Bike sputtering/Bogs down feel
JohnnyC, I have a 91 Electra Glide Ultra Classic. The carb recal had to do withthe fuel needle and the hole it goes through. The sputtering/bogging down happened 1 time coming home from work, which the hill was pretty long, I'd say grade was 3-4 degrees. But what gets me is when I went to work that day I had to go up 2 hills and no problem. So I thought it had to do with the carb recall/ fuel needle. Had the carb recall done, no problem going home up hills. Had the fuel leak took it in they fixed that and coming home going up a hill sputtering/bogging down. I'm planning on going to see my mom and that same hill is on the way, so going that way to see if it does it again. But i'll check all fuel stuff plus coil, spark plug wires and spark plugs, which I tok them out back when I bought the bike and they actually need replacing which when I buy a used bike from a individual I usually change spark plugs.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,706
Likes: 14
From: Near Frankenmuth, MI
91 is a CV carb. I'm not familiar with the fuel needle issue. I do know the float valve has been an issue especially with the ethanol in it. It eats away at the rubber hoses and the seats. Flakes of rubber would migrate to the carb and clog the Float valve which would often not seat and seal causing flooding. Often flooding can cause bogging down but you would notice a strong gas smell or dripping out the overflow.
Are you using a vacuum operated petcock which I think was stock for that year? Those can have issues especially if the vacuum line from the carb rots and breaks it's seal which also causes issue with the vacuum advance.
Being hill related leaves me with float adjustment. When they dropped the float bowl for the gasket they may have disturbed the float adjustment.
So many other electrical related issues from corroded connectors breaking connection but the vibration of the bike would cause intermittent operations interruptions more than just hills.
Try putting it on a ramp and see if you can cause the issue to repeat.
As odd as it sounds it might be time for a check of the intake seals. Sometimes age and sometimes doing anything that disturbs the carb like removing the air filter, which is a support for the carb, to do the other work can bring on that issue.
An easy test is to spray a little carb spray on the heads where the intake seals. This will cause a drop in idle when it sucks carb cleaner through a bad seal. It's not related to inclines but under a load while going up a hill any intake leak can cause issues.
BTW .... it doesn't sound like electrical or ignition related from the symptoms and recent repairs discussed.
Are you using a vacuum operated petcock which I think was stock for that year? Those can have issues especially if the vacuum line from the carb rots and breaks it's seal which also causes issue with the vacuum advance.
Being hill related leaves me with float adjustment. When they dropped the float bowl for the gasket they may have disturbed the float adjustment.
So many other electrical related issues from corroded connectors breaking connection but the vibration of the bike would cause intermittent operations interruptions more than just hills.
Try putting it on a ramp and see if you can cause the issue to repeat.
As odd as it sounds it might be time for a check of the intake seals. Sometimes age and sometimes doing anything that disturbs the carb like removing the air filter, which is a support for the carb, to do the other work can bring on that issue.
An easy test is to spray a little carb spray on the heads where the intake seals. This will cause a drop in idle when it sucks carb cleaner through a bad seal. It's not related to inclines but under a load while going up a hill any intake leak can cause issues.
BTW .... it doesn't sound like electrical or ignition related from the symptoms and recent repairs discussed.
JohnnyC the petcock is the one that has the on/off/reserve turn switch and the line from petcock goes straigh to the carb nothing in between. I am going to ride it to work in Morning, there are 2 significant hills on the way so I'll let ya'll know what it does or don't do.
Well a little update. Finally a chance to ride bike to work, which like I said before, going to work there are 2 significant hills, so went up first hill nothing rode smooth, went up second which was fairly long, still nothing, carried it's load doing 70 mph. This morning before going to work I was going to replace spark plug wires and spark plugs. Got out to bike uncovered it started looking around for the coil, well it up in front behind frame fork up under gas tank. so I didn't have time to get into taking seat off, taking bolt out of back of gas tank and loosening the front bolt in the gas tank to lift it up enough to get to the plug wires. Nothing simple about these EVO's but still love it.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 856
Likes: 9
From: North Carolina
When my 1988 did that I fooled with the carb and intake adnauseaum. I had the exact same issue, under throttle, uphill, 70 MPH, sputtering, bogging down. I replaced the coil and the VOES and it cleared up. Runs great now. Even starts on cold days. I feel pretty sure that it was a VOES issue but, I had a new coil so I replaced it while I was in there. The VOES came from Amazon.
Last edited by falconbrother; Feb 16, 2016 at 09:01 AM.
Well, last update on this situation. Rode bike to work no sputters or bogging down going up hills going to work. Which I was going up the long hill about 70 gave it some throttle and it just keept climbing that hill smooth and fast. Thanks FOR ALL THE HELP
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 21,114
Likes: 7,638
From: Poolville
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
suprchad
General Harley Davidson Chat
25
Nov 29, 2013 10:42 AM