from the inside of the gearbox. I have a 2001 Sportster and the Sensor is located on the top of the gearbox casing, just below the starter. I'd expect it to be in a similar position on a later bike such as yours, but I can't be sure. Once you've located it, take it out (can be a bit fiddly) and make sure that its clear of any debris. If not the sensor, you're probably going to need to substitute in a working speedo. Be careful because a pre-2004 speedo is electronic, but is not compatible with 2007 bike. Best of luck!
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