So, say you parked your Softail 14 years ago, and got... um, busy. Now it will start & run with starting fluid sprayed in the carb but dies otherwise. Whatever gas was in it at the time it was parked has evaporated.

It has fuel at the petcock, not sure from there. Is there a likely place to find the trouble or just pull the carb & rebuild the whole thing?

I just want it to start & run so I can trade it in, not worried about performance.

Thanks!

 

Clean the carb and replace all the soft parts. 14 years of dried gas is gonna leave a mess of goo in there. It's beyond Sea Foam or Berryman's or Techron.

 

Well, now I'm sure there's gas getting to the carb... I broke off the plastic fuel line fitting trying to get that %*&@$#% crimped on hose clamp off.

 

Disassemble and clean, forget the spray stuff, you need to dunk it in real carburetor cleaner.

Berrymans in the gallon can with the strainer basket is the hot setup, but make sure all the plastic and rubber parts are removed.

You can get a brass fuel inlet nipple and anything else you need from CV performance.

http://www.cv-performance.com/

 

New petcock, screen, hose, and carb rebuild (if you didn't shut the petcock off when you parked it and idol it dry)

 

Thanks all for the tips.

I got the carb off... float won't move lol.

Rebuild kit on the way.

 

hint, PB Blaster

 

Yep, a cleaning and inspection of the carb is in order. Probably a new float needle and check the function of the accelerator pump diaphragm, new rubber carb seal (should do the intake seals also). Hold the slide diaphragm up to the light to see if any holes. Use silicone grease on that diaphragm (to keep it in place) when re-assembling. Also might consider a rejet if not done before. Good luck YD



http://www.cv-performance.com/

http://www.cv-performance.com/instructions-guides/

 

Wow, thanks so much for the videos. I was planning on the vice grip method for removing the old fitting.

 

Be careful when removing the float pin, it only goes one way (well, it will go the other way, but you may break the pin mount boss).