Softail Models Standard, Custom, Night Train, Deuce, Springer, Heritage, Fatboy, Deluxe, Rocker and Cross Bones.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Idle Issues???

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 3, 2011 | 09:25 PM
  #1  
lomogda's Avatar
lomogda
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Iraq
Exclamation Idle Issues???

I changed my throttle and idle cables the other day. After I got the new ones on and everything back together when I tried starting my bike I cant get it to idle like it did or even at all. I took the bike for a ride and rode for a good 15 miles but everytime I stopped I had to give alittle throttle to keep the idle up so it would cut off. I tried adjusting the cables by the throttle as much as possible and I also adjusted the screw on the carb. But my problem is I need to screw that idle screw in farther but the tension spring wont allow it to go down any farther.

My question is can I take that tension spring off and just adjust my idle or do I HAVE to have that tension spring on there. I had no issues with the bike at all until I did this and now shes a pain in the ***. The cables are the exact same length so I know its not that either.

Also It sounds like its missing now, Im sure I flooded it out while changing out the cables so I cleaned the plugs but it still misses, so should I just replace the plugs too? They dont look bad but like i said its still missing.

Below is a pic of the screw and spring im talking about
 
Attached Thumbnails Idle Issues???-2011-05-01_14-04-35_955.jpg  
Reply
Old May 3, 2011 | 10:15 PM
  #2  
DR. V-TWIN's Avatar
DR. V-TWIN
Former Sponsor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 19,364
Likes: 40
From: Los Angeles, CA
Default

I take it the bike is carbed?
 
Reply
Old May 3, 2011 | 10:41 PM
  #3  
lomogda's Avatar
lomogda
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Iraq
Default

yes it is
 
Reply
Old May 3, 2011 | 10:55 PM
  #4  
Jackie Paper's Avatar
Jackie Paper
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Community Builder
Liked
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,672
Likes: 6,463
From: Honah Lee
Default

The cables are the exact same length so I know its not that either.?? Not sure what you mean by this. Did you adjust them to a procedure in the service manual or what? If you do not have that I can post the instructions and pictures
 
Reply
Old May 3, 2011 | 11:07 PM
  #5  
lomogda's Avatar
lomogda
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Iraq
Default

Yea I checked out the service manual but really thats no help. I know the idle needs turned up and the only way that I know is by turnin the idle screw in on the carb.... but I cant because the sprong on it wont let the screw go down any farther
 
Reply
Old May 4, 2011 | 02:14 AM
  #6  
Rakthi's Avatar
Rakthi
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,493
Likes: 94
From: Belgium
Default

Isn't that spring I notice "floating" on your idle cable not supposed to be in the cable guide higher up? It will prevent you from tightening the idle cable too much by creating some pressure between the guide and the cable cover.

The attached illustration is from an EFI bike, but if I remember well the carburetors were similar (it's been over 15 year since I adjusted/looked at the throttle/idle cables on a carbureted harley)
 
Attached Thumbnails Idle Issues???-idle-cable.jpg  

Last edited by Rakthi; May 4, 2011 at 02:17 AM.
Reply
Old May 4, 2011 | 08:42 AM
  #7  
bikersurgeon's Avatar
bikersurgeon
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 325
Likes: 1
From: missouri
Default

to answer one of your questions, NO you should not take the idle screw tensioner spring off....if you do then carry a screwdriver with you at all times.
 
Reply
Old May 4, 2011 | 08:48 AM
  #8  
V-Twins & Bowties's Avatar
V-Twins & Bowties
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,268
Likes: 507
From: Florida
Default

Originally Posted by Rakthi
Isn't that spring I notice "floating" on your idle cable not supposed to be in the cable guide higher up? It will prevent you from tightening the idle cable too much by creating some pressure between the guide and the cable cover.

The attached illustration is from an EFI bike, but if I remember well the carburetors were similar (it's been over 15 year since I adjusted/looked at the throttle/idle cables on a carbureted harley)
Exactly this. Spring on cable should be inside of cable guide. Back off the screw till the shinier threads aren't visual. If bike ran well before you worked on it then it's something you did or didn't do.
 

Last edited by V-Twins & Bowties; May 4, 2011 at 08:53 AM.
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-5

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-6

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
Old May 4, 2011 | 10:06 AM
  #9  
lomogda's Avatar
lomogda
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Iraq
Default

alright thanks I'll give that a try and see if that helps. But I dont really think that will help the difference in idle??
 
Reply
Old May 4, 2011 | 10:08 AM
  #10  
lomogda's Avatar
lomogda
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Iraq
Default

that spring wasnt even on my last cable thats why I really didnt pay to much attention to were it went
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:23 AM.

story-0
Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

Slideshow: Killer Custom's latest build relies on styling changes rather than performance upgrades, giving the cruiser an entirely different personality.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 18:28:05


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

Slideshow: From military-inspired singles to scooters and three-wheel utility vehicles, these Harleys took the company far outside its comfort zone.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-02 18:34:10


VIEW MORE
story-2
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-3
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-4
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-5
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-6
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-7
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-8
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-9
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