Hey all,

I am a first time Harley owner and a new owner of 1991 Springer Softail and I am getting gas coming out of my overflow tube from the carb ( S&S ). Can I clean the float without taking the whole carburetor off? If so do I need to rejet or adjust carbs or just the float level?
Also, my petcock is doesn't seem to be working because I have run out of gas twice and turned to reserve and it is empty. The reason I bring that up is I was told to run the bike w/petcock turned to OFF until it runs out of gas and that may fix the float but it never runs out of gas w/petcock on off. I would appreciated any advice. Thanks!

 

Hey howdy
My 91 FXSTC started doing exact same things as yours. Petcock removed and checked. In the OFF position NO flow through the valve as expected. OFF refers to no flow on the petcocks. For the overflowing fuel, I took the carb off, air cleaner bolts hold it on- essentially. Pulled bowl off and no debris or dirt seen. Cleaned, reassembled and wala - no improvement. Petcock may have been incorrectly assembled at factory but I doubt it as the valve cone attaches to the lever only one way???
The bowl will have to come off again, better cleaning job with low pressure air to help clean jets etc. check the float setting and float valve tab being bent correctly.??
When an older used fuel line is removed and reinstalled small pieces of the inside of the hose can come off and clog the freshly cleaned bowl. good luck, I'll get back to mine shortly.

 

About the petcock not working and carb overflowing. On mine it was debris getting past screen filter on petcock. Fixed that. If the reserve is set to ON, your tank should empty - that drains your reserve.

 

Original post was 2009.... I hope the guy got the float issue worked out....