Ok, so just got a bike for my dad that had been sitting in a guys garage for the last 5 years. It's a 2000 wide glide with less than 3000 miles on it. We drained the tank and lines, changed all the fluids and cleaned the both the main and pilot jets. We also replaced the fuel selector assembly that is attached to the tank due to it having a bad diaphragm. After we did that she seems to run like a champ. Took her out for a spin and no problems until he tried to put the choke in. Once the choke goes more than half way off the bike just shuts down. It runs fine when the choke is out though. I'm thinking it is the idle jet but we can't figure out how to clean it as it is pressed in.

Anyone have tips or directions on how to get it cleaned out or if that is actually the issue?

 

Gummed up, stuck float, etc., dump half a can sea foam in and run it.

 

Sounds like the idle jet. You may need to pull the carb and soak in carb cleaner. After that, use compressed air to blow it out. If you could find a piece of small diameter wire, you might be able to run that thru there. Hope you get it fixed.

 

The idle jet is not pressed in. It has a slot in the top for a flathead screwdriver. It's made out of brass so if you decide to remove it use the proper sized screwdriver that is in good condition as you don't want to strip out the slot.

 

Do what we used to call a "Micky Mouse" rebuild on the carburetor. Completely disassemble, thoroughly clean everything, including shooting carb cleaner through all the channels and orifices, and reassemble. That bike is probably too new to need a real rebuild with all new parts, but it's probably pretty gummed up internally.


Oh yeah, the "fuel selector assembly" is called the petcock. That's one word, not two.

 

Finally someone tells me what the hell that thing is called. The box the new one came in just said fuel selector kit and I knew that wasn't right

 

I had a similar issue with an EVO Softail I had that sat for a long time. I did the carb cleaning/rebuild thing... no help. Turned out there were deposits... HARD mineral like deposits in the jets that the cleaners, even ultrasonic wouldn't touch. As suggested above, a thin wire or tiny drill bit is needed to get it out.

Good luck!

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Sounds like the carbs need some fine TLC. Small drill bits, small paper clips and safety wire are awesome for getting out those itty bitty deposits that form in the jets and such. Good Luck.

 

The low speed jets have some pretty small holes. Guitar strings work well for getting the gunk loosened up. Then, like Tampa Fatboy said, run a can of Seafoam through it.

Dan