Shovelhead kickback where there was none before....

[RoadDevil71]

Hi y’all! I’m having a kickback issue on a kick only ‘70 shovel. It’s only done it maybe 3 times in 8 years. The last 2 weeks it started doing it once every other time I started it. The last week it’s been every 10 kicks or so with backfiring they the carb. It’s just getting worse. I have put a new s&s super e shorty on it about 4 months ago. That’s all that’s been changed on the motor in years. I’ve retimed it 3 times this week, I’ve checked my push rods and they’re correct. It runs great once it’s running. It may start from cold or hot on the first kick. Next day it will sputter once, then it’s 50+ kicks with random kickbacks and sputters, 20 more kicks like it’s not getting spark, then it will start on a half ass kick. It was a one or two kick bike every day before this shit. Any advice would be helpful. Pulling the carb, reseating it in the manifold to double check it’s not sucking air, throwing new plugs in it, also. But any insight as to why it would be kicking back so much would help calm my brain down. Thanks!

[TriNortchopz]

Loose ground connection somewhere?

[JBinNC]

If it has a mechanical advance unit, service it.

Jim

[Tattooo]

Yes after you do a complete tune up let us know how it's doing....... By the way how long has it been since you did a complete tune up.......