No spark

[VonGruff]

Had a great ride last week and got the bike out this morning to get fuel for a circut od central otago today with a couple of mates and the bike wouldn't start. There is no spark and for the first time I noticed a red key on the dash when I turned the ingition on but it went out after the system had come alive. We have checked all the external connections and they are all tight so has anyone got a next check point to find the problem.

2005 FXD Super Glide

[HDNZ]

Sounds like possibly the immobilizer?

Can you hear the fuel pump?

[VonGruff]

Unfortuntely this ws a first for me so wasn't aware of what to listen to but there dosent seem to be any difference in the sounds when the key is turned on.

[bronx]

Key fob batteries could be low or dead? Chuck in some new ones and see if she's happy. I've had similar on a few later Harley's.

[VonGruff]

Key fob batteries could be low or dead? Chuck in some new ones and see if she's happy. I've had similar on a few later Harley's.
 

No key fob, just a simple key. 

[bronx]

What year and model bike again Gruff? If you can't edit your initial post (if the timer has expired) I'll add it in for you.

[VonGruff]

Its an 05 FXD.

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Location: Lawrence
Bike: 05 FXD Superglide
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Contact VonGruff

[VonGruff]

[bronx]

Thanks Gruff. Always good to post bike specs in the post even if it's the one in your profile - on mobile that mini profile area isn't shown on posts due to real estate space. ☺️

[VonGruff]

Thanks Gruff. Always good to post bike specs in the post even if it's the one in your profile - on mobile that mini profile area isn't shown on posts due to real estate space. ☺️

Yes same as yours and I should have indicated bike model in op.
There is a sort of whine of electronics engaging when key is turned which I always assumed was the fuel injection engageing.

[bronx]

Checked the fuses? Pop the cover and pull each one out and see if any are blown (check them all).

Here's a diagram for our bikes:

[VonGruff]

Yes we checked everything that we knew to do and no joy so have trailored it to the HD guys to go a bit deeper. They say it wil be 2 weeks or so till they can get to it so tapping a can of paitence till then.

[bronx]

Good luck! Chuck a test light on the starter and see if it gets juice?
Let us know how you get on and what the culprit was.

[VonGruff]

Good luck! Chuck a test light on the starter and see if it gets juice?
Let us know how you get on and what the culprit was.

Starter and everything else was working just no spark at the plugs.

[bronx]

Oh right, then test light on the crank sensor and coils I'd say. Post up once you hear back with what the issue was ☺️ hopefully it's not too big or pricey!

[VonGruff]

Oh right, then test light on the crank sensor and coils I'd say. Post up once you hear back with what the issue was ☺️ hopefully it's not too big or pricey!

Will do and I hope not as well .

[Spanners39]

Crank sensor should show around 1 ohm across the 2 wires. If stuffed it will usually just show 0 ohms. Check wires haven't been cut by a stone or barbed wire....you do live in the deep south after all.

Completely typical for a dead crank sensor, runs fine and then you turn the motor off and it won't start again.

[VonGruff]

Hard to understand this but the Harley shop said there was spark where we could not get any sign of spark and my friend is a lifetime brit M/C mechanic so knows a thing or two about the Prince of darkness and even a steel rod hand held into the spark plug showed no life. 
Shop said no fuel pressure due to leaking o ring so not sure how tothink about this one.
 

[Spanners39]

If you checked for spark the traditional way then you won't get one on a Twin Cam, you have to leave the plugs in and put a spare plug in the plug lead or it won't spark.

[VonGruff]

If you checked for spark the traditional way then you won't get one on a Twin Cam, you have to leave the plugs in and put a spare plug in the plug lead or it won't spark.

That would explain it. Learn something new every day.

[bronx]

Glad it's sorted! Expensive trip for a few o rings 😅 but at least she's running again.

[VonGruff]

Glad it's sorted! Expensive trip for a few o rings 😅 but at least she's running again.

Yes running but untill I fully understand exactly what how and why, I will not fully trust it again.
Still finding the spark check anomoly wierd as the manual for the 99-05 dyna (twin cam) says to put a rag over the empty plug hole when checking for spark in the traditional way.

[bronx]

Yes running but untill I fully understand exactly what how and why, I will not fully trust it again.
Still finding the spark check anomoly wierd as the manual for the 99-05 dyna (twin cam) says to put a rag over the empty plug hole when checking for spark in the traditional way.

As far as I'm aware you just remove a plug, put a rag in the hole to avoid vapour leaking out, put the plug into the lead, ground the spark plug base on the cylinder head so the electrode is visible, and test. Service manual should say the same.

[VonGruff]

Yes running but untill I fully understand exactly what how and why, I will not fully trust it again.
Still finding the spark check anomoly wierd as the manual for the 99-05 dyna (twin cam) says to put a rag over the empty plug hole when checking for spark in the traditional way.

As far as I'm aware you just remove a plug, put a rag in the hole to avoid vapour leaking out, put the plug into the lead, ground the spark plug base on the cylinder head so the electrode is visible, and test. Service manual should say the same.

It does but @Spanners39 said 
If you checked for spark the traditional way then you won't get one on a Twin Cam, you have to leave the plugs in and put a spare plug in the plug lead or it won't spark.

[bronx]

It does but @Spanners39 said 
If you checked for spark the traditional way then you won't get one on a Twin Cam, you have to leave the plugs in and put a spare plug in the plug lead or it won't spark.

I don't think you have to leave a spark plug in there for it to spark. Not sure how that would work.. @Spanners39?