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Hi all. Here's the deal, 2002 1200 sportster aftermarket open air cleaner with k&n filter and 1 3/4 drag pipes with lollipops. Other than that all stock motor. What jets & settings? Current cv carb is 48 slow 180 main and 2.5 turns out. Pipes are starting to turn gold at the top. Bike is iffy starting all the time. Also I am on NC east coast...like coast. Probably at sea level or below. The Atlantic is 30miles from my house.
I checked with propane for air leaks and double checked exhaust flanges for leaks. All seems good. Any ideas on why bike pops out the carb every once in a while and is iffy to idle? Thanks.
what plugs and what gap?
normally 45 slow jet and 150-160 main jet is good, but beware,,,,,drag ppipes suck worse on sportys than big twins
has anyone tried to adjust the ignitiob timing??
backfiring out the carb is usually an indication of a lean condition,,,,,,but timing and plugs play a part as well.
m
what plugs and what gap?
normally 45 slow jet and 150-160 main jet is good, but beware,,,,,drag ppipes suck worse on sportys than big twins
has anyone tried to adjust the ignitiob timing??
backfiring out the carb is usually an indication of a lean condition,,,,,,but timing and plugs play a part as well.
m
ngk 32 gap
I checked thoroughly for intake leak but decided to replace intake seals because i had a set of new ones laying around. Checked again. No leaks. Only pops once in a great while usually if cold out. I do have a set of khrome werks 1 3/4 open (Vance and Hines style) baffles. Thought about putting those in just to see what happens.
Last edited by Timberjkd; Mar 27, 2026 at 01:59 PM.
that is a good baffle design and helps stall reversion but length matters. golden pipe are not necessarily a lean out. that area is at the hottest part of the system. many factors can cause this even a rich mixture still burning while exiting the head.
my experience is 2" will out do 1.750 pipes. a quirk is that they usually need to be very long and a baffle is a band-aide and mostly effects sound. each machine is diff so experiment is called for.
drags are for WOT so you WILL have to compromise you cannot have it all.
as far as pop, it could be excess fuel building in the pipes and the finally lighting off. sometimes one will have issues with the low side of the carb and mask it over with throttle plate base opening to high causing the transfer ports to add fuel.
that is a good baffle design and helps stall reversion but length matters. golden pipe are not necessarily a lean out. that area is at the hottest part of the system. many factors can cause this even a rich mixture still burning while exiting the head.
my experience is 2" will out do 1.750 pipes. a quirk is that they usually need to be very long and a baffle is a band-aide and mostly effects sound. each machine is diff so experiment is called for.
drags are for WOT so you WILL have to compromise you cannot have it all.
as far as pop, it could be excess fuel building in the pipes and the finally lighting off. sometimes one will have issues with the low side of the carb and mask it over with throttle plate base opening to high causing the transfer ports to add fuel.
I believe these baffles are 10 inches long. My pipes are shotgun style ending just at or past rear axle nut. Front one is just shy of the rear one so im not sure how much longer i could do. I looked at so many exhaust but these are what i have for now. Thanks for the info
I ran reversion/torque cones in my sporty with drags, worked well. They slide in the top of the pipe.
Are you sure that slow jet isnt too big? Stock appears to be 42, perhaps start there or MAYBE 45 as you have the air cleaner etc.
Not sure Id be using propane to check for intakes leaks........ I use carb cleaner.
I've used card cleaner and even soapy water but no leaks. Ive seen those torque cones but dont know anyone thats used them.
I was thinking maybe my 48 was too large and the pipes may be turning gold due to unburned fuel. Idk. May see what a 45 does
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Another jet question
