I'm riding again after almost 15 years. But now I'm having 2 little problems that have me stumped.

1) I'm having a problem with my 03 XL1200 not wanting to start again after short breaks. It started a few weeks ago and has gotten worse. Cold starts are as normal, but once the engine has warmed, it starts giving me problems.

2) The enricher has become possessed. It was getting hard to pull, so I added a little lithium grease. Now it won't stay where I pull it. Keeps going back to about 1/4 out. Then, when I want it all the way in, it will pop out to about 1/4. I've been able to get it to stay most of the time by giving it a little twist one way or the other. My first thought was the little plastic ring, but that is tight. If I go any tighter, I'm afraid it will break.

Any ideas from anyone?

 

I am having the exact same problem. 2003 Night Train Carbureted Bike starts fine when its cold, but when I ride for awhile and stop for fuel or a break, after 5-10 minutes it doesn't want to start back up. I have heard it could be a carburetor or ignition problem. Bike is going to shop next week to find out.

 

Your description is very similar to my problem. I hadn't thought carbs or ignition because it just acts like when you forget to pull out the choke on a cold start. I also assumed it was all choke related because of my little choke not staying out or popping out problem.

 

My bike will start without the choke when its cold, I just have the problem after it has been ridden for awhile. I posted about this under the softail section, and someone said to check the spark plugs. Bike may be running too rich. I am going to get new plugs tomorrow

 

The manual for my old '92 FXDC specifically said not to grease the choke cable for this very reason. DOH!

 

If I remember correctly when I had mine off there's a spring on the enrichener. The little plastic ring adjusts the sliding resistance on the cable. You have to loose the nut on the back side of the bracket to adjust it. The grease may not have been a good idea.

 

DOH! is right. My manual says not to also. So last night I took the choke cable off the bracket and cleaned up the grease w/ a little petroleum ether.

Choke problem solved- still nowhere on the warm start. I just had the 10k service at the dealership last month/ 1200 miles ago. New plugs, filters, etc.

I checked ignition last night and everything tests ok. This started before my choke issue, but as I've mentioned before, it seems like the bike's not getting enough fuel. Check fuel lines?

 

I don't know much about carbs, but maybe the slow jet is clogged.