With my 'new" 2002 Heritage Softail FLSTC, I'd like to start fresh with a few things, one being the carburetor. There's roughly 15000 miles on it and I don't believe the carb has been gone over other than some rejetting for the Vance & Hines Straightshot exhaust. It' probably cheaper to rebuild the original but if not much more, would it be a better idea to replace the carb? Some say don't mess with the carb. I'm not into getting every ounce of power out of my 88 cubic inch. Any advice?

 

If the bike is running okay, leave the carb alone. Why rebuild if everything is working. Sounds like a solution looking for a problem.

 

We’ll, one thing for sure. I’m replacing the choke cable. It’s been nothing but a source of trouble for me. I tightened up the back nut so the choke would stay put but then it apparently wasn’t releasing all the way and I fouled the plugs big time on the way home today. Adjusted it again so I thought it was releasing and fouled the plugs again tonight. Backed off the nut altogether for tomorrow morning. Mind you, I’m riding with temps in the low to mid 30’s. This is my first HD and I’m finding they’re quite a bit more finicky in the colder weather.

 

What carburetor do you have on your bike? A cv or a Mikuni? If it only has 15,000 miles, it is still practically new, and as others have said, if it is running okay, leave it alone. But if you are like me, you may not leave well enough alone and likely to tamper with it. I just dropped my HSR 45 Mikuni and replaced it with a cv 40 mm carb. Almost everyone will tell you that if you are looking for extra performance, the Mikuni is the best. My cv was reconstructed, and at some $328, it cost me as much or more than a new one. I also installed a 48 pilot and a 190 main, new needle and needle jets on the cv carb, but I swear it did not make a bit of difference. I am beginning to think that a carb alone, without any other engine modifications, will do little to nothing for you.

 

still running the stock untouched carb on my 01 sport
changed carb on 1974ch due to it being broken in a wreck in 1975 and been on the machine till now with 200k miles, only changed the fuel inlet needle and seat once (mikuni vm38)

 

Thanks for the input. I'm fine with leaving my 40 CV carb as is. Will jut replace the choke cable.