My buddy just got his first Harley, a '99 Softail Standard 2 weeks ago. Since then he's had some issues on a cold start. It'll crank and fire, run for 15-20 seconds then die like it's out of fuel. He found a fix by taking the fuel line off the fuel shutoff valve and blowing into the hose that goes to the carb. After that he just hooks the line back up and it starts and runs with no problems. Doesn't seem to have the issue if he just stops for gas, usually only when it's been shut off for an hour or more. Please give us a hand figuring out what's wrong with it.

 

I assume he is using the choke on cold starts.

 

Yes he uses the choke when starting.

 

http://www.harley-performance.com/ha...arburetor.html
lots of carb info and you can email him also