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So I got a 2003 FatBoy that was in Kentucky, it was my mom’s bike and she has had it since 2008. I have rode this bike several times on different occasions.
she lives in Ky and I live in TX. I brought the bike to TX and today is the 2nd day of riding it. It does not spit and sputter at all but the bike has a hard times staying idling.
I had it die on me today 2 times at a red light.
Would this just be a simple turn the idle up a little bit or maybe change a jet for the difference in altitude.
Where I got it from it is 550 Feet above sea level and where it’s at not is 1100 feet above sea level.
I’m new to Harleys so this is just a general question.
Whats the idle set at when hot? I converted a motor recently to a carb and it took a week or two to get it through my head to wait till its pretty warmed up to set the idle. Could very well be that simple.
If it's carbureted and it's been sitting for a while, you may need to go through the carburetor and clean out some passages.
I've found the holes in the needle jet holder (number 8 in the exploded view) can get gunked up.
Cleaning them out had a profound effect on how the engine idles and runs. I've found that going in and physically cleaning out all of the small holes is the best way to do it. That miracle cure in a bottle just doesn't seem to get in there to remove the buildup. IMHO.
I'm new to Harley Davidson too - mine in fuel injected. I don't know if your fat boy has carburetors or not but on all my Hondas it's so important to have clean carbs.
And not just the areas you can see as it's not clean until it's clean in the areas you can't see.
There is a difference in how they idle having simply clean them where I can see verse doing that and then having them ultrasonically cleaned.
Did it sit for awhile?
Is it carbureted?
It's so cool it was your mom's bike.
I can't imagine my mom on a motorcycle.
Whats the idle set at when hot? I converted a motor recently to a carb and it took a week or two to get it through my head to wait till its pretty warmed up to set the idle. Could very well be that simple.
I am not sure how to tell what the idle is set at. It doesn’t have a tach. I’m thinking it may be exactly that.
If it's carbureted and it's been sitting for a while, you may need to go through the carburetor and clean out some passages.
I've found the holes in the needle jet holder (number 8 in the exploded view) can get gunked up.
Cleaning them out had a profound effect on how the engine idles and runs. I've found that going in and physically cleaning out all of the small holes is the best way to do it. That miracle cure in a bottle just doesn't seem to get in there to remove the buildup. IMHO.
I may have to break down and clean it. I was even thinking up upgrading the entire carburetor, any recommendations.
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Idles Differently
