Some belive the engine will overheat if allowed to idle for too long.....this is true only after the engine has been run and is fully warmed up. This does not apply when you first start it though, the engine will be cold. In reality, a Harley can run for along time before it overheats.....I belive alot of people are just paranoid about the situation.

When I use to have the stock CV carburetors on my Harleys....until I switched over to S&S Super E. Every bike I had that had the CV carburetor was coldblooded. I wouldn't even touch the throttle, but would pull the choke all the way out. Then, I would push the start button and usually the bike would start within two trys. The bike would then have a fast idle, usually around 1,500-1,700. I would usually leave the bike this way for a about a minute, then push the choke in to half-way. While the engine is warming up on its own....this would always give me a good time to make sure all my lights and horn are working properly. I would also give the bike a quick lookover for anything that appears to not look right. I usually take about a minute to check all this stuff. After I am satisfied that the equipment is working properly....I typically like to place my fingers to the valve covers. If I feel any heat from them at all.....I usually ride away at that time taking it easy on the fairly still cold engine. After a few miles down the road, I push the choke all the way in and ride. If the bike is still spittering and sputtering....I pull the choke back out to halfway. While riding, I continue playing with the choke untilI am satisfied the bike is running the way I like.

One of my bikes have EFI. I don't just start it and ride off either. I start it and let it idle for a few minutes....at least until I can feel heat from the valve covers. The EVO really should heat up before ridden away....as the cylinders/heads are expanding due to heat. It has been my experience that if the EVO is not properly heated up....the cylinder base gasketshave a tendencyto start leaking. The Twin Cams don't have the problem of leaky cylinder base gaskets.....however, I still belive they should be treated the same manner as the EVO.

 

My FXDS did the same thing. The previous owner had replaced the stock exhaust with V&H but never but the Stage 1 kit or rejetted. As soon as I got it, I had the S1 kit done and all those cold blooded problems went away.

bob

 

How do you clean the over flow in the gas tank. That sounds something to look into because I sometimes smell gas fumes around my tank and cannot find where it is comming from. Also the poping can come from the intake gaskets of the carb. When the bike warms up the gaskets expand and it seals itself waiting for them to blow out. Then you really have lean bike now.