Carb Upgrade
Carb Upgrade
I have a 1985 ElectraGlide with the stock butterfly Keihin carb. I have been doing a little reading lately and it seems Harley changed to CV carbs in 89 and have been considering upgrading the carb. I would like to know your advice and experience with this type of upgrade (reliability, performance, brand, type, etc.). My thought is to find a used upgrade off ebay. Any thoughts are appreciated. Thanks!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,201
Likes: 3,089
From: NW AR
A soup can with a hole in the bottom would be a better carb than what you have now. A lot of people change to the CV's and like them. The S&S Super is also a good choice. Get the whole system, including replacing the intake manifold to get rid of those compliance fittings.
Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,065
Likes: 4,561
From: Haslet Texas
A soup can with a hole in the bottom would be a better carb than what you have now. A lot of people change to the CV's and like them. The S&S Super is also a good choice. Get the whole system, including replacing the intake manifold to get rid of those compliance fittings.
For what it is worth my '95 came with a Keihin carb.
I got an S&S E and love it.
It uses more gas but it is easy to set up.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21,176
Likes: 12,748
From: South Carolina
Your bike came with a Keihin CV carb...
The OP`s bike came with a Keihin butterfly type carb. Different animal altogether.
CV carbs are excellent units.
Butterfly carbs are for batting practice.
The OP`s bike came with a Keihin butterfly type carb. Different animal altogether.
CV carbs are excellent units.
Butterfly carbs are for batting practice.
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Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,065
Likes: 4,561
From: Haslet Texas
I had it rebuilt to try and help it. It did help but it still ran like crap.
The first mile or two it spit and sputtered bad.
The S&S Super E I replaced it with is so much better.
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Road Master
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 794
Likes: 1
From: Alvin TX
My 94 came with a CV , still running it today , havea rebuild kit setting in the shop to go into it when I pull the top end to replace base gakets & install a EV27 , Cv is the easiest carb to set up & keep it there, I've gone from sea level to high mountians in NM & bike the same , the CV stays the same , parts from the newer ones fit right in IE jets, slide, cables , go to CV performance & read up on the CV carb
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
If mine came with the CV carb then I really don't understand why everybody likes them.
I had it rebuilt to try and help it. It did help but it still ran like crap.
The first mile or two it spit and sputtered bad.
The S&S Super E I replaced it with is so much better.
I had it rebuilt to try and help it. It did help but it still ran like crap.
The first mile or two it spit and sputtered bad.
The S&S Super E I replaced it with is so much better.
