cold natured
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 841
Likes: 58
From: Yakima
My 1998 883 is the same way. Gotta run it with the enriched **** part way out for at least 5 miles otherwise the carb will fart. I also have to pull the enricher out a little bit at red lights. After a long run I adjusted the idle screw just a hair And ran sea foam through the gas tank. Seemed to help a little bit. But everywhere I read I hear it's the nature of the beast. You get used to it and after a while it becomes second nature to mess with the enricher while riding.
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,439
Likes: 6
From: Route 66
My wife's 02' 1200 sportster with stock CV carb is the same way. I have a 98' Road King w/ Screamin' Eagle carb that is even worse takes it a good 10 minutes to line out. They both run great after they warm up. I have a 92' 1200 sporty with the CV and it doesn't do that and my 95' E Glide with a Mikuni carb, you would think it's fuel injected the way it starts. On it I twist the throttle twice and hit the button and it starts every time smoothe as a baby's a$$. I'm sure the first two bikes could use a little tweaking on the carbs but since they run great after they are warmed up I haven't bothered. They never fail to start, just their cold nature.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,139
Likes: 700
From: St. Clair Co., MO
Step up a size on the pilot jet, leave main jet alone. Remove cover/plug hiding idle mixture screw. Run idle mixture all the way in (gently) & back out 2 1/2 turns. Warm bike up completely, adjust idle mixture till it idles smoothly. Ought to be very close to "just right".
Trending Topics
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,950
Likes: 40
From: Christoval
Step up a size on the pilot jet, leave main jet alone. Remove cover/plug hiding idle mixture screw. Run idle mixture all the way in (gently) & back out 2 1/2 turns. Warm bike up completely, adjust idle mixture till it idles smoothly. Ought to be very close to "just right".
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,139
Likes: 700
From: St. Clair Co., MO
Thanks, man.
CV carbs are EASY to work on/tune. My '02 FXD was extremely cold blooded- anything below 60*F & I had to run the enrichener/choke a solid 3-4 miles 'fore she'd run right.
Over the winter, I put on a Ness "Stage 2" intake/air cleaner & Cycle Shack slip-ons. Stock 45/190 jets, stock spring, untouched slide & a '88 XL needle. Warms up right away, runs right, good throttle response & gas mileage went from 42mpg to 46-47mpg. Idle mixture took 3 turns out & still has a minor, occasional sneeze. Likely need to jump up to a 46 pilot jet, but waiting till the weather normalizes to decide.
Unless you've gotten seriously into the motor, the above will get your bike running the way it's supposed to. I'd advise, for the most part, against kits. Can't speak to how they work, tho I hear they tend to run rich & kill mileage. That said, I had a worked '94 Sporty that ran 12.9 quarters at 105mph & got 50-52mpg on the highway with a Yost Powertube & the '88 XL needle.
Besides, why pay $75-$80 for a kit, when $20 worth of jets & needle will do the same thing?
I'm no kinda carb guru- the CV is just very forgiving & easy to tune. Dead simple to work on & plenty of good tutorials on tuning. I'm a big fan of the SOTP dyno & reading plug color to dial 'em in.
CV carbs are EASY to work on/tune. My '02 FXD was extremely cold blooded- anything below 60*F & I had to run the enrichener/choke a solid 3-4 miles 'fore she'd run right.
Over the winter, I put on a Ness "Stage 2" intake/air cleaner & Cycle Shack slip-ons. Stock 45/190 jets, stock spring, untouched slide & a '88 XL needle. Warms up right away, runs right, good throttle response & gas mileage went from 42mpg to 46-47mpg. Idle mixture took 3 turns out & still has a minor, occasional sneeze. Likely need to jump up to a 46 pilot jet, but waiting till the weather normalizes to decide.
Unless you've gotten seriously into the motor, the above will get your bike running the way it's supposed to. I'd advise, for the most part, against kits. Can't speak to how they work, tho I hear they tend to run rich & kill mileage. That said, I had a worked '94 Sporty that ran 12.9 quarters at 105mph & got 50-52mpg on the highway with a Yost Powertube & the '88 XL needle.
Besides, why pay $75-$80 for a kit, when $20 worth of jets & needle will do the same thing?
I'm no kinda carb guru- the CV is just very forgiving & easy to tune. Dead simple to work on & plenty of good tutorials on tuning. I'm a big fan of the SOTP dyno & reading plug color to dial 'em in.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 9,980
Likes: 5,218
From: Michigan
A little off topic here but my wife's '99 Heritage seemed to develop this "cold natured" over a winter storage.
New intake seals (with a good carb cleaning) seemed to help a bit.
Intake seals are fairly cheap and on older bikes it's a good idea to replace them anyways.
New intake seals (with a good carb cleaning) seemed to help a bit.
Intake seals are fairly cheap and on older bikes it's a good idea to replace them anyways.