I have a stock 85FXWG with 19000k. The rocker covers are leaking a little and the carb is giving me some issues, (sputtering and backfire). I do not want to compromise reliability but if I am opening up the rocker covers to change the gaskets should I change any other items or leave it until the engine has a few more miles on it.

 

Being the cold months are upon you sound like a good time to do maintenance and a few upgrades. Make sure your base gaskets aren't leaking, as you you can fix any leaks while you have the cover and tank off. I would take the carb off and clean it out because for its age,it has sat alot and probable needs a rebuild and gooood cleaning. Have you thought about putting a cam and air cleaner kit on her? A EV-27 cam , air cleaner, and set of pipes and you'll be riding a different bike.,,

 

I have a SE hop up kit that was purchased with the bike but understand the cam in the kit is not a bolt in. It is a 500 lift cam. It also included the chrome moly pushrods and SE springs and retainers. I plan on a lot of highway driving in the next couple of years and do not want problems.

 

Check the compliance fittings. The rubber hoses that act as the carb manifold. They are notorious for dry rotting and doing what you describe. They tear. If they are bad replace them. A real manifold is the best way to go, if you want to spend the money.

 

changed the compliance fittings and cleaned carb this summer. Bike still running rough, was thinking of changing to a new carb and see if that cures the problem.

 

Mikuni HSR42 carb is where it's at IMO. Awesome throttle response. I can't remember what the max lift is that the stock heads can handle on your evo heads but I think it's mor than .500. The EV27 is a sweet cam for the daily driver and can be picked up for a reasonable price and it is a bolt in cam. If you do this cam and the Mikuni carb with a high flow air cleaner, you'll be grinning from ear to ear.

 

I would take your top end off put some aftermarket pistons in like weisco or something you could have the cylinders bored out have some light head work done and put a cam in then if you dont already put a jet kit in the carb with an A/C kit and exhuast. you'll still have the reliabilty but more hp and tq

 

Since we're spending your money, replace the whole carb and manifold with a later model CV unit. No need to buy S&S or Mikuni, the CV will be a major upgrade and they are easy to get as take-offs.

 

85's may or may not have the stock piston tops notched for a bigger cam. you might want to know what the tops look like before you put a big cam in there. big cam, pistons not notched=trouble. 85's are very rare, less than 35,000 bikes were produced that year. fx, sportsters, softtails and baggers total production<35k.

 

This is a great all around combo that will give you a great running machine that isn't prone to failure & will be cost effective!
The carb alone will fix your sputtering & give you more power!