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Got a bit fed up with the splutterin,fartin and burping standard carb on my 84FXWG and yesterday fitted a new S&S E type shorty.
Must say the improvement is out of sight!. It idles better and rides better all round.
With the new kit you get this support bracket, (first picture) that is supposed to fix to the bolt between the cylinders and the lower flange bolt of the carb above.(behind cover)
Because this bike has the fatter 5 gallon tanks there is a very small gap between the carb air filter cover and the bottom of the tank(maybe 4-5mm).
Without that bracket attached.
When I try to install that bracket and tighten it up it somehow raises the height of the air filter cover so it may as well be touching the bottom of the tank. It's like the geometry of the bracket is slightly askew.
With out the support bracket I can get a small gap between air filter cover and tank (second picture).
So, just wondering if I should expect trouble down the track by not using the support bracket at all?
I should add that I realise the bracket fits better one way around than the other.
Intake leak with all the unsupported weight will visit soon enough. My bracket goes to the front rockerbox from 3 o clock on the backing plate.
Yeah, the kit comes with 2 different support brackets, The one like yours is for some models but won't fit on my model by a country mile.
Thanks for posting the pictures too.
Did you make that bracket yourself or did it come with the carb kit?.
Love my S&S carb on my shovel too. I have the same set-up as you with the fat bob tanks. I bought the bike with the carb on it and it does have the support bracket. When I get home tonight I’ll take a look at the clearance between the carb and tanks. Worst case is you need to fabricate which every Shovel owners knows well!
I recently installed 5 gallon tanks on my 1984 FXEF. I have an S&S air cleaner on a Keihin carb. My new to me tank was going to ride on top of the air cleaner. Since it was a new to the bike install, I bent the top front mount tab on the right tank which gave me a huge amount of clearance. I shimmed the bottom front tab with a few washers so that it hung stress free. The rear was fine but it would be no big deal to add or subtract washers there.
Way back we used to be notch the back of the S&S covers to fit around 5 gallon tanks. U need the support bracket maybe it can be shortened?
Yep ... seen them notched too ... You DEFINITELY need support ... The carb will "fall off" ... Seen it happen .. and of course the Shovels were known for intake leaks with either the band type of o-ring type seals ... I have a bracket from the rocker box to the backing plate too
The S&S Super E on my shovel is supported by a bracket I fabbed out of flat steel that goes from the center bolt between the cylinders to the body of the air cleaner. You may have to eyeball where and how much to make the bends.
I used the flat of the engine timing cover 'cone' to make the carb parallel. No movement, no leaks. Oh, and good 'O' ring placement with quality aircraft intake brackets.
anything you end up with to hold the carb and air filer in place -- CAN not influence the manifold in any way shape or form - or it will never run right again - 2000 different jets wont help
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S&S carb support bracket.
