HELP!
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2nd Gear
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 6
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HELP!
So I aqquired an 81 XLH Sportster and was riding it quite frequently. The previous owner had informed me when I got it that the plugs would foul on him about every 3 months. I don't believe he rode it quite as hard and often as I do. So I was having a problem with fouling plugs about every 3 weeks. I talked to a guy who rides a newer model Sporty, and he said that I wass burning really rich. I have all the service records from when the carb was tuned and jetted, but still fouling plugs. NOW, I have run in to the problem where my carb is coughing, and the bike just flat out won't run correctly. I took the carb off the bike and thouroughly cleaned it. I didn't replace anything just yet because I thought maybe there was some debris lodged in there somewhere that was causing a shortage of fuel or air. So I put it back on, and still have the coughing problem. Almost sounds like its getting WAY too much air and not enough fuel. I can snap the throttle and it will cough, and then it will start coughing and shut off even at idle. I do have drag pipes installed ( were on when I bought it ) and Im not sure that the jets were set correctly after the work was done when the previous owner had it. So thats where I stand right now... a sick bike.
Any ideas to look at will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Any ideas to look at will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,069
Likes: 27
From: Iowa
RE: HELP!
Do you have a Harley Service Manualand PartsManual for it?
If not, get them.
No shop works on bikes without them.
Make sure you have the pushrods adjusted right.
Make sure you have good compression.
Make sure the intake manifold is solid and not leaking.
Find out just what jets the carb has in it.
The bike came with a 1.60 main and a .68 low speed jet.
If they're not there then put them in.
Put in the plugs the manual says to.
Gap them as the manual says.
Adjust the carb as per the manual and then ride the bike and read the plugs.
The color of the plugs will tell you what to do.
If not, get them.
No shop works on bikes without them.
Make sure you have the pushrods adjusted right.
Make sure you have good compression.
Make sure the intake manifold is solid and not leaking.
Find out just what jets the carb has in it.
The bike came with a 1.60 main and a .68 low speed jet.
If they're not there then put them in.
Put in the plugs the manual says to.
Gap them as the manual says.
Adjust the carb as per the manual and then ride the bike and read the plugs.
The color of the plugs will tell you what to do.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,134
Likes: 146
From: texas
RE: HELP!
just to make sure---is it carbon fouled or oil fouled?didnt know if the sporty guy was guessing or actually saw the plugs.curious what it will do with new plugs and also verify if its the correct ones.--------i know its not a silver bullet.
Thread Starter
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2nd Gear
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
RE: HELP!
Upon further inspection of my plugs... I found that they were both "richly" burned. The rear plug had a bit of oil spatter on it though. ( More than I would think should be on there ) So I replaced plugs, and am having the same problem. I think I have a leak somewhere in there and I am going to find it. I'm just going to wait on my factory manual and parts book to go any further. I do have mechanical knowledge, just not on bikes. SO for now... I'll just wait until the books get here, and go from there. Thanks for your input guys. MUCH appreciated.
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 351
Likes: 0
From:
RE: HELP!
You should e-mail S&S and get the tuning specs for your carb. They are one of the easiest to tune. Do you have the carb & air filter supported with a bracket? If not the weight of the carb & filter will eventually cause intake leaks and a "sneeze". Also, when you removed your carb did you remove the carb from the intake, or did you pull the intake and all from the heads? The latter is not a good idea because it's hard to get the intake tight against the heads with the carb hanging from it, plus when you get in there to tighten the clamps everything gets moved. You can get right to the carb bolts by just removing the ignition/horn bracket and letting it hang. Put the intake on first, then install the carb. Then make sure everything is mounted solid and start with the idle mixture.
A great place to get manuals & parts books for all Harley Davidsons is Buffalo Motorcycle Works. They do a ton of business on E-Bay. Fast & reliable.
A great place to get manuals & parts books for all Harley Davidsons is Buffalo Motorcycle Works. They do a ton of business on E-Bay. Fast & reliable.
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Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 161
Likes: 1
RE: HELP!
go to www.sscycle.com and click the "technical" tab, then click "instruction manual" and look for "carburetor super g and e" and click this. This will give you the step by step instructions for fine tuning your carb.
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