I recently bought an 85 FLH. The previous owner told me that it has #40 intermediate jet. It has the CV carb on it. I just put on some Paughco, no baffle fishtail slipons, and I noticed it sputtering at low speed and an occasional cough through the carb(gets better if I pull the choke a little). I'm assuming that its running a little lean now from the slipons...would going up one size on the jet be enough?

 

40 is lean for that - its a try this one kind of thing - they make 42 = 44 -45 46 47 kind of thing - if it has a 150 main you will also have to get a 160 165 or 170 maybe

and if it were me i would pay a shop if you really do not understand carbs and jetting as you will burn up the top end being too lean on the hwy

 

Put baffles in.
That will solve your low end problems.

 

Oh but it sounds so good This is probably what I'll do. Any particular baffles(size) better than others or are they all pretty much the same?

 

Baffles will get back some of your low end torque, but you still need to rejet. 40 is just too lean.

 

I did the exact same thing as you (fishtails w/o baffles) ran like ****.
I just found some cheap baffles in Drag Specialties and everything was great.
I gotta agree that it sounds great without baffles but performance sucks.

 

I believe they came with 42. I'd pull it off to verify and then you will be for sure on your needs. Welcome btw. We like pics too.

 

You are correct, he told me back in 2004 it had a 42, he had it re-jetted to 40(not sure why) and it was dyno'd at 51.9 hp...stock is 52 hp. Not sure what pipes he had on it at the time, I think he said it had sceaming eagle pipes on it back then

Here is a couple pics of what it looked like when I got it, and what it looks like now(minus the fishtails)

 

The CV doesn't have an "intermediate" jet. It has a low speed, which is the one you discussed and stock is, as stated #42. Change it to a #45 and see how it runs. Also, remove the plug behind the bowel, there's an idle mixture screw under it. LIGHTLY seat it then turn it out 2 1/2-3 turns.
Check the hight speed jet, it should be 170 to start. Run the bike and check the plugs. Black, too rich, needs a smaller jet, white, too lean, needs a bidder one. The plugs should be brownies grayish.

 

Nice job on the bike! That "hubcap", pun intended, looked doofussy on your bike.