Motorcycle Repair: Bad coil? Stalling, backfiring, harley manual, plug wires

Question
Hi Mike. I appreciate the previous advice you gave on volt reg./generator question for my kickstart 72 XLCH 1000. Turns out the bearing on the gen. had failed and messed up the brushes, commutator, etc. That's fixed. Since getting the bike back on the road it seems the bike is becoming gradually harder to start. What used to be one kick when cold now takes 6-10 and after the bike is warmed up, starting can sometimes only be done by pushing the bike. The bike also dies when idling and backfires through the carb on acceleration. A couple of things, I have an S&S Shorty E carb, which I'm told is a big carb for the bike and should probably be re-jetted (plugs are gas fouling). I checked the coil, and the resistance between primary poles is 0 ohms. The Harley manual says reading should be between 4-6 ohms. I guess my question is should the coil be replaced, and would that contribute to the hard starting? Also, should carb be rejetted or is it possible to "dial-in" the Shorty carb on a bike of this size as-is? I appreciate your feedback. Thanks.

Wayne

Answer
If you are getting a 0 reading on the coil then you need to replace it. I would also advise replacing the plug wires at the same time.
The super E carb is not to big for your bike as long as the jetting is correct. I would fix the coil problem first then run the bike for about 5 miles and pull the plugs. If they are black then your jetting is to big.
Good luck and happy rinding
Mike