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Unfortunately, the factory has to set the carb lean to pass emissions requirements and that causes minor popping or "carb farts" especially when cold. They should go away when it's warmed up. IF you have an "open minded" service dept at your dealer, they may be able to tweak it a little and make it better.
I also have an 06 Sportster 883C with the problem of backfiring through the carb. I have done Stage 1 to richen up the mix (hi-flow air filters, SE Free-flowing slip-on mufflers, carb re-jet) and nothing seems to cure it. I thought the dealer had adjusted it too rich, but it actually got better when they adjusted the jets even richer. So-o-o-o-o....
The dealer has had it 2 days and I just got it back tonight - dealer service manager and I took rides together, me on a new Sportster, him on my bike. Well, I could make the NEW Sporty cough and backfire like my own bike, but he could not make my bike act up once.
It may be my riding style, I'll be open-minded enough to admit. I'll try changing my clutch, throttle, and downshifting procedures, and see if it makes a difference. The dealer says is is running very good and not fouling plugs, so it's not TOO rich.
I'm having such a blast riding - as long as nothing's wrong, I'm gonna ride and be happy with it
My new 06 Sporty is at the shop as I send this post. Unfortunately, I dont buy this behavior as "normal". My truck doesnt "fart", my ride on lawn mower doesnt "fart", my push mower doesnt fart, the kids go cart doesnt fart ... the bike shouldnt either. If it cant be "adjusted out" then its a design flaw ... C'mon guys ...
I had the same problem with my bike... in my case I change the air filter because, he was to much "High flow"...and the CV carbs need some vacuum to do there job correctely in some RPM. Because of that you dealer tell you that everything alright, but in fact not everything it alright, try to put your bike on a "Dyno" and you will see in what RPM your bike is losing power... changing my "high-flow" airfilter to another not so "high flow" work for me...
It's not a design flaw and it can be adjusted out. They have to be set lean at the factory so they pass emmisions tests. When you add a high flow air cleaner, you just make the situation worse. All you have to do to correct the problem is remove the anti-tamper plug over the idle mixture screw and adjust it out a little. On a Sporty, you may have to replace the 42 slow jet with a 45.
It's not a design flaw and it can be adjusted out. They have to be set lean at the factory so they pass emmisions tests. When you add a high flow air cleaner, you just make the situation worse. All you have to do to correct the problem is remove the anti-tamper plug over the idle mixture screw and adjust it out a little. On a Sporty, you may have to replace the 42 slow jet with a 45.
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