How to set the timing for a 2004 sportster 1200

Wasted spark system. If fuel and electrical is all good/correct it is often the case in these symptoms that motor cycle spark plugs that although looking good and firing outside of the engine are breaking down and will not fire under compression pressures on a power stroke but will fire unburned fuel on the unpressurized exhaust stroke when the plug again fires in a wasted spark ignition system and when so firing the result is a backfire, usually quite loud.

Is the fuel petcock in the "on" position?

If all the lowering has been done in the rear of the bike, then your transmission/primary lubricant level may be too high back where the vent is located. If so, I'd be willing to bet that your reserve position on the fuel tank won't take you very far either. If the bike has been radically changed from level ride configuration, you must adjust the fluid levels in certain areas. Back when people would extend the front ends drastically without raking the frame, they had major problems with these issues. One other thing that will do this is fuel getting into the engine and primary case. I once saw a Sportster that the needle and seat was leaking in the carb. It filled the engine with fuel and it seeped over into the primary though the sprocket shaft bearings in the case. Smell of your oil and see if it has gasoline in it. If so, fix your carb and make sure you turn your fuel off whenever you turn the engine off. It's old school but it works.

Good Luck
Steve

You didn't say what type of bike you were having a problem with but it sounds like a classic case of "fuel percolation". When the engine is hot and you shut it down, the lack of air flowing by the carb allows the fuel in the float bowl to boil. This floods the engine and it won't start.

Now, to determine exactly what's going on, The next time it does it, have a spare set of spark plugs with you. Pull the spark plug wires off the plugs in the heads and put the spare set in the wires. Ground them good on the engine and press the start button. Watch for the plugs to fire. If you see spark, then you know your problem is fuel related. If not, it's ignition related. Then we can go from there.

Tell me what type of bike we're messing with here?

hi you must check compression first should be same as other cyl. if not check for tight tappet if ok is the plug sparking if you hold it against cyl and turn over motor if good spark put it back and turn over motor few times then remove it and see if its wet with fuel if its not could be carby blocked jet

I would guess stale gasoline or fuel. Try fresh fuel in the tank. If this doesn't clear the problem, you could need to have your carburetor or fuel injection system cleaned. I'm not even sure if they put fuel injection on Sportsters since I don't work on fuel injected bikes. I mostly work on the older bikes like Panheads, Shovelheads, Evos. Not too many Sportsters but have worked on a lot of Ironhead Sportsters. Try the fuel first. It's a cheap fix. Hope it works for you. Good luck with the knee replacement. My wife had one knee replaced and it works great.

do a basic test .try starting the bike, then take out a spark plug. is it wet or dry? if its dry, no gas getting into the combustion chamber. if its wet, place the thread of the pluged in spark plug against any engine metal, crank the engine and look for a good blue spark. no spark or an orange spark means ignition problem.

Sounds like it jumped time.. Check your timing ..

Timing is off. If the timing isn't exactly right it will turn over until the battery goes dead or the starter burns up (which ever comes first). The fuel/air mixture has to be ignited, expelled from the engine,etc. for the bike to run.