Changing EFI to CARB?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 15,705
Likes: 22,718
From: Farmington ,MS
You can actually get an EVO to sound very close to a Shovel if you disconnect the VOES...if you use a microswitch to disconnect it at idle, but connect it as soon as you open the throttle...you can get killer sound and still have the benefits of the the voes.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 4,828
Likes: 8
Forgive my stupidity, but how do you disconnect them, and are there any downsides? Can I avoid detonation with premium fuel and safely disconnect them?
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,480
Likes: 25
From: Santa Fe NM
There are a lot of reasons to go with a carb over EFI, ease of maintenance, low cost, more authentic for a V-Twin engine, easier to adjust, easier to fix roadside if needed. I purposely sought out a bike with a carb when i bought this one used, I don't want EFI on my bike at all.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 19,982
Likes: 6,111
From: Florida
Everybody talks about the sound of EFI vs carb, but nobody mentions that ride. Well, I have one of each. My EFI RoadKing starts & runs perfectly without warmup, but the ride of my carbed fatboy is sheer bliss. Carb is much smoother,power delivery is smoother & more compressed, and the ride is generally more relaxed. You guitar players can think of it this way:
Carb=tubes
EFI=solid state.
Carb=tubes
EFI=solid state.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 95
Likes: 0
From: australia
shovel's sound the best. i had a 1977 super glide/ 1983 wide glide.
evo's sound great , i had a 1987 softail, 1 &3/4 straight through drag pipe's.
)))
evo 1996 1200 sportster, still got it. sound's great. 14 year old exhaust's, i guess, they may have burn't out a little mk1 screamin eagle slip on's.
tc 2011 super glide, it don't sound old harley, single fire ignition, efi. it has s&s tapered turbo slip on's + a few other mod's, it sound's like a well tuned modern v8 car.
i say, go with the flow. nothin stay's the same unless your dead.
2nd option, go buy any vintage harley davidson you wish to ride, they are all still out there.
harley davidson = harley davidson.
grumpy.
evo's sound great , i had a 1987 softail, 1 &3/4 straight through drag pipe's.
)))evo 1996 1200 sportster, still got it. sound's great. 14 year old exhaust's, i guess, they may have burn't out a little
mk1 screamin eagle slip on's.tc 2011 super glide, it don't sound old harley, single fire ignition, efi. it has s&s tapered turbo slip on's + a few other mod's, it sound's like a well tuned modern v8 car.
i say, go with the flow. nothin stay's the same unless your dead.
2nd option, go buy any vintage harley davidson you wish to ride, they are all still out there.
harley davidson = harley davidson.
grumpy.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,856
Likes: 127
From: Middle of Kansas
+1 on the VOES switch. I have one on my 99 FXSTC, and can flick it off at idle, and you can't tell it from a Shovel. Beautiful potato potato. I have drag pipes which do make it sound good.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 13,402
Likes: 941
From: Illinois
The American Iron Bagger magazine has an article in the current issue giving instructions and a pictorial about changing the MM fi to carb.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 4,933
Likes: 11
From: Kentucky
So, a while back I was watching "Surviving the Cut" about recon Marines in training and they were learning to handle their rubber boats, with fuel injected engines, with paddles. I believe what the instructor said was, "it's like that fuel-injected Harley Davidson - if it quits, you ain't gonna fix it, so you're stuck."
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,881
Likes: 3
From: Pennslytucky
i had an 89 softail that came carbed but had electronic ignition. that thing left me sit in the middle of bum**** alabama once. i junked the ignition and went with blue streak points and condenser. it had that great idle afterwards and i never looked back. if my new fatbob ever leaves me sit i will junk the efi and ignition and go with my old set up that i can fix instantly with a matchbook and a screw driver.