The membrane is the accelerator pump. If you buy a carb kit and take your time, you can rebuild it and find the bike will run like new again! Just be sure to take your time and make sure everything goes back the way it came apart!

 

Thanks for the input guys...well I changed out all the rubbers in the carburetor, and amazingly got everything out back together, put fuel in the tank and am ready to get going. Well, maybe not so fast...I asked the guy in the local HD parts store what the best way to prime the carburetor would be and he said just to leave the air-filter off, turn the throttle until fuel starts squirting from the accelerator pump. I've been doing that until I no longer can feel my fore-arms (2-3 minutes ) but I'm getting no fuel, so clearly I am doing something wrong or I didn't put the pieces back together right. Any suggestions ???

 

Well...it sounds like you diagnosed your situation pretty well. Either take it to the shop, or if you want to do it yourself, get a parts or service manual.

 

I do have the repair manual--as stated in the original post, I would have been absolutely clueless without it. In any case, it turned out that I was given some misleading info by the guy at the HD store, and a little googling told me you can't prime it without vacuum. Well, I put everything back on, turned the throttle a few times, and voila...ignition. Wow...forgot how sweet the sound was .

Thanks guys!!

 

Yup...many stories of HD dealers, parts guys, etc. giving out bogus info. My local shop...Crow River HD has done pretty good for me. Over 90% of the time they give out good info...at least 2 of the parts guys.