1986 HD Sportster 883XLH.
Started when bike would just shutt off while riding.
Brought it to mechanic and they did a carb rebuild
and installed a new tank and fuel valve since the original
was corroded.
Bike did run for a while but then periodically there is no power at take off and bike almost stalls.
After checking out the bike, I noticed that the spark plugs get covered in black carbon, escpecially the front plug.
I am wondering if the plugs are the reason for the poor performace.
I carefully cleaned and checked the gap and reinstalled plugs but it happens again.
I use very little choke only when starting the bike in case it is from too rich air/fuel mixture.
I also checked the air filter and it looks good.
Any ideas why this happens?
Is it related the the valves of something else?
Is there a way to check it, without being a mechanic with all the tools?
It would be nice to get an idea before attemting to go back to the shop.
Thanks for any help.
2007-01-17 10:11:51 · 11 answers · asked by Robert G 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Motorcycles
i see the cause being either 1: carb is adjusted too rich, 2: u have a bad carburator intake gasket.
i have just the site to steer ya to for some actual trouble shooting help. http://www.harleychatgroup.com
just register, and post ur problem in as much detail as possible in the sportsters section of tech help. u'll get more actual help there with this problem than here by a wide margin, and there's alot of good dudes there.
2007-01-17 11:19:33 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
May also be an electrical problem. Magneta going bad, bad wiring, etc. Black carbon won't hurt, white will which means you are burning oil. Carbon conducts electricity. Take a plug out and plug it in and ground the base to the base of the motor, then start it and watch the spark. When the bike quits running, watch and see if it still sparks while the motor is winding down to a stop. If not, then it is electrical. You can also buy meters for this instead of going to this trouble, but that is the cheapest way.
2007-01-17 10:25:10 · answer #2 · answered by careercollegestudent69 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
It is running too rich. You need to adjust the carb to lean out the air/fuel mixture. This shouldn't have anything to do with the choke, unless some mechanical failure within the choke is preventing it from being shut off all the way.
2007-01-17 10:16:48 · answer #3 · answered by J.R. 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
clean your float bowl on your carb and make sure the needle shuts the fuel off when the float is level. also run a fuel filter as a couple of bucks solves a lot of frustration.what color exhaust smoke do you get as this is a dead giveaway as to what the problem is .caugh from idle usually fuel problem ,to lean. or weak ignition 'black smoke to much fuel blue smoke ,valve guides or piston rings' loosing powe`r after running a while usually lean mixture on fuel due to lack of fuel ,float level to low or partially pluged main jet or needle jet in carb, black plugs usually to much fuel if you have an excelerator pump it may be leaking also
2007-01-17 10:37:59 · answer #4 · answered by cliffmichelefarmer 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like there is a problem with the #1 piston. There might be oil in the combustion chamber. Or one the piston rings have gone. Better get checked out before it gets worse.
2007-01-17 10:21:18 · answer #5 · answered by Chris J 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They sure can. In the dark open the hood and with the engine running can you see arcs of light anywhere around the plugs or distributor? If you do the wires need replacing. Also a new distributor cap.
2016-03-29 02:12:52 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check out vf_29 sandman's link.
I'm not intimately familiar with my HD yet, but here's something else to look at: If it seems to be oil fouling, check the crankcase vent. They vent into the backside of the air cleaner plate. If you're getting pressure in the crankcase, you can get carryover to the carb.
2007-01-17 13:34:22 · answer #7 · answered by Firecracker . 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Problem still sounds like a rich one. Number one guess would be the carburetor adjustment. They are pretty easy to do yourself. You will have to (or should) buy a manual. If you adjust and you still have problems, purchase ''Hotter'' plugs. Hotter plugs run hotter so they prevent fuel fouling. Usually you can take the plug number (lets say ''RY22F''), and lust increse the numerical portion (to ''RY26F'') and you will have a hotter plug.
2007-01-17 10:34:09 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
carb needs to be checked for running too rich or are you just lugging the engine around town?a motorcycle was made to run not to sit in front of the house idling cause it sounds cool.change the plugs and ride it once and see it runs better.
2007-01-17 21:58:19 · answer #9 · answered by big_blue_oval 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like oil getting into the combustion chamber... bad piston ring (especially if on one plug only) ??????
2007-01-17 10:16:33 · answer #10 · answered by waynebudd 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋