Looking for some assistance. I have a 2004 FatBoy (carbed). I have a Stage kit and V&H Big Shots. Everything else is pretty much stock, aside from some "bling" here and there. My issue is that my bike runs great until it gets hot. Now I understand the whole air cooled deal.
I live outside of Philly. I ride to work up the Blue Route, then up the PA Turnpike for a while. So I am pretty much doing anywhere from 60 - 80mph depending on traffic. When I get off at the exit and come to a light or stop the bike chokes and coughs when idling. If I give it a little gas it is fine. Its only when its idling that the exhaust sputters and its has even stalled out on me. I can feel the heat coming up on my thighs. I had the idle screw adjusted a few months back for just out-right stalling at a light or stop while idling. None of the accessory lights come on when the bike stalls or anything indicating that it may be overheating.
It just gets real embarrasing having to keep restarting at lights and stop and go traffic. I can see people snickering and I can just imagine that they are saying to themselves "Harley's are so problematic...good thing I bought a JAP bike". That irks me.

The only thing I can think of is the following:

1) Need to put in synthetic oil (doesn't burn as hot? I think I neglected to ask for the synthetic at 1000 mile service)
2) Idling to high causing excess heat to be generated?
3) Not idling high enough to keep some gas into the carbs?(sorry don't have a tac)
4) Air cleaner needs to be replaced? (dirty? but only 2200 miles on it)
5) No Freakin Clue???

Any help would be greatly appreciated...

 

I've never had this kind of a problem but as I read your post, one thing comes to mind. You do not want your rpms at idle to be too low. At extreme low idle the oil is not circulating rapidly enough thru the engine system to assist in cooling. It will contribute to overheating.

 

my 06 Sportster 1200 (carburated) starts running rough when she gets hot, sitting in traffic

 

Thanks. I'll be taking the scoot to an independant in Delaware. Freedom Cycles.
http://www.freedom-cycle.com/

I have heard good things about them. Cheaper than a stealership and Delaware based biz = tax free. I ordered some new wheels from HogPro today so I am going to have Freedom install the wheels and take a look-see into this issue. Definitely putting in synthetic though, this is supposed to help.

Thanks again

 

You might need to go ahead & install a engine oil cooler. That should help from overheating.

 

Was thinking of doing that. Posted a question about oil coolers. Most repsonses were the same:

1) Not worth it
2) Need to be moving for the oil cooler to cool the oil.
3) Does nothing in stop and go traffic

I'm gonna see how much of a difference synthetic oil makes...

thanks

 

It could be vaporlock from getting really hot, it could be getting really hot because its too lean, it could be idling too low and stalling out, it could be too rich to idle well when hot.

I doubt that you need to cool the motor better, you need to figure out what is causing it to get hot or stall.

At 60 mph, you are going fast enough for any temerature extreme that your body can survive in to cool your bike if it is tuned correctly.

 

I'll be taking it to and independent...

thanks all

 

Might be a simple carb adjustment. I'd definitely get it looked at.

 

If you are running dino oil.......get to Autozone and buy some Mobil1Vtwin 20w50 oil for it and that will cool it down a bit. If that doesn't help go to www.myoilshop.com and try some redline 20w60HD. My $.02.