Sportster throttle problems.
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3rd Gear
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 7
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From: TN
Sportster throttle problems.
So I bought my first bike a couple of weeks ago. It's a 2001 883 and would start with choke on but would sputter out and die if I took the choke off or tried to rev the bike.
I cleaned the fuel filter and pet **** a week ago, and cleaned out the carb and put a new intake gasket and o ring in the carb Saturday. The bike ran fairly well Saturday night aside from a few times the carb (I'm assuming) coughed and I lost throttle for a second or two.
Yesterday, I went to take it down the road and as soon as I pulled out and went to accelerate, the coughed lost throttle and died. Fired up, revved, then again when I went to accelerate, it sputtered and died.
I adjusted the mixture screw slightly and took it out this evening, and it's still wanting to cough and lose throttle randomly. I'm at the point of taking it to a local indie tomorrow, if I don't get it figured out.
I cleaned the fuel filter and pet **** a week ago, and cleaned out the carb and put a new intake gasket and o ring in the carb Saturday. The bike ran fairly well Saturday night aside from a few times the carb (I'm assuming) coughed and I lost throttle for a second or two.
Yesterday, I went to take it down the road and as soon as I pulled out and went to accelerate, the coughed lost throttle and died. Fired up, revved, then again when I went to accelerate, it sputtered and died.
I adjusted the mixture screw slightly and took it out this evening, and it's still wanting to cough and lose throttle randomly. I'm at the point of taking it to a local indie tomorrow, if I don't get it figured out.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
If you want your bike to run right asap and are stuck trying to work out what is wrong, that is a wise decision. We can offer suggestions which require you to try a variety of things. Your bike is 17 years old and if, like many bikes, it has only had occasional use, O-rings and seals etc can perish or harden in that time. My suggestion is to buy a proper carb rebuild kit, which comes with every perishable item in your carb, most of which it seems you have reused. I suspect an indy will start by doing just that, but as he can see and feel your bike, he should be able to diagnose the likely problem quicker than us in here.
Thread Starter
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3rd Gear
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 7
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From: TN
I have a rebuild kit. I should have replaced everything while I had it broken down, but they guy I had helping me just wanted to fix the known problem and see how that helped it.
I talked to the indie and was told his workload right now it could be 4 weeks before he can get to it, so that means I'm going to have to figure it out.
Does anyone have a trick to adjust the mixture while the bike is running? I can't get to it without burning myself.
I'm going to start with the mixture and try to one by one narrow things down. I'll try to rebuild the carb at some point this week.
I talked to the indie and was told his workload right now it could be 4 weeks before he can get to it, so that means I'm going to have to figure it out.
Does anyone have a trick to adjust the mixture while the bike is running? I can't get to it without burning myself.
I'm going to start with the mixture and try to one by one narrow things down. I'll try to rebuild the carb at some point this week.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
There are various rubber parts in your carb, any of which may have stopped functioning, such as the rubber-tipped float needle and the accelerator pump, so until all that lot is changed you can't be confident the carb is as good as it can be. As for adjusting the mixture, try a suitable glove, or take your time and make small adjustments while it's cool, run and test, repeat until things are better. But don't do that until you've rebuilt it!
Thread Starter
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3rd Gear
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: TN
Sorry for the delay. I've got an update.
I ended up getting a carb from killer mc products. I didn't feel like I had the time to go through mine properly.
I cleaned the rust from the tank, replaced the fuel line, installed the new carb, and fired her up. It idles good once it gets warm and pulls pretty good through the gears, but at lower throttle/revs is still wants to sporadically cough and pop. I adjusted the mixture just slightly with no change.
I ended up getting a carb from killer mc products. I didn't feel like I had the time to go through mine properly.
I cleaned the rust from the tank, replaced the fuel line, installed the new carb, and fired her up. It idles good once it gets warm and pulls pretty good through the gears, but at lower throttle/revs is still wants to sporadically cough and pop. I adjusted the mixture just slightly with no change.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,591
Likes: 4,021
From: San Diego, CA
Sorry for the delay. I've got an update.
I ended up getting a carb from killer mc products. I didn't feel like I had the time to go through mine properly.
I cleaned the rust from the tank, replaced the fuel line, installed the new carb, and fired her up. It idles good once it gets warm and pulls pretty good through the gears, but at lower throttle/revs is still wants to sporadically cough and pop. I adjusted the mixture just slightly with no change.
I ended up getting a carb from killer mc products. I didn't feel like I had the time to go through mine properly.
I cleaned the rust from the tank, replaced the fuel line, installed the new carb, and fired her up. It idles good once it gets warm and pulls pretty good through the gears, but at lower throttle/revs is still wants to sporadically cough and pop. I adjusted the mixture just slightly with no change.
John
Thread Starter
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3rd Gear
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: TN
45 pilot 175 main and mixture was set at 2 1/4. I'm turned it up just a bit.
Yep, I pulled the manifold and changed the seals.
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HDF Community Team
Joined: Dec 2011
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From: San Diego, CA
I think mine's set at about 2.5 out IIRC. Jetting sounds fine, new seals good. Keep on it.
John
John
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Thread Starter
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3rd Gear
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: TN
So far adjusting the mixture hasn't made a difference. It's rideable, just annoying, especially at take off from a light.
I was looking at a thread or web page going over possible causes. The only thing I can think of that I have not done is to check the timing, ignition, and coils. The plugs are new.
I was looking at a thread or web page going over possible causes. The only thing I can think of that I have not done is to check the timing, ignition, and coils. The plugs are new.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,591
Likes: 4,021
From: San Diego, CA
So, your accelerator pump nozzle puts out a decent stream? And, the stream is pointed at the needle in the vacuum slide? Does the RPM change when you turn the adjustment screw (I know, it's hard to do, they make an extended screw that's easier to get at). Is this the new carburetor you bought?
John
John