Hi guys, I've lurked here for a long time, but am a new poster. Recently, due to health issues and my father wanting a lighter bike, I traded him my Sportster for his 2005 Springer Classic. As much as I love it, I am kind of at my whit's end.

It has a Screamin' Eagle air kit and free flowing pipes and has a carb. I can let it warm up and idle for 3 minutes or more with the choke fully out, and when I push it in, the bike wants to cut out or stumble. I always have to let it idle for about a minute on full choke and then I push it about half way in. I have to start out with the choke partially out until I get out of my subdivision. Once I pull out, I push the choke all the way in. I usually come to a stop sign two miles down the road. When I pull in the clutch and come to a stop it either cuts out or I can usually save it by blipping the throttle or holding the throttle partially open. After that it will be fine about half the time. It will cut out again at the next stop or two the other half. There have been times when I let it warm up at least 3 to 5 minutes, take off, push the choke in and it will cut off at the first stop. I have also had it cut off after slowing down, pulling the clutch in, and turning after riding for 10 minutes. It always starts right back up without missing a beat.

I have the fuel mixture screw out 3 turns. The problem is, I don't know what size jets are in the carb. I have not been able to open it up to see. My first inclination is that the slow speed jet size needs to be increased to the next size. My Sporty was very cold natured, and I put the next higher size in it and it seemed to improve. This is the first bike I have ever had cut out on me like that. I'm not sure what to do now. Is there a possibility my bike could be running too rich?

I apologize for the length of this post, but your help would be greatly appreciated. I'm not sure what kind of pipes are on it, but I have attached a picture of the bike so you can see a little better what I am running.

 

That's a fine lookin' sled. I have a carbed Fatboy that is very cold blooded;you gotta ride about 2-3 miles before it will idle with the choke in. You might wanna try cleaning the carb, or just bite the bullet & get a Mikuni. You will be amazed how much more power the Mikuni will give you;it's on my winter mod list for the Fatty.

Is your idle set high enough?

 

Thanks for the compliment. I have it set at a good idle. I actually increased it a tick from what my dad had it set on.

 

All of my carb problems ended after I sent it to Bob Wood of Woods Cams. It ran perfect for the next five years. He knows carbs.

 

Sounds like you are sucking air from somewhere. I would check the intake manifold very carefully for leaks. I also wouldn't mess with the carb jetting just yet. Get a factory service manual too.

 

Spray WD 40 around the intake while it is idling, even with the choke on if you have to. Any change will show a vacuum leak, most likely between the intake and head.

 

Thanks, I wil definitely look at the intake manifold.

 

pull the plugs, they will tell you!

 

+1 with pulling the plugs. They are your window to the combustion chamber. Does your dad remember what was done with carb or did he buy it that way. Three turns on the fuel/air screw seems awful high, have you tried 2 1/2 turns? Some thing is telling me you may have a Dynojet kit in it.

 

As Flamed FXR said,spray the intakes with starting fluid at idle.If it jumps you have an intake leak. Replace the rubbers(compliance fittings) or install a solid intake and be done with problem.