I have a stock 2006 Sportster 1200C with ~14500 miles and recently it has started to idle irradically and some times dies. I have a tack on it and it normally idles at 1000RPM. It has started to miss and idles down around 700 to 800RPM and it will sometimes idle back up or die. I have run two tanks of carb cleaner through it but this has not changed anything. I have used Gumout and Seafoam carb cleaner in the gas. When riding at constant speed it seems to run just fine. I haven’t changed anything on it but I am wanting to change the a/c to a Big Sucker Stage II and the mufflers to the V&H Straight-shot slip-ons. I don’t want to change anything until I get this idle issue fixed. It is not throwing any codes with the check engine light. My plan this weekend is to take the float bowl off and clean the carb with some carb cleaner and see if any junk comes out and see if it runs better after cleaning it. The plugs look good and are not fouled. What else should I be looking at to get this fixed ? Thanks for any help you guy’s could give me on this.

 

check your idle mixture, maybe too lean or rich

how does the bike respond if you twist the throttle from idle? if it gives a little cough you might be on the lean side.

if you smell a LOT of burned gas when idling, then your rich and the engine is flooding out. but it would show on the plugs.

 

Have you checked the battery cables?

 

Sounds like a vacuum leak to me.

 

I tried posting a response yesterday but the site was screwed up and would not let me post.&nbsp\\;\\\\\\; I went thru similar intermittend idling and carb-fart issues with my girlfriends 06 883L.&nbsp\\;\\\\\\; I re-jetted, adjusted idle mixture, checked for vacuum leaks, replaced intake gaskets, and nothing helped.&nbsp\\;\\\\\\; When I replaced the crank position sensor the problem was solved.&nbsp\\;\\\\\\;

 

Having problems posting anything unless it is very short. Thanks everyone for the replies. I will use them to find the problem. Any other suggestions welcomed.

 

Tried to post the other day, but didn't work.&nbsp\\; The pilot jet controls low idle mixture.&nbsp\\; It is likely clogged with crappolla.&nbsp\\; Remove and clean.&nbsp\\; I've soaked a pilot jet and used a very fine wire, or just get another jet.&nbsp\\; They are cheap.

 

Not ignoring anyone just still having issues posting. I will look into cleaning the jets and see if it clears it up. Thanks.

 

On Monday I checked for air leaks at the intake with a propane torch and there are none. Electrical connections are all good also. Begining to think it is a clogged jet or a bad crank position sensor. I will check for the CKP code and see if it is bad. I will update everyone when it is fixed. Thanks for the input.

 

rh8234, you where right on with the crank position sensor being the problem. I checked for the error codes and it came up with a code for the crank position sensor. I went to the dealer on Saturday and picked up a new one and replaced it in the parking lot. I rode it 70 miles back home and it ran great. My suggestion to anyone having an idle problem is to first check for any error codes and go from there. Hopefully it will save you a lot of un-needed time and parts to fix the problem. Thanks to everyone for the suggestions and help.