I just purchased an 86 Wide glide with an unmolested motor (22,000 mi) and stock butterfly carb. I have no plans to put a cam or ignition in but would like to replace the carb with a Mikuni 42mm. Is it worth the cost to upgrade just the carb or should I put an EV3 or EV27 in also?

 

I am very pleased with my EV27. Certainly a noticeable improvement in power. I have never run a mikuni carb, but have always had good results upgrading to a S&S.


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Change the carb before you do any cam work. If you put a performance cam in the engine with the old style butterfly carb, you will gain very little performance.

 

The Mikuni will work. However for a stock EVO I would reccomend a CV. They are a well engineered, dependable carb, just get an unmolested one, put the sportster needle in it and turn the idle air screw out two turns. Do not change/shorten the spring, jets, or drill the slide. It will handle all the air that an EV-27 can use. This will get you down the road and not kill the gas mileage.

 

I have a 85 FXWG and put a HSR 42 carb on this spring. The rest of the bike is stock. Big improvement in starting and pickup.

 

Dumping that total POS stock butterfly carb is the first thing that should be done to that bike, and it should have been done 25 years ago. That's when mine went.

Back then, a lot of guys liked the Mikunis, but these days, the CV's seem to be more popular and get better mileage. While I like my S&S, if I was start over on the carb, I'd do like miacycles says and go with the CV. My actual plan is to eventually go EFI with another Megasquirt, but my bike runs well now and I have plenty of projects to keep me busy.

 

I have used the Mikuni HSR 42 on Dynas and Sporties and they do give more power but use a heap more gas, CV works fine but Mikuni is 2mm bigger....size matters with some guys.....

 

And most girls too!!!!!!!!! LOL

 

I am the original owner of my 85 FXWG. Motor was conpletely stock until a couple of months ago. Put in an EV27, lifters, pushrods, S&S Super E, KB 9.5 pistons, intake/exhaust valves and springs. It runs real good now. The S&S is a great improvement.

 

Thanks for all the help. Now I'm leaning toward a CV.