First time user, been looking through stuff on here all night after being lead here from google. Initially we put a new float in the carb and and the bike was running super raggedy, fire out the exhausts, backfiring,stalling out without giving it throttle etc. Adjusted the float level and the bike wouldn't start at all. Adjusted it slightly back from that position and the bike started with a little starting fluid, but its running raggedy again. Fire shooting out of the intake, backfiring hard, and idle isn't right. Currently believe i need more fuel in my ratio. So before i adjust the float position again, i would like to know if you guys have any tips on how to do the adjustments more accurately.

Prior to replacing the float and adjusting its levels I rode the bike from Daytona florida to Cincinnati ohio, and rode it around town a few weeks, the bike ran fine,but it obviously wasn't running optimally. Sorry if that isn't enough info, i'm writing this for my dad, if there is any questions you need to ask in order to try and help me, i will do my best to answer them. Thanks in advance everyone, would like to get my dad's bike back on the road.

 

depending on what carburetor you have it could be the accelerator pump diaphragm located on the bottom of the carburetor two or three little tiny screws

 

If that's the case, wouldn't gas be coming out of the diaphram? Not doubting you, just my dad's immediate response.

The carb has 2 stickers on it 27038-90 and -0265. Other than that i just know its a CV and its a Keihin.

 

Have you checked for intake/exhaust leaks?

 

I had a bad sparkplug make my 90 fxsts backfire and not want to run right.

 

Plugs have been changed, sprayed carb cleaner around the carb and what not while it was running and experienced no change in idle or anything either. At this point, the old man is about to just buy a new carb as tuning it doesn't seem to be working for us.

 

First off, Welcome. There are a number of great resources on this particular board for EVO problems.

Next... If you rode the bike, probably over a 1000 miles, and no doubt through the 'hills' in Tennessee and Kentucky, something happened to make it start running bad.

I learned (the hard way), that these carbs can and do get gunked up. Bad fuel, old fuel, old stabilizer, you name it. For the most part of 'normal' riding, they are running on the low speed circuit. I would definitely remove the carb, do a thorough cleaning (disassemble-not just a carb cleaner blast-off), replace any suspect parts (diaphrams especially), write down the jet sizes that are installed. Dump the fuel out of the tank and clean the strainer while you're at it. Check the fuel hose. They get old and deteriorate. Reset the float, adjust the idle mixture, and see how it runs.

What exhaust does the bike have? Does it have an aftermarket cam? Air cleaner/filter?

 

When did problem start,after new tank of gas or just starting it up after stopping??

 

Check out this web page,
http://www.cv-performance.com/harley_float_setting/

lots of great stuff and tips from CVPreformance. Be sure you check and replace the float valve if you have it in the kit the rubber wears and they can cause problems. If it ran fine before you did the float you should start there and change the valve while your at it. The float level in a cv carb is set, you adjust the fuel ratio by changing jets and/or adjusting the idle mixture screw (hidden under a lead plug at the back of the carb for EPA compliance, most have been removed).
Cheers

 

I would drain fuel and throw it in my car.Remove petcock,flush tank ,clean fuel screen.Make sure new gas flows well.You shouldn't have to change float settings repeatedly.Set correctly once-done.Make sure carb is clean,check acc. pump while bowl is off carb.Make sure enrichener valve in good shape and closing properly.Check diaphrams for tears.If it ran before,it should be good to go with the jets that are in it.As someone said in the past ,it's not rocket surgery!Good luck.