carb problems
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: michigan
carb problems
Hey ppl newbie here so i hope I'm posting in the right place... i got a 94 sporty 1200 with carb issues its a s&s e . Its leaking gas out of the over flo so i cleaned it out 2 times and put it back together and it still leaks i checked the needle and seat and it looks fine i called s&s and thwy said replace it anyway any help here would be great also i went as far as putting a inline filter on the gas line to and still having issues can a not well ventilated gas cap or tank vent be the issue any suggestions would be great thanks !!!
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
Hi from the UK and welcome to HDF, fellow S&S carb owner here! Your bike is over 20 years old and the carb is also likely to be old, so I recommend you give it a special treat and buy an overhaul kit for it. That will include all the rubber parts and gaskets, so you will effectively have a new carb when you're done. Also drain the gas tank, remove the gas tap and flush out any muck you find in there, clean the filter on the tap. By the time you've finished you should have sorted most if not all the problems than can plague an older carb! You will find an info sheet on the S&S website, which you can print off, also a Quick Carb Guide.
Hope that helps!
Hope that helps!
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,029
Likes: 449
From: Michigan
If it's leaking gas out of the overflow you have a needle and seat problem or your float is not set to the proper height. Check to make sure your float is set to the proper drop, if not bend the small metal tang on the end where it contacts the needle to adjust it.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
Rats! Mine's over 7 years old and been trouble free (touch wood!). Your gas cap shouldn't have that sort of affect, they are more likely to starve a carb of fuel, by creating a partial vacuum in the tank. We obviously need to put on our thinking caps, to solve your leak!
Last edited by grbrown; Jul 31, 2015 at 10:07 AM.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 486
Likes: 35
From: St. Louis Mo.
Check the manual on how to set the float. It is different than most carbs as there is a spring involved. Mine stuck the other day, took it apart, could not see any reason for it to stick. Gave it a light cleaning, blew it out with comp. air and it's been doing fine ever since. Who knows? Sometimes the mop just doesn't flop right. Watch out for the float pin, it only comes out one direction on mine.
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: michigan
I was told by s&s there is a small plunger on the needle a ball baring i guess the guy said make sure that is seated ?? Also i did not see a spring in my carb unless you are talking about the 90 degree lil wire that holds the needle to the float????
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: michigan
Check the manual on how to set the float. It is different than most carbs as there is a spring involved. Mine stuck the other day, took it apart, could not see any reason for it to stick. Gave it a light cleaning, blew it out with comp. air and it's been doing fine ever since. Who knows? Sometimes the mop just doesn't flop right. Watch out for the
float pin, it only comes out one
direction on mine.
float pin, it only comes out one
direction on mine.
I was told by s&s there is a small plunger on the needle a ball baring i guess the guy said make sure that is seated ?? Also i did not see a spring in my carb unless you are talking about the 90 degree lil wire that holds the needle to the float????
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
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
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025
Verdad Gallardo
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,036
Likes: 45
From: Florida
The inlet needle has a small rubber tip on it. If it's deformed in anyway or has marks on it like a ring, get rid of it and replace it. If it doesn't sit properly fuel will continue to flow. Make sure that the brass (could be brass) seat where the inlet needle inserts to has no marks on it and is clean. Make sure it's seated also, it could have come loose. Also check the tab that holds the inlet needle, hopefully it did not get bent.
The other culprit could be the float. Make sure they are sitting properly and also check that it has free play up and down and does not hang up in any way. Not sure what kind of floats they use on those carbs, look at the floats also and verify that they are not cracked and letting fuel inside of them.
The other culprit could be the float. Make sure they are sitting properly and also check that it has free play up and down and does not hang up in any way. Not sure what kind of floats they use on those carbs, look at the floats also and verify that they are not cracked and letting fuel inside of them.
Last edited by Cool Inferno; Jul 31, 2015 at 10:57 AM.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 486
Likes: 35
From: St. Louis Mo.
I did not see a ball bearing? Yes that spring allows the needle to seat before the float stops moving if the carb is slowly turned upside down, therefore the float height should be level with the float bowl when the needle seats, not when the float stops moving. I know it doesn't make sense but check the manual. Let me know if you figure it out.