A week ago, I sat my 80" Evo upright off the kickstand and noticed some fuel come out of the carb before I started it. It started and ran fine all day. Last night, I choked it, started it and let it warm up for a few minutes. All seemed fine until I rolled out and got up my street. It started spittering and sputtering and eventually it died. I pulled the fuel filter and blew out the lines. Still wouldn't start. I poured some fuel in the carb and it'll fire but quickly dies. I'm sure it's time for a carb overhaul.

I've never done one but I'm sure it's not that tough or is it? Are they worth rebuilding or should I buy new and trade my core in? If it's worth rebuilding and not extremely hard to do, can you reccomend a kit? Maybe a good performance kit...

I'm in San Antonio TX. Anyone know a carb mechanic in the area and how much it would cost to have someone rebuild it for me?

 

Look here:

http://www.harleyhowto.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1532

and here:

http://www.jpcycles.com/product/401-016

 

Looks easy enough. I'll give it a whirl tonight. I'll let you know if I'm back in the wind or have it secured on the trailer on it's way to the shop.

 

Hey dj, he too, hails from the Lone Star State.
But that said, if you run into a snag with that carb re-build, feel free to call us. We've re-built more of those that I can remember.
Scott

 

The rebuild seemed easy. I broke it down and found that the needle was stuck and had a ridiculous amount of build up on it. I Emory clothed the jet port, the needles, bowl, and joining surfaces and started putting it back together.

The only problem I ran in to was I couldn't get that lip of the diaphragm to seat in the groove around the top of the carb. So, I put the top on and started the threads on the screws. I then tried to gently push the diaphragm lip into the groove while slowly tightening the screws. It seemed to seat correctly. I was surprised that it turned over immediately when I got it buttoned back together. However, when I took it for a test drive, the response is ridiculously slow. When I "get on it", it takes forever to pick up speed.

There are two big bolts that go in to the cylinders that secure a compression bracket for the carb. This seems to have some type of vacuum line that connects the two sides of the bracket and a tube that connects to the back of the air cleaner.

Could this slow response be because the diaphragm is not seated correctly in that groove or can could it be something to do with the vacuum line on the air cleaner? The bolts that secure the carb bracket to the cylinders, are hollow and I didn't pay attention to make sure that the holes in the bolts line up with the connector tube. Could this be the problem? What does that vacuum line do? Hot air from cylinders? I'm inclined to think the diaphragm is malfunctioning and only raising slowly, preventing the engine from taking a deep breath. Thoughts?

 

Might want to check to see if the vacuum piston has a pinhole, or tear in it.
Scott

 

I'm about to give this a try... Thanks for the info!