Waking from a 30 year slumber
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 400
Likes: 1
From: se ohio
would explain both, maybe pull your spark plugs and take a look at them, ill bet they are black with soot, any chance of getting a different needle and seat? are you sure the float hight is right?? what about a small hole in the float maybe? need to get the needle to seat, if it keeps leaking fuel you will be doing a top end soon, i wouldn't run it till you get it right, is the little spring on the needle? maybe you can try to "lap" the needle into the seat,thie would require a very light touch and some laping compound( with the seat removed from the carb)
... Idle is set high, still need to tinker with the low speed screw and idle settings. ... the bike would smoke a little ... It did shut down waiting in traffic, started after some throttle twisting, after which I set idle to about 1500 and it didn't die anymore. It gave a backfire, pop kind of sound once while sitting in traffic. Throttle response is good, I can twist it hard and it responds. When I parked the bike after the ride it looked like the carb was still "drinking" from the tank but nothing was coming out of the overflow, is this normal?
If so this will wash the oil out of the cylinders and could cause serious problems. Anyway, it means most likely that the float level in the carb is not correct - it is not shuting off; or that there is a bit of crud keeping the needle from seating.
So this needs to be fixed. Best way to do this is with an off-the-bike setup like the stand i illustrated earlier. Yup, you gotta spend some cash on some tools and etc.
Smoking, single backfire, pop are not a big concern. Get the idle speed and pilot screw set first. Idle speed should be set to about 1000 RPM, perhaps a little less [950?], when the engine is fully warmed up. The pilot screw should be set at the same time to give best idle quality.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 400
Likes: 1
From: se ohio
well i just went out and checked my stock keihin carb, needle without the little retainer spring is .600 wich is about what yours looks like if you didn't measure the clip,too bad you wasn't closer i would donate my carb ill never switch back away from the cv, i would get another needle and try it the float-needle and seat are the only thing that stops fuel flow
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 400
Likes: 1
From: se ohio
well i just went out and checked my stock keihin carb, mine is a 3 sided needle,needle without the little retainer spring is .650 wich is about what yours looks like if you didn't measure the clip, i would get another needle and try it the float-needle and seat are the only thing that stops fuel flow
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 400
Likes: 1
From: se ohio
dam new computer keeps resending everything lol anyway the needle itself is .600 and with the little sping loaded "tit" its about .650
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
From: Bellmawr NJ
The needle does have its spring, and after the first 5 mile ride I took to go get gas it did not flow (or drink) while the bike was turned off. It was after the 12 mile ride when it was parked at the tire place that I noticed fuel was flowing into the carb. The float was set by the mechanic at the indie shop who cleaned out the seat.
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 18,575
Likes: 4
From: Norfolk, VA
Congrats on your new scoot, but please reconsider the POR 15! I've never had good luck with it personally.
Recommend that you take the tank to a Radiator Shop in your area. The have the chemicals, ( ones you can't get,) to clean and seal the tank professionally, just like they do with radiators.
Recommend that you take the tank to a Radiator Shop in your area. The have the chemicals, ( ones you can't get,) to clean and seal the tank professionally, just like they do with radiators.
A friend used a product called CREEM to seal a gas tank and it wound up turning back into liquid after a few months and completely clogged his petcock/screen...Luckily he was close to home when the motor shut off!!!!