Trying not to pay $600
Thread Starter
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4th Gear
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Trying not to pay $600
Hello HD forum. This is my first post and this site was recommended to me by all my friends on dodgeforum.com since they couldn't help with my problem.
I have a 2004 Dyna Low Rider (carbureted) with 5,000 miles on it. It has been running fine ever since I bought it brand new. I just took a 1,200 mile trip on it and ever since I've noticed a bad problem. The bike has started to "cough" nonstop even after it is warm. Just riding along, the bike coughs and almost dies, then all of a sudden the throttle kicks back in. Choking it does not help. I increased the idle, it did not help. So I finally took it to the dealer in South Bend, In and they said that since I have the Screaming Eagle pipes on it I need a better intake like K&N. They also said that I need to have a DynoJet something installed.
I think the guy was just trying to sell me some performance upgrades that I don't really need and they may not even help. He quoted all of that at $600. After he said that, I told him that I was going to call my dealer back home in Amarillo, Tx and see what they thought (in the middle of the phone converstion, the salesmen came back and said that they would do all the upgrades for $450 instead of $600, hmmm). My dealer told me to stay away from the DynoJet products (no explanation provided). He did however tell me to change the spark plugs and that should fix the problem. So I did that. It did not help.
Has anyone else had this problem? If so, how did you fix it? Could it be just a bad batch of gas? Any and all suggestions welcome. Sorry for such a long first post.
I have a 2004 Dyna Low Rider (carbureted) with 5,000 miles on it. It has been running fine ever since I bought it brand new. I just took a 1,200 mile trip on it and ever since I've noticed a bad problem. The bike has started to "cough" nonstop even after it is warm. Just riding along, the bike coughs and almost dies, then all of a sudden the throttle kicks back in. Choking it does not help. I increased the idle, it did not help. So I finally took it to the dealer in South Bend, In and they said that since I have the Screaming Eagle pipes on it I need a better intake like K&N. They also said that I need to have a DynoJet something installed.
I think the guy was just trying to sell me some performance upgrades that I don't really need and they may not even help. He quoted all of that at $600. After he said that, I told him that I was going to call my dealer back home in Amarillo, Tx and see what they thought (in the middle of the phone converstion, the salesmen came back and said that they would do all the upgrades for $450 instead of $600, hmmm). My dealer told me to stay away from the DynoJet products (no explanation provided). He did however tell me to change the spark plugs and that should fix the problem. So I did that. It did not help.
Has anyone else had this problem? If so, how did you fix it? Could it be just a bad batch of gas? Any and all suggestions welcome. Sorry for such a long first post.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,256
Likes: 5
From: Concord, CA
RE: Trying not to pay $600
Sounds like either bad gas, or a vacuum leak.
Does it sputter more under load or just at cruise?
What did your old plugs look like?
Has it been wet? Seems a few people have gotten water in their plug-wire boots at the coil.
I wouldn't buy anything unless is a replacement for a broken part. It was running fine before.
Of course, this is assuming its an early '04 and you are out of warranty.
Does it sputter more under load or just at cruise?
What did your old plugs look like?
Has it been wet? Seems a few people have gotten water in their plug-wire boots at the coil.
I wouldn't buy anything unless is a replacement for a broken part. It was running fine before.
Of course, this is assuming its an early '04 and you are out of warranty.
Thread Starter
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4th Gear
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 8
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RE: Trying not to pay $600
I'm not sure about the warranty, I don't have the papers with me. It sputters mainly under load. The old plugs look fine, just a little used. No corrosion or built up gunk. I got rained on during the trip but it was only for about an hour.
Could it be because of the difference in elevation between Texas and Indiana?
Could it be because of the difference in elevation between Texas and Indiana?
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,224
Likes: 2
From:
RE: Trying not to pay $600
Post this or send a PM to shovel_head_bob who is a HD wrench. He can help.
I'd pull the slide and check for spring binding or the condition of the vacuum boot. Look over the intake for a leak. Otherwise, adding more parts to the mix is a bad idea. Best to fix whats there and then go forward!
I'd pull the slide and check for spring binding or the condition of the vacuum boot. Look over the intake for a leak. Otherwise, adding more parts to the mix is a bad idea. Best to fix whats there and then go forward!
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 80
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From:
RE: Trying not to pay $600
mine did that once and it was either bad gas or a piece of dirt in the jet.. rode for a little while and it finally cleared up.. not done it sence.. and about the other parts their wanting to sell you, i don't see it.. i have an 2004 also and i have vance & hines short shots on it and a stage one kit in it.. the only coughing i get is at an idle every now and then when i crack the throttle it will cough once. hope this helps...
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 583
Likes: 5
From: Maine
RE: Trying not to pay $600
Because you said it didn't change when you added choke, it probably isn't too lean. You also mention that it will come out of it sometimes when you hit the throttle. My question would be, do you have head bolt covers? If so, remove them and let me know if it still does the same thing.
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Tourer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 250
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RE: Trying not to pay $600
Oppie 311, I had a simular problem, it would cough. I brought it to someone that is a HD certified mechanic (not with thw stealers) and I told him what my problem was and he said that Harley's carburetor throat is 40mm, but it really is 38.6mm. He said that he could send it to Woods Performance and it would get bored to 41.5 mm and all the jet and metering rod would be hopped up. He did a dyno be for and after. The before was 65.4 HP and after it went to 75 HP. The price for the reworking of the carb and the dyno was about $600.00, but it was worth it. It runs like very well and doews not cough. Hope this will help.
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Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,881
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From: USA
RE: Trying not to pay $600
Run out all the gas from the trip. Clean or replace your fuel screen or filter whichever you have.Fill up with Shell or Sunoco or Marathon 93 octane and add 3 oz of gumout carb cleaner (white bottle) or the appropriate amount of techron. Sounds to me like you got bad gasoline. Run the cleaner out first to see if it improves. If it does do it again. If not you might need a re-jet. Check your plugs, if they have a pinkish white tinge to the insulators & tips you are too lean. But I doubt it. Best of luck. KB