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General Topics/Tech TipsDiscussion on break in periods, rider comfort, seats and pad suggestions. Tech tips as they become available will be posted here.
Can someone please help! My dad just bought a 1996 Harley Roadking a few days ago. He hit a dip and the bike died out. It sounds like it wants to start but wont turnover. The lights are working still. He put gas in the carburetor and it started up. Thats about all I know other than the fact he has been trying to fix this almost nonstop for 3 days! Any advice or thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
Since it started when fuel was added directly to the carb., remove gas line/hose from the petcock and make sure you are getting fuel from the tank. There will be a filter in the tank to check if no gas coming out the petcock...b.
there should be a petcock and it is vacuum operated so if the line is compromised, fuel will not flow. for a grins and giggles test, use a large syringe with the plunger out, and the tip stuck into the hose to the carb and filled it fuel. if it runs till the gasoline is used, petcock is the issue. if the vacuum line is ok, drain the tank and remove the petcock and check screen and stand pipe for clogging. apply vacuum to petcock diapgram nipple and check for open circuit. personally, i do not use a vacuum petcock but you MUST remember to turn the fuel off when not in use.
now if that doesn't work, look for plugged inlet needle inside the carb.
I removed the vac petcock on my fatboy an replaced it with a standard one to take that potential problem out....ethanol is hard on rubber gas lines so I replaced mine every few years...it affects the inside so you won't see it breaking down. you can use a mini vac to put some vacuum on the petcock/fuel valve. probably wouldn't hurt to pull the bowl off the bottom of the carb an look for gunk floating it in.
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