Expert: Mike Wells - 6/29/2009

Question
QUESTION: Im a new Harley owner, and the Harley I have has been converted from electronic ignition to a points set up. It's a 1987 Heritage Softail 80. I set them to .0018 and it's still like riding a different bike everytime I start it. It spits and sputters running at an even speed, and at higher rpms. Is there something I should check besides the point setting ? I used to have an old Ford pickup that had a bad rotor in the distributor and it did the same thing. I asked a tech at a Harley shop, and he told me I had to set the points on BOTH lobes to .0018....he lost me there. If you set one lobe at .0018 and roll it over to the other lobe and it's not at .0018...what then ? Please help me make my new prize a more consistent running machine. Makes me wish it wasnt SO loud....LOL

ANSWER: Pull your plugs and let me know what color they are
Mike

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: They're black

Answer
Just set the points on the small lobe, dont worry about setting it on the wide lobe. They should be set at .018. Since your plugs are fouling then you have a spark problem. I would replace the condenser. If they are still fouling then you need to do a OHMs test on the coil to make sure its good
Good luck and happy riding
Mike