I have a 1988 harley davidson fxr superglide with a 1340 cc engine. It is equipped with a screaming eagle ignition control module. bike will crank but does not start. how can I know if it is in fact t

SOURCE: 2003 harley davidson dyna superglide ignition type

2003 is single fire. If you buy anew tach, it will come with instalation instructions. With a little common sence, it's pretty easy.

SOURCE: have a new ignition module and now the timing is

First off, you have to find the Front Cylinder Advanced timing mark on the flywheels. Lift the rear wheel of the bike off the ground and support it in a safe manner. Remove the spark plugs from the engine and put the transmission in fifth gear.

Now, using a common everyday plastic drinking straw (Note: don't use anything else or you may damage a piston or it may break off leaving part of whatever you used in the cylinder requiring the removal of the head) , bump the rear wheel in the direction of rotation until the front piston it at Top Dead Center. Remove the timing plug from the crankcase on the left side of the engine. You should see the TDC timing mark in the hole. If not, bump the engine slightly forward or backwards until you do. It should be a straight up and down line on the crank.

Now, slowly start bumping the rear wheel in the backwards direction. You may see a mark come into view that looks kinda like this "oo", this is a factory timing mark,not the front cylinder advanced mark. Continue bumping the rear wheel wheel in the backwards direction until you see the Front Cylinder Advanced mark. It will look like "dot" on the crankshaft "o". The piston should be approximately 7/16" down from TDC, If you go further, you will not see anymore marks until you come back around to the TDC mark.

NOTE, you may or may not have the front cylinder on the compression stroke. It doesn't matter, all you're doing right now is finding the correct timing mark. "

This is the mark you want to time the engine to. Put the transmission back in neutral. Reinstall the spark plugs and connect a timing light to the front cylinder spark plug. Start the engine and set the engine speed at 1300 -1500 RPM. Shine the light into the timing hole. You should see the Front Cylinder Advanced timing mark in the center of the hole. If not, you'll have to move the timing plate on the right side of the engine to get the timing mark in the center of the hole. Moving the plate clockwise advances the timing and moves the timing mark towards the rear of the timing hole. Moving the plate counterclocwise retards the timing and moves the timing mark towards the front of the timing hole.

Harley makes a clear plug to go into the timing hole that is supposed to prevent the oil spray from the oil when the engine is running. I've tried to use them but it is very difficult to see the timing mark when using one. There are other tools available, CleanTime or something like that, but I've never used them. I usually start the engine with the plug loosely screwed into the timing hole. Once I get the engine started and up to speed, I take the plug out. DO NOT GET YOUR FACE NEAR THE HOLE. The crankcase pressure will blow oil in your eye and it hurts. Stand back and a bit off to the side to view into the hole.

If you will contact me directly, I'll scan and send you a picture of what the timing marks look like. A picture is worth a thousand words. Contact me directly at wd4ity @ bellsouth.net

Good luck
Steve

SOURCE: Harley Davidson Iron 883 model

Look at the end of your starter. There's a five-sided plate on the end held on with three small screws. Just above it, there is a single wire plugged onto the starter. Pull this wire off and connect either a test light or a volt meter to the wire. Turn the switch on and press the start button. You should see the light light up or the meter should show battery voltage. If you show voltage at this wire but the starter doesn't run, the problem is in the starter. If no voltage at the wire, your starter relay may be bad. I think the starter relay for your bike is behind the triangular plate on the left side of your bike. The relay is a one inch plastic cube just like the relays on most automobiles. With the switch still on, press the start button. You should feel the relay "click". If it does click, you might want to replace the relay and retest the starter wire. If it does not click, it could still be the relay or it could be the wiring between the start button and the starter relay. Since I don't have a wiring diagram for your bike, you may need to purchase a service manual to obtain one or find it from another source. I wouldn't think the installation of a muffler would have anything to do with the starter operation.

Good Luck
Steve