A few questions....I have a 94 thru 99 Heritage that I built up from a wrecked basket, new 99 evo motor and tranny, 94 everyting else. The only mods are a screamin eagle air cleaner kit, V&H Long shots, and a rejetting of the stock cv carb. The bike has 15K on it now and has ran pretty much ok. Normal riding consists of going to work, (15 miles), and various rides of 100 miles or so, with a 300 mile job every now and then. I changed over to H-D synthetic this change on the opinions of my mechanic buddy at the H-D shop, its in all three holes. I'm waiting to see how I like it. My motor has a preference for the H-D double platnum plugs and I run premium fuel with an inline filter.

I would like thoughts on improving the performance of my bike, namely when going the interstate route, (75-80 mph), I notice a mixture of oil/gas along the oil bag, saddle bag, my leg, etc. which has come out of the air cleaner, the bike seems to deaden out at higher speeds or going uphill, or into a strong wind. The more I open the throttle, I hear and know, that its not gonna get any better, (engine response/power). I know the carbs wide open, ( I think), but I dont get the response I want, or need sometimes when in a passing situation. The fuel or oil or both that is coming back out at higher revs is frustrating.

Thoughts on ignition parts....the bike runs well on those double platnum harley plugs....of course my local shop doesnt carry them...they are in the friggin catalog...come on!! It seems the motor likes them anyways, no fouling like I get with standard plugs. I think I need to just find a gross of those platnum jobbies and then I will be set....!!

Another thought is the dang primary drive chain, any thoughts on that M6 chain tensioner. I can never seem to get that thing, (mine is a stock one), set right. Is the M6 worth the bucks or have I got mine to tight, I have this whinning noise now after the last adjustment, kinda like I sound right?

Now, just so you know, money is a BIG thing here, (Im divorced with 3 kids), I am leaning towards a carb change of some sort, or another rejet, I dont know.

I would like any thoughts on carbs, plugs, oil (in moderation), etc. Im looking at this winter to change things depending on ideas and availiable moneys. Thanks.

 

If you are fouling regular plugs, and are seeing what appears to be a loss of power at the top end, I'd suggest taking a look at the carb jetting. Sounds like a too-rich condition. Also check the compression, and maybe do a leakdown test.

Another thought is you might even be starving for fuel at the top end with the inline fuel filter in addition to the in-tank filter. But the plug fouling would seem to indicate too rich somewhere in the carb circuits.

Check here for a good thing to do on your carb: http://www.nightrider.com/

The blow-by you're getting at freeway speeds is not uncommon. Is this a head-breather engine? (I forget when HD changed from the crankcase breather to the head breathers.) If so, the umbrella valves may be worn out. If it breathes from the crankcase the breather timing might be off, probably due to normal wear. In either case, simply re-routing the breather hoses from the intake to the ground will keep the mess off the side of the bike.

Several folks on here have used the M6 tensioner and have reported good results with it.

Oil? LOL, that's a great can to open up! I run Mobil 1 15w-50 car oil in the engine, Mobil 1 75w-90 or Castrol Syntec 75w-90 gear oil in the tranny, and Ford ATF in the primary. Almost any other synthetic oil is as good or better than the HD Syn 3, and most of 'em are less expensive. I wouldn't run any of it in the tranny, though, no matter what the MoCO says. Stick to a good gear oil. Another member here,TCSTD, reports good results with Redline synthetic in trannies.

 

What type of air filter? When's the last time you cleaned or replaced the air filter. I'm thinking you might have a filter that is oil saturated from the breather vents. Just a thought.

I agree with Skip get rid of the inline filter.


Good Luck
John TN

 

Thanks for the thoughts. The reason for the inline fuel filter is last year I had some poor performance and tracked it to a piece of junk in the main jet, which came from the rubber gasket in the fuel shut off valve. Just this spring I replaced the filter due to finding some more rubber pieces in the filter, these also came from the fuel valve gasket. Maybe a Pingel is in order. I just like the ease of mind of the filter in there I guess.

As for the plugs, I have been running the H-D double platums now and have great luck, they have the nice whitish chalky look to them and do me just fine. The only prob there is my local H-D shop doesnt carry them for whatever reason and like I said......hey they are in the darn catalog, I want a new set...lol.

The air cleaner/filter is a K&N screamin eagle kit, which includes the breather assembly, (head breather). I do clean it as per guidlines asnd the only time I notice probs is at higher speeds and or when I am really giving it the gas, like passing or uphill moments. Its as if the the motor or carb or whatever is saying....ok...here we are...no more power or whatever, I can tell when its happening by the sound of the carb if that makes any sense.

I know the oil question is a big deal for all, maybe I should have just left well enough alone....lol. I was thinking that just one oil for all holes is a lot easier...I dunno.

 

Skip has your answers. To me sounds like a rich running condition. Too often people think that if you get more fuel in the motor, it will run faster, but its all about the ratio of the mix. Try a rejet. As for the tensioner, sounds like you may have it too tight. Loosen it up a bit.

After reading your last post, if your plugs are white and chaulky then you have a lean running condition and you need more fuel. Try raising the slide needle two mm's and see if the running condition improves. This can be accomplished by placing 1mm flat washers under the slide needle. You may want to also increase the main jet by 5 to 10 points depending on your airbox config. A correct burn on a sparkplug should ressemble the look of a brown paper bag.

 

Kevin, I've pretty much given up reading spark plugs since no-lead fuel is used. Unless you really get out of whack with the fuel-air ratio, you have to follow the running/shutting off procedure exactly or the results will be misleading. Most folks don't know the procedure, let alone follow it.