If this is still possible when my bike start wearing out from use ill definitely consider this as an alternative to replacing sensors , ECM etc.

 

My stage 1 upgrade cost me about $12 - how much for the EFI...yeh, that.

I've seen some choppers with 2 carbs here and there - usually a 2-1 manifold on the right side, but also saw an "X" manifold for a carb on either side of the bike.
No clue where he put the horn...

 

I just picked up a 2011 and I would have gone carb if that was an option. I won't argue about EFI being superior in just about every way imaginable over a carb except one, and that's my ability to cheaply and easily change things around on my bike with minimal expense and computer interface.

 

you wanna go carb...go ahead...I have a carb...great unless you change elevation. Also the tune varies from day to day. I would rather have injection...makes more sense as it adjusts for changes in climate.

 

Very true. And if you have EFI and don't want to tune/inteface, the upfront cost of the autotuner is high(er).

 

This thread isn't about which is better but how you make the conversion....why does it always have to be a battle???

 

1. Carb of choice....Mikuni, Keihin, S&S etc.

2. Stand alone ignition system....ThunderHeart or Altmann. Through my research and experience these are the simplest form for the conversion without replacing the entire harness and speedo.

3. Mikuni or S&S EVO (yes I said EVO) intake manifold with out the VOES port. If you get one with the port it will need to be blocked off.

4. Intake manifold gaskets

5. Pingel petcock part no. 1311AH or 1311CH

6. Pingel Fuel Tank Adapter part no. 62054

7. Crankcase breather kit.

8. 2ft-5/16" fuel line and 2 clamps.

9. 6 pack of beer and a Saturday afternoon.

The stock EFI throttle cables will work on the Mikuni. I'm not sure about the other carbs as I have no experience with them. If you already have a breather system which bolts to the EFI throttle body then the Mikuni adapter must also be purchased. It is available through J&P Cycles as Part Number: 400-246. Lastly, a new TC88 top motor mount bracket must be purchased due to it's having a slot for the choke cable to mount in.

To answer a few other questions, I live near Kansas City so my altitude does not vary much but I feel that even if the altitude changed by as much as 1500ft I wouldn't notice a big difference in performance.

I don't feel that I've lost any resale value at all due to the rest of the customizing on my bike. I've had several people claim that they would rather have mine due to the carburetor and think it's neat as $hit that I've managed to change it back. Granted, the bike won't appeal to the masses when or if I ever sell it but there are people out there who dig the old skool theme on the new style bike.

The carburetor gives the bike a personality which I feel it had been missing since new. I hated the 1500rpm jackhammer idle at startup and the Honda-like simplicity of the entire experience. It now requires a couple twists of the throttle on a cold start and sometimes it likes to be choked and other times not. It has days when it wants to be cranky and lets me know it by backfiring through the carb but I'm a cranky SOB somedays also and I'll let ya know it with a little backfire of my own. Maybe to some it seems stupid but after converting to carb I've finally found the Harley that I thought I was getting that day I spotted her on the showroom floor.

 

good post good info red. i herd some info on a box called a AAM-P3 and supposedly it basically plugs in and you pretty much good to go after you change the other stuff. well it was in a walk thru about changing efi to carb. i have also been do a lil more research on my efi/alarm prob and I'm gonna give taking off the tssm and going with regular tsp first, and if that has no avail then i shall continue to the carb route

 

Good info, here are a few options though.

You could also use the petcock from a 2005 carbed bike to convert the tank.

The top mount wouldn't be required with an S&S carb, the choke mounts to the air cleaner.

Funny thing about being cranky and farting through the carb, my EFI will do that now and again.

 

Brass, the Altmann P3 is what I'm currently using. It's pricier than the ThunderHeart and does the exact same thing but just feels more refined. Sort of a Cadillac/Chevy type deal.

Ackman is correct, If you want to find a petcock from an '05 bike, it will also work. I used the Pingel simply because I've used them for years on drag bikes and find that they are second to none in reliability and quality. My bike used to cough with the EFI as well which kind of annoyed me. It shouldn't do those kind of things with the extreme precision that EFI is supposed to provide, right?