It's an 04 fatboy. Sometimes it sputters and pops with a little throttle, I can over gun it and work around it. But if I restart it, usually it runs just fine. The carb seems to be fine. What could it be? Or should I just take it in and have a professional look at it and charge me an arm and a leg?
2006-10-02 07:22:36 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Motorcycles
Since you mention "carb" in your question I am assuming you have a CV Carburetor and not EFI. Have you changed the stock pipes or air-box? If so you certainly need to re-jet the CV Carb. I personally prefer the dyno-jet kits for improving performance and fuel mileage. In order to get the carburetored bikes to pass EPA standards Harley often leans them out too much.
On the other hand your bike may just need new intake seals. Your problems as described sound much more likely to be an intake leak than a carburetor problem. This is a job you should be able to do yourself with some simple tools. I have some information below in a link that may help you in replacing those seals.
2006-10-02 07:39:59 · answer #1 · answered by FastFred Ruddock 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It sounds like it's lean just above idle. If it "farts" through the carb just above idle when you're starting to take off you should turn the air mixture screw (bottom of the carb covered by a thin metal cap you'll have to drill out to get to the adjustment screw). You should also switch the carb needle to one with a different profile that will fatten up the mixture when it's making the transition from the pilot jet to the needle, sportster needle OEM# 27094-88 needle # N65C works well with the TC88. I would avoid using the overpriced and unnecessary Dynojet kit. Although most dealers install the kit very few take the time to set the jetting properly which results in a rich condition that wastes fuel.
I've removed Dynojet kits from CV carbs, rejetted as I said above and mpg has increased from 32-40mpg to 38-50mpg.
The pilot jet and main jet in the stock CV carb are fine, but the needle used is on the lean side so the bikes will pass EPA regs.
You can also try shimming your stock needle with 1 or 2 #4 brass washers to richen the mixture off idle, but the sportster needle seems to work the best in most cases.
I've rejetted over a dozen bikes this way and all get better MPG and eliminate the carb farts at low rpm, especially when decellerating to stop, or when taking off from idle.
If you still have carb farts with the sportster needle, or you need to turn the mixture screw out more than 3 turns, you can switch to a #46 pilot jet. A lot of dealers don't carry the #46 jet, but you can pick it up at most Honda shops. A lot of Honda motorcycles also use a Keihin CV carb.
If you decide to do the work yourself, be VERY careful drilling out the cover over the carb screw, there's not much space when you drill through the cover and the end of the mixture screw.
There's more info to be found, do a search for "Harley carb jetting" or see the article at nightrider.com
http://www.nightrider.com/biketech/hd_cv_mods.htm
It gives a better explanation. Also, I wouldn't drill the slide as mentioned in the article. Changing the needle, adjusting the mixture screw, and possibly going up to a #46 pilot jet should eliminate the carb farts, give you good throttle response, and keep your mpg up.
2006-10-05 01:31:58 · answer #2 · answered by bferg 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you changed the pipe (we know you did, all Harley riders do) get someone who knows about carbs to fit the dynojet kit ( its over priced at around $180.00 but sort of worth it as it does give you $40.00 of parts you need) Kit comes with a new needle and couple of different jets, you have to drill, tap and install air jets to carb
Since you said you over gun it and it works, thatwill operate the accelerator pump and squirts neat fuel into intake so you pilot circuit is very, very lean.
2006-10-06 06:49:02 · answer #3 · answered by 1crazypj 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds to me like a clogged or obstructed pilot jet.Possibly the screen at the petcock , but on an 04 it's not likely. Pull your float bowl, main and pilot jets clean and try again.Really sounds like debris in carb. P.S. intake seals ,symptoms would not change after a stop and re-start ,but something moving in the float bowl would.
2006-10-02 18:15:50 · answer #4 · answered by Hammer 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are you asking approximately new or used Harleys? I have a 2000 Road King and use artificial oil. However, while I purchased it, HD could no longer honor the assurance in the event that they learned artificial oil. Of path, now that HD sells its OWN artificial company, they approve it. I could use it in Evo and more moderen items, however engines earlier than that I could use constant, non-artificial oils. The exception to that could be a "new" historical motor that's now developed tighter.
2016-08-29 09:10:40 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends, do you have a supercharger on it? If not, then get a better quality of gas. My Bad Boy used to do that too and it turns out there was just moisture in the fuel lines, so I switched to racing fuel for a couple days and it solved the problem.
2006-10-02 07:28:52 · answer #6 · answered by infernal_seamonkey 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sell the Harley and buy a Honda that's the some funny sh*t .buy a Honda that wont be worth 1/2 of what you paid for it 2 months ago
2006-10-02 16:30:33 · answer #7 · answered by JAMIE 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Well it could just be cold-blooded when first starting. perhaps that what mine does. then ill just let it idle for about ten minutes before riding.
2006-10-02 07:29:31 · answer #8 · answered by shovelhead182005 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you want it fixed, you better bite the bullitt and take it in :(
2006-10-02 07:28:59 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sell the Harley , get a reliable Honda VTX 1800 or 1300. They are da bomb.......
2006-10-02 09:45:14 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 5⤋