So bare with me I did some things without doing the proper research and now I'm working on fixing the consequences.

Firstly, I have a 1997 XLH1200s. Mostly stock I think. 8k miles. I recently started working on upgrading everything I could, and some of my upgrades maybe not the best idk.
I think it's the stock exhaust, no baffles.

upgraded the AC to Arlen Ness Inverted series (pic included)

I'll share a link to the AC for a better look.
Arlen Ness Inverted Series 10-Gauge Black Air Cleaner Kit

even have a new daymaker headlamp on there which is absolutely amazing.
She's an ugly little bugger but we're getting there slowly but surely.


Ok introduction over, you might have noticed the two increase to the air flow and figured out where this is going, though the title is a dead giveaway. I'm relatively confident that the jetting as well as the carb itself are stock. I need to change that. but I don't really know what kind of numbers I should be getting on the jets. I could possibly find it but I'm asking here to see what other people have had to do. I would love to upgrade the exhaust, but I'm picky I want black or black chrome, I hate this silvery stuff with a passion. and jpcycles only has a tiny handful they think will fit this bike. Until then I could really use some advice on the jets, I've torn the carb apart before and given it a deep clean so I'm not too worried about getting lost, If you could help me out with what the stock numbers should be (I'd like to confirm before ordering either way), and then what you suggest I should raise it by.

Current issues you might be able to guess, heavy popping on decel and occasionally on ignition, and since the new ac I've gotten more backfiring upon acceleration, not often or anything just more than I'm used to.





If anyone was interested in this air cleaner I can describe it a little bit.

it sticks out a good inch, inch and a half more than the stock AC did which makes it difficult to get the rear brakes properly. You can actually hear the airflow upto about 20-25 which is pretty crazy... at least I think that's what that hissing sound is lol. The install was relatively easy, but it came with something Arlen calls an Oil Reservoir. it is mentioned on the instructions but not very clearly and apparently it's a recently invention of theirs because I can't find anything online about it, thus until they email me back I'm not going to try putting it on.

This air filter uses a synthetic material which supposedly does not need to be oiled, and can be washed and reused when it gets too dirty. only time will tell.

Lastly, I'm a trucker, and that Igloo cooler was totally worth it if for some reason you were wondering. ignore the mess I've been away most of the past few years. And the speakers I installed look absolutely ridiculous on this little bike. and besides the terrible wiring job I rather like them.

 

It seems most of us install a 45 pilot jet. For a 1200, I would think at least a 180-185 mainjet. Be sure to remove the small metal cap over the Idle Mixture Screw so you can adjust the idle mixture. A good start for the screw is 2 1/2 turns OUT from LIGHTLY seated. You can use the "idle drop" method to fine tune after that.

BTW, those "H" style pipes and some good slip on mufflers will give you probably the best performance you're going to find, short of going to a 2-1 system, which may be hard to find for your year bike. Your bike looks to already have some aftermarket slip ons, so you might just save your money for something else.

How big is that Igloo cooler? 48 QT? It's a plug in? I've got a "knockoff" Yeti from Walmart, but my friend's "real" YETI cooler seems to keep ice much longer. I guess you get what you pay for. I just got back from 3 weeks camping and flyfishing Wyoming, so dealing with coolers and ice was part of the adventure. I also travel to Baja a lot so a good cooler is always needed.

John

 

The Igloo Cooler is a 40 qt and plugs in to the 12-volt outlet in most vehicles, I think it may have come with a standard plug as well but if it did I lost mine as I never needed it. It'll keep the interior upto 36 degrees f colder than the ambient temperature of your vehicle, meaning in the winter for instance if you left it plugged in it would have no problems freezing everything inside. It also runs fairly quietly compared to the other brands I've gotten, you could take a look at it or buy it from most Love's truckstops and even most of the TA's and Petro's you'll find around the US....


To be honest I have no idea what the stock exhaust would have looked like, the last owner may have mentioned these being aftermarket but it's been a few years and I can't remember clearly anymore. If these are slip-ons then it could greatly improve my chances of finding another set I like more though, I always filter slips out when I'm looking lol.

You seem to be right about the 45 pilot, I was a little confused because so many people refer to these as the low speed jets and the main as the high. I've never heard of the "idle drop" method so I'll have to find a video on it and see. I work nights so getting work done on the bike hasn't been particularly easy, but I'm hoping to get it done before the weekend as I have a friend visiting who also rides.

 

"ugly little bugger..."

What?!? Hell, no! She's a lovely old girl. I love the mid to late 90's Sportys.

Like John said, that exhaust will probably be just the thing. I'm an S&S carb guy, so all I can say is what I've done. See how she runs as you've got it, then bump up a notch at a time if needed.

 

I've just looked at it and it's got the HD logo on the carb so I'm pretty confident it's stock, can't wait to pull it off and see whether the last owner every touched it though.

I guess she ain't too bad to look at but I have grand visions lol. I want it to be blacked out but it's a 97' I'm having hell finding any decent parts right now that look the way I want it to. I'm not much of a mechanic, I can take things apart and usually put them back together, but I haven't got a lot of knowledge that would be really good to have for this type of work. I really need a book for it to be honest, but they're more expensive than any of the manuals I've bought before.

 

Have got a service manual? If not get one, it will be your buddy.

 

Did you say that it is a 1200 "S"? That is not a 1200 Sportster Sport.

 

The Title says it is. When I ran a VIN search though it couldn't even tell me the year so that's a bit annoying. I personally would not be able to tell just by looking at it, if I could I'm not sure I'd be here asking for advice lol

 

For '97 it would have dual front brake discs and fully adjustable front and rear suspension. There are other things as far as looking at it, but those are the most obvious items. I guess these items could have been removed, but that would be going backwards.

 

Try this for the vin;https://serviceinfo.harley-davidson....cle/lookupForm