Ironhead A place to talk about Ironheads.

Setting Idle

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 27, 2011 | 09:20 AM
  #11  
Neal Perez's Avatar
Neal Perez
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
Default

Just got a quick look at the tach during idle - looks to be about 1100 RPM?

I think it sounds like a good running IronHead at idle. I don't think it is missing or anything, just the lumpy IronHead sound. What to you and others think? This is difficult for me to judge

How come it goes so quiet when you rev it up? Is it just that the camera sound pickup is muffled?

Mick

Its jus me holding the camera and getting close to the bike and mufflyng the sound.

I think the idle speed could [should?] be turned down a wee bit to about 1000 RPM.


If i set it that low it sounds like it could die.

Going back to your original post, but it wont idle under about 900 RPM, what happens? Does it stall? If this is with a cold engine then ok, but it seems to me that it should idle at even lower RPM than that when fully warmed up. I would not set it that low, but it should still do it.

to my way of thinking its not a control idle that low, i know its not a good comparison but my Mustang with a blower and build motor sounds like it will die between turns of the motor but is due to cam and tunning and its a controled idle. am not sure i explained that ok enough.

if set the idle lower the red light indicating not charging starts to come on at idle, that would drive me nuts.

I think it could be i dont know the bike that well, or have another around to gauge. i have listened to some others in YOUTUBE and they sound great but i think many have cams also. dont know it could be that the grass is greaner on the other side.
 
Reply
Old Jan 27, 2011 | 11:59 AM
  #12  
scottfisher's Avatar
scottfisher
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 566
Likes: 3
From: rural ontario
Default

Hey Neal,
I watched it on my blackberry...sounds as good as any other video on this.

I wonder if you are new to the area you are in? Are there not riding clubs you could join? This type of tuning you need someone with you there with experience that you could learn from. Tuning by youtube is...um...challenging. Within the first year I had my harley I met people with the same and I asked and learned an overwhelming amount in a short time. Joined a local social/riding club...met some people with older bikes...and we started our own group. Look for some clubs in your area and meet some peope with the same style bikes and interests and talk and learn from them. It's the old grey-beards that'll teach you the most.
 
Reply
Old Jan 27, 2011 | 12:41 PM
  #13  
Neal Perez's Avatar
Neal Perez
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
Default

We have some local clubs that are OFF LIMITS, then saturday morning clubs and so on.
Am a little of a loner, very social but choose well who i hung out with, but houston is very large with surounding areas, am looking out there for anyone that i see riding an ironhead and when i do i guarantee you we will bullshit and posibility of doing some riding together. i been aproached by some riders with new machines and they had no idea even what my bike was, one guy we are going to ride for sure, and he was complaining to me about having small details on his bike that needed taking care of but not knowing how, and how they throw prices at him for what he thinks are small things, i told him we can fix it together. but am not complaining about not having A GAUGE, i love screwing with things, am not done with the carb yet, and i get so many pointers from you all that when i start my working on the bike i feel like i know what am doing, so its Ok.
 
Reply
Old Jan 27, 2011 | 08:25 PM
  #14  
IronMick's Avatar
IronMick
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 3,179
Likes: 118
From: London, ON Canada
Default

Originally Posted by Neal Perez
... if set the idle lower the red light indicating not charging starts to come on at idle, that would drive me nuts ...
Yes, but that is common. Generators do not charge at idle. I am lucky that with mine the light comes on so dimly at 1000 RPM that i can see it only at night. I also have a handlebar mounted voltmeter so i always know when it is/is not charging ...

 
Reply
Old Jan 27, 2011 | 09:07 PM
  #15  
scottfisher's Avatar
scottfisher
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 566
Likes: 3
From: rural ontario
Default

wow and a cup holder too!!! Is there an ash-tray somewhere in there I'm not seeing?

That's a busy set of bars.

I've got a mirror
and that's it.
 
Reply
Old Jan 27, 2011 | 10:28 PM
  #16  
Neal Perez's Avatar
Neal Perez
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
Default

The ashes from those small rolled cigarettes dont require ashtrays, ha ha. and by the way thats a beer can holder!!!

Where did you get the voltmeter? I have a hole that someone put on my gauge mount bracket in the center between the rpm gauge and speedometer, i could put a voltmeter in there but it would have to be small.
 
Reply
Old Jan 28, 2011 | 08:09 AM
  #17  
Mr Bentwrench's Avatar
Mr Bentwrench
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 542
Likes: 4
From: Louisville, KY
Default

Originally Posted by Neal Perez
Dear sir you are correct, i took the bolt and narrowed it down to an 8/32 coarse thread, but NO. so i will go back.
Using an extra long idle speed screw is a neat idea! My fingers are small so it hasn't been a big deal for me but a longer screw with a knurled head sure would be the a most excellent custom touch!

If not an 8-32, did you try metric? Check out something like an M4 allen head bolt in stainless. I was at the hardware store this week and what I would have bet money on as an SAE was actually metric. Can't tell by looking at them so be careful in other apps as well.
 
Reply
Old Jan 28, 2011 | 04:46 PM
  #18  
IronMick's Avatar
IronMick
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 3,179
Likes: 118
From: London, ON Canada
Default

Originally Posted by Mr Bentwrench
... If not an 8-32, did you try metric? ...
Good point! Keihin carb, made in Japan, must be metric.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-1

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jan 28, 2011 | 07:04 PM
  #19  
98Ultra's Avatar
98Ultra
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,000
Likes: 5
From: S.E. NC
Default

Originally Posted by IronMick
Yes, but that is common. Generators do not charge at idle. I am lucky that with mine the light comes on so dimly at 1000 RPM that i can see it only at night. I also have a handlebar mounted voltmeter so i always know when it is/is not charging ...

Seems that I read some where that the gen light should just flicker at the correct idle. Mine is not even flickering at this low an idle;
Click the pic

 
Reply
Old Jan 28, 2011 | 07:42 PM
  #20  
IronMick's Avatar
IronMick
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 3,179
Likes: 118
From: London, ON Canada
Default

Originally Posted by 98Ultra
Seems that I read some where that the gen light should just flicker at the correct idle. Mine is not even flickering at this low an idle ...
It does sound like it is idling a bit low. Do you have a tach? Does the light come on when you turn on the key?

I think there is great variability among working generators. I clean up my gen and measure the brushes once a year during winter project; replace brushes when down to 1/2". I don't know if this makes a difference.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:54 PM.

story-0
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-1
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-2
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-3
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-4
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-5
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE
story-8
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE
story-9
The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025

Slideshow: A clear-eyed look at what actually worked for Harley this year, and what quietly undermined its progress.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-29 17:10:48


VIEW MORE