Carb issues
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6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2013
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From: Fort McMurray, Alberta
Carb issues
I have a 1996 Harley Sportster XLH883. The overflow was spilling on the carburetor and so I've decided to take it off and clean it. After I got the air filter housing of I notice that one of the two little holes at the bottom of the intake was plugged with silicone.. Probably from the P.O. So what I would like to know is why?
Last edited by trickassfoo; Jun 30, 2013 at 02:18 PM.
Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 14
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From: Fort McMurray, Alberta
When i put the carb back on after cleaning should this hole not be plugged up?? What are the function of these holes, and what issues would be caused from these being plugged up.
Stellar HDF Member
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These holes are critical for the carb to work properly .They allow for atomization of fuel for the various circuits.Blow compressed air through all passages after cleaning to clear all debris.If you are lucky ,none of that garbage was drawn into any passageways.A good idea also would be to note main and pilot jet sizes too.If the bike ran like that ,I would be very surprised.Jets may have been altered to work with those restrictions but highly unlikely it could have run at all.Worse case bring to repair person familiar with these carbs.Not rocket science but requires some knowledge of these.Good luck and keep that silicone goop in your bathtub and away from your bike.
Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Fort McMurray, Alberta
These holes are critical for the carb to work properly .They allow for atomization of fuel for the various circuits.Blow compressed air through all passages after cleaning to clear all debris.If you are lucky ,none of that garbage was drawn into any passageways.A good idea also would be to note main and pilot jet sizes too.If the bike ran like that ,I would be very surprised.Jets may have been altered to work with those restrictions but highly unlikely it could have run at all.Worse case bring to repair person familiar with these carbs.Not rocket science but requires some knowledge of these.Good luck and keep that silicone goop in your bathtub and away from your bike.
As I was reassembling the carburator I stumbled along this *extra* piece. I couldn't for the life of me figure out where it belonged to.
I deduced down to the fact that it belongs in the only hole left to fit, inside the vacuum chamber (I believe).. resting against the enrichener valve and the vacuum piston. There seems to be a problem though it looks to be causing some damage by resting against the vacuum piston, so I'd like to know does this ACTUALLY belong??
also it makes it impossible to get the enrichener valve back in without tilting and shaking the carburetor to reposition the *extra* piece
The carburetor has been cleaned, and all the jet ports blown out with compressed air. I've cleaned everything well with gasoline. The butterfly valve inside was gummed up and sticking like an s.o.b. I will be putting the carb back on tomorrow morning and seeing if it will indeed run.. not sure what to do with that *extra* piece, I guess it will go back from where I assume it came from since it doesn't seem to be listed on the exploded view of the carburetor in the service manual
Last edited by trickassfoo; Jul 1, 2013 at 03:03 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
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From: South Carolina
Stop....
That spacer is not an internal part.
There are four screws in the diaphragm cover, one of those screws also supports the bracket for throttle cables. The spacer goes in that hole, then the bracket goes on top of the spacer, then the screw.
That spacer is not an internal part.
There are four screws in the diaphragm cover, one of those screws also supports the bracket for throttle cables. The spacer goes in that hole, then the bracket goes on top of the spacer, then the screw.
Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2013
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From: Fort McMurray, Alberta
I took the air filter off and as i suspected the bike runs fine as long as i plug up the hole that was siliconed over with my finger. I'm not sure what's going on but when it runs without the choke on sometimes it runs a few times over and i hear this loud PFFF sound and it dies out. I inspected the jets and the main and pilot jets are stock jets for the year of the bike. 160 for the main and 42 for the pilot, which corresponds with the jet sizes for the 96 in the service manual. Is there any adjustments I can make to anything to correct this?
As it sits currently I'm looking at two options, fill the hole back in, which I would like to avoid, or replace the carburetor/order a new one (which could get expensive).
Last edited by trickassfoo; Jul 1, 2013 at 09:02 PM.
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Has the soft plug been removed from the idle mixture screw?Your manual will not even mention this,but to clean the idle circuit you need to remove the adjustment screw,spring,washer,o-ring.Many references to this on net-do a search.ALso,there are tiny holes in the throat of carb that all must be clear.If your silicone goop was sucked into tiny passages,they must be cleared.Lastly,choke piston must seal off completely when choke is off.Hard to say what someone may have done previously.Carbs are available on ebay,craigslist.It seems their prices have been rising lately,but not bad.silicone is very hard to break down,I would try cleaning again,paying particular attention to idle passages,both air and fuel.Good luck.be careful.
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Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Fort McMurray, Alberta
Has the soft plug been removed from the idle mixture screw?Your manual will not even mention this,but to clean the idle circuit you need to remove the adjustment screw,spring,washer,o-ring.Many references to this on net-do a search.ALso,there are tiny holes in the throat of carb that all must be clear.If your silicone goop was sucked into tiny passages,they must be cleared.Lastly,choke piston must seal off completely when choke is off.Hard to say what someone may have done previously.Carbs are available on ebay,craigslist.It seems their prices have been rising lately,but not bad.silicone is very hard to break down,I would try cleaning again,paying particular attention to idle passages,both air and fuel.Good luck.be careful.
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Joined: Jul 2010
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If you search the net you will find lots on the mix screw.make sure screwdriver fits in brass adj. screw perfectly.I always put some light oil in that little well and back it out 1 whole turn first to get some lube on the threads.Then gently back in 1 turn so I 'll be back at the original setting,then gently turn in and count the turns in .Stop at the first sign of coming to the seat.This must be done gently and with extreme care.Easy does it.after knowing the original setting back all the way out and retrieve spring washer and tiny o-ring-plastic toothpic with tiny bend in end has worked for me.Ready to clean tiny passages(no metal but Ive used fine guitar strings on a few crappy ones).good luck!