s&s jetting
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 517
Likes: 6
From: Ottawa, ON
Then try 31 int as the S&S guy said.
When this is in order, start playing with the main. But before everything check for the air leaks, esp. manifold/head junction
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: knoxville iowa
My plugs have a couple hundred miles on them and look like new
Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,065
Likes: 4,561
From: Haslet Texas
If by new you mean white then you are running too lean.
Adjust your fuel/air mixture screw counter clockwise 1/8th of a turn.
Ride at least 25 miles and check plugs.
Repeat this until you see a slight tan color on the ceramic post in the middle of the plug.
Adjust your fuel/air mixture screw counter clockwise 1/8th of a turn.
Ride at least 25 miles and check plugs.
Repeat this until you see a slight tan color on the ceramic post in the middle of the plug.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,198
Likes: 3,087
From: NW AR
Yeah, it's all trial and error on jetting these things, in my experience and without an oxygen sensor, dyno, and lots of skilz.
The S&S manual is pretty good on jetting these things, and every bike is different. I've done our 2 bikes with S&S Super E's. Both carbs were bought specifically for the bike, per the label on the box. Neither was jetted anywhere near useable.
Get a collection of jets, bigger and smaller than what's in there now. Turn the accelerator pump off, change one thing at a time, ride it until it is warmed up, see how it goes, change it and try something else. Keep a log of what jets you had and where the idle mixture was set and how it ran/plug color. Check the spark plugs: ride it where you're testing (WFO, cruise, etc.), hit the kill button, coast to the side of the road, inspect the plugs. Go home and change something. Try again. Too fat runs like a pig or drowns out, too lean tends to pop out the carb.
My bike runs great, but I'm not real happy with the gas mileage. It's about average, I guess, based on what everyone else without a CV gets. Dr.L's bike is just not right for a Super E, and I never could get a carb to run right on there, and I tried the original butterfly, Screaming Eagle, S&S E. 883 with open drag pipes. A smaller CV would probably be good, and the knowledge out here on CV's has increased to where it would be possible without reinventing the wheel. I went with the Megasquirt EFI, though, and it runs fantastic now. Dr.L says it's like having an automatic transmission: just put it in a gear and go. No more dead spot, no more sputtering. My one of these day's project is to Megasquirt my bike but I'll need to upgrade the charging system first.
The S&S manual is pretty good on jetting these things, and every bike is different. I've done our 2 bikes with S&S Super E's. Both carbs were bought specifically for the bike, per the label on the box. Neither was jetted anywhere near useable.
Get a collection of jets, bigger and smaller than what's in there now. Turn the accelerator pump off, change one thing at a time, ride it until it is warmed up, see how it goes, change it and try something else. Keep a log of what jets you had and where the idle mixture was set and how it ran/plug color. Check the spark plugs: ride it where you're testing (WFO, cruise, etc.), hit the kill button, coast to the side of the road, inspect the plugs. Go home and change something. Try again. Too fat runs like a pig or drowns out, too lean tends to pop out the carb.
My bike runs great, but I'm not real happy with the gas mileage. It's about average, I guess, based on what everyone else without a CV gets. Dr.L's bike is just not right for a Super E, and I never could get a carb to run right on there, and I tried the original butterfly, Screaming Eagle, S&S E. 883 with open drag pipes. A smaller CV would probably be good, and the knowledge out here on CV's has increased to where it would be possible without reinventing the wheel. I went with the Megasquirt EFI, though, and it runs fantastic now. Dr.L says it's like having an automatic transmission: just put it in a gear and go. No more dead spot, no more sputtering. My one of these day's project is to Megasquirt my bike but I'll need to upgrade the charging system first.