General Harley Davidson Chat Forum to discuss general Harley Davidson issues, topics, and experiences.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Carb Issues 1975 XLCH

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 5, 2010 | 05:20 PM
  #1  
dheston's Avatar
dheston
Thread Starter
|
Stage III
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Cool Carb Issues 1975 XLCH

I just recently got my XLCH running again. Also cleaned out tank and coat and rebuilt carb (Bendix) Was running fine but now I am having some hard start issues. Whne I get the bike to kick over, it seems to run rich and then stops after 5 to 10 seconds. Just dies. I am able to throttle the engine until it dies but then it just dies. Anyone have any ideas?
 
Old Jan 5, 2010 | 05:53 PM
  #2  
sengle4's Avatar
sengle4
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
Default

When the carb was rebuilt, were all the passages blown out with compressed air? Sounds like dirt or crud lodged somewhere. I remember the Bendix carbs being almost as miserable as the Tillotsons on the earlier sportys.
 
Old Jan 5, 2010 | 05:57 PM
  #3  
NSCoyote's Avatar
NSCoyote
Club Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 7,350
Likes: 4
From: Nova Scotia,Canada
Default

beign an older sporty owner myself i would recomend swaping your bendix out for a 89+ CV carb,if you can afford it go to an S&S but it sounds like its not gettign enough fuel or theres an intake leak.

check out www.xlforum.net they have alot of ironhead guru's there. if yer still stumped shoot me a pm some time in a couple of days and i will try and help ya figure it out
 

Last edited by NSCoyote; Jan 5, 2010 at 06:03 PM.
Old Jan 5, 2010 | 07:59 PM
  #4  
carlgrover's Avatar
carlgrover
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 8,852
Likes: 2,494
From: Decatur, Alabama
Default

Originally Posted by dheston
I just recently got my XLCH running again. Also cleaned out tank and coat and rebuilt carb (Bendix) Was running fine but now I am having some hard start issues. Whne I get the bike to kick over, it seems to run rich and then stops after 5 to 10 seconds. Just dies. I am able to throttle the engine until it dies but then it just dies. Anyone have any ideas?
Nothing like an ironhead and that lovely Bendix carb. It's actually better than it's forerunner, the tillotsen. My advice and hints:

Did you clean out the petcock real good and put in a new gas filter?

Is the choke wire hooked up correctly (opens and closes all the way)?

You didn't drop the bb that keeps the choke plate open did you? If it isn't in there, the plate will slowly close and kill the engine, making it run rich as crap for a few seconds before shutting down.

Did you do a real careful job of rebuilding the carb? Keep it all clean and blown out? I do carb rebuilds like a brain surgeon would.

Is the accelerator pump working correctly? When you pump the throttle does it squirt fuel down the intake and does it go back up when you let off the throttle? I have more trouble with that stupid pump than any other part of the carb.

Could be your intake O-rings are not seated properly. Thats one of those tricky trial and error things. It's most noticeable during idle. Idles low when cold then fast when hot or simply idles all over the place. I don't think that is the problem in this case but you never know.

Try all the above. If you still have problems, repost your question down in the "ironhead" section of this forum. Guys down there have already forgotten more than I will ever know about ironheads and I've known 'em for 30 years.

Carl
75 xlh

I'll say a prayer for your right leg.
 
Old Jan 6, 2010 | 10:35 PM
  #5  
cole's Avatar
cole
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 180
Likes: 0
Default

The Bendix carb had a leather cup on the accel. pump. Take it out and rub some oil on it, does work, I know, done it on the side of the road a few times when she was overfuelling. Just a thought. cole
 
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
triple604
Engine Mechanical Topics
1
Mar 7, 2017 05:52 PM
Ironhead Dave
Ironhead
25
Jul 11, 2016 09:35 AM
All Aces
EVO
16
Jul 12, 2014 06:27 AM
CaptnAl
Sportster Models
7
Nov 20, 2012 05:41 AM
YtseJam
Exhaust System Topics
16
Jun 15, 2011 07:16 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:43 AM.

story-0
6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

Slideshow: From military-inspired singles to scooters and three-wheel utility vehicles, these Harleys took the company far outside its comfort zone.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-02 18:34:10


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-2
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-6
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-7
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-8
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE