1992 FLSTC Carb Cough Stall
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 442
Likes: 30
From: Florida
1992 FLSTC Carb Cough Stall
Yesterday, my son was riding a 1992 FLSTC. While accelerating in second gear, it stalled, coasted to a stop and would not restart.
After pushing it for a while, he tried starting it again. It started, he rode it home, about a mile and it seemed to run fine.
We have had it for about a week and a half, it has seemed to run fine other than this incident.
I had a mechanic look at it last week. He says the carbs need to be rejetted. He has not seen it since yesterday's stall.
I called him yesterday, explained what happened. He said, it was probably a carb "cough" or "sneeze" that caused it to stall and some thermal fuses that prevented it from restarting. He says rejetting the carbs would reduce the likelihood of this happening again.
So I am considering:
1. Keep riding it. Running non-ethanol gas through it and see if it happens again.
2. Running some SeaFoam through it to see if that helps
3. Trying to rejet the carb myself
4. Getting my mechanic to rejet the carb for about $200. It also needs a new turn signal module and for another $100 he will do that while he is in there.
I am a bit concerned about option #1 as I would prefer not to get stranded some place. Although it seems that if it does stall, I should be able to wait a few minutes and get it to start again. And I guess getting stranded is part of the older Harley experience.
Opinions???
After pushing it for a while, he tried starting it again. It started, he rode it home, about a mile and it seemed to run fine.
We have had it for about a week and a half, it has seemed to run fine other than this incident.
I had a mechanic look at it last week. He says the carbs need to be rejetted. He has not seen it since yesterday's stall.
I called him yesterday, explained what happened. He said, it was probably a carb "cough" or "sneeze" that caused it to stall and some thermal fuses that prevented it from restarting. He says rejetting the carbs would reduce the likelihood of this happening again.
So I am considering:
1. Keep riding it. Running non-ethanol gas through it and see if it happens again.
2. Running some SeaFoam through it to see if that helps
3. Trying to rejet the carb myself
4. Getting my mechanic to rejet the carb for about $200. It also needs a new turn signal module and for another $100 he will do that while he is in there.
I am a bit concerned about option #1 as I would prefer not to get stranded some place. Although it seems that if it does stall, I should be able to wait a few minutes and get it to start again. And I guess getting stranded is part of the older Harley experience.
Opinions???
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 2,358
Likes: 34
I think you're dealing with 2 issues, but could be wrong. The cough off idle is lean, that can be rejetted easily and for way less than $200. What's the set up, air cleaner, pipes, etc..I had a cough stall issue leaving stop signs that a reject cleared, but it would never do it under full throttle, its on a different circuit and its doubtful your lean on the main jet
As far as the stall and restart, a lean condition not likely in my opinion. I'm guessing one of two things, you sucked the bowl dry and ran out of fuel, it didn't refill fast enough for a restart. OR you have some debris in the bowl that blocked a passage and worked its way through or dissolved or fell back down. OR it could be your ignition unit inside the nose cone assuming you have one there and its not a different unit. I believe you could test that by running it with a heat gun pointed at it to see if you can shut it down or by getting it hot riding and when it dies spraying cold compressed air on it to cool it. I'd probably try heating it in the driveway first.
As far as the stall and restart, a lean condition not likely in my opinion. I'm guessing one of two things, you sucked the bowl dry and ran out of fuel, it didn't refill fast enough for a restart. OR you have some debris in the bowl that blocked a passage and worked its way through or dissolved or fell back down. OR it could be your ignition unit inside the nose cone assuming you have one there and its not a different unit. I believe you could test that by running it with a heat gun pointed at it to see if you can shut it down or by getting it hot riding and when it dies spraying cold compressed air on it to cool it. I'd probably try heating it in the driveway first.
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 442
Likes: 30
From: Florida
I think you're dealing with 2 issues, but could be wrong. The cough off idle is lean, that can be rejetted easily and for way less than $200. What's the set up, air cleaner, pipes, etc..I had a cough stall issue leaving stop signs that a reject cleared, but it would never do it under full throttle, its on a different circuit and its doubtful your lean on the main jet
As far as the stall and restart, a lean condition not likely in my opinion. I'm guessing one of two things, you sucked the bowl dry and ran out of fuel, it didn't refill fast enough for a restart. OR you have some debris in the bowl that blocked a passage and worked its way through or dissolved or fell back down. OR it could be your ignition unit inside the nose cone assuming you have one there and its not a different unit. I believe you could test that by running it with a heat gun pointed at it to see if you can shut it down or by getting it hot riding and when it dies spraying cold compressed air on it to cool it. I'd probably try heating it in the driveway first.
As far as the stall and restart, a lean condition not likely in my opinion. I'm guessing one of two things, you sucked the bowl dry and ran out of fuel, it didn't refill fast enough for a restart. OR you have some debris in the bowl that blocked a passage and worked its way through or dissolved or fell back down. OR it could be your ignition unit inside the nose cone assuming you have one there and its not a different unit. I believe you could test that by running it with a heat gun pointed at it to see if you can shut it down or by getting it hot riding and when it dies spraying cold compressed air on it to cool it. I'd probably try heating it in the driveway first.
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 442
Likes: 30
From: Florida
I suspect that it did not get ridden at all from August of 2014 until last fall.
And probably not much before that.
Carb clean was done 9/28/2013 but receipt does not indicate mileage at that time.
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 442
Likes: 30
From: Florida
I have ridden it every day since I got it. First start of the day, I choke it, give it three throttle pumps and it starts with one push of the starter button. I run it with choke on for about a minute and then run it for at least another minute without the choke.
After that, I can start it without pumping the throttle for the rest of the day. It will start without the choke if it is still warm. Other than this incident, it has run much better than I expected.
After that, I can start it without pumping the throttle for the rest of the day. It will start without the choke if it is still warm. Other than this incident, it has run much better than I expected.
Trending Topics
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 2,358
Likes: 34
Carb has nothing to do with it not turning over. Either the run switch was mistakenly off, hit it instead of turn signal by mistake or something or you have a wire short or something. Is it still coughing? Does it ever cough off idle leaving a stop sign or traffic light? If so I'd rejet. If not wait it out until your sure about the not turning over issue
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 Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 442
Likes: 30
From: Florida
On the day before yesterday, I took an experienced rider safety course on this bike. It was started and stopped a lot during the course. And it was run all morning at slow speeds. 1st and second gear. About a 40 min ride to and from the course mostly on back roads, a little super slab.
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 442
Likes: 30
From: Florida
Carb has nothing to do with it not turning over. Either the run switch was mistakenly off, hit it instead of turn signal by mistake or something or you have a wire short or something. Is it still coughing? Does it ever cough off idle leaving a stop sign or traffic light? If so I'd rejet. If not wait it out until your sure about the not turning over issue
Thanks, that sounds like a good plan.
It has never coughed for me. Idles smoothly, starts easily and consistently. It has run really well other than this issue. Maybe my son did hit the off switch by mistake. I will ask him if that is possible. Sounds very plausible.
Hard for me to say since I was not there and it has run really well for me.