I have a 2001, 883 hugger...

Was stock when I bought it except the previous owner had punched out the baffle in both mufflers. So it was louder.

He discribed it having a slight cough at times and was "normal" with Harleys... everything I read seems to say the same.

Okay so I went ahead and got slip on pipes, screaming eagle carb jets kit and air filter assembly.

Put a 45 slow jet and 160 jet in it.

Took a while to get it to idle correctly but after some screw adjustments I got it to idle after it's warmed up as I feel it should.

What I'm concerned with is that when I give it some throttle, it hesitates and sometimes will actually kill the motor... then will rev up.

Just wanted to get some heads up on what you guys think I need to adjust from here to get it to take off correctly? Up one more jet size?

I checked for vacuum leaks with starter fluid being sprayed on the new carb to intake seal, and also the new seals at the heads. but didnt change the idle at all, so I am assuming it's good on vacuum... Think I just need to work on the jetting maybe?

I did search thru previous posts but didnt get a solid answer for my situation. TY, Jered

 

#45 may be too high a slow speed jet ..would check the plugs and see if looks rich I have an 01 1200 Stage 1 and #45 and #180 is what I use..

 

Actually, I think the 45 may be too large, and the 160 too small. When my bike was an 883, and I did the air cleaner and new pipes, I was running a 42 and 170. That worked very well.

Did you adjust the air/fuel mixture ratio screw?

 

The 45 slow jet is the correct slow jet, 42 is the stock size, that is the next larger jet you can buy there are no other choices except bigger and the 160 main is the stock jet for an 883, you need a 165 if exhaust is all you're going to do and a 170 if you are going to add a better air cleaner.
2.5 turns out on the idle mixture screw will be real close to perfect.
I'd also throw in a new set of plugs.

 

My bike had a 40 main jet when it was stock.

 

It had a 42 stock jet... I said the other wrong... I put the 170 in it. (sorry)

So it's got a 45 low jet, 170 main and I'm right about 2.5ish turns on the idle screw. I found a carb tuning guide online and basically it said you want to be able to just have it stumble with it all the way in, and running off the idle speed screw. then adjust out till it's in the middle of reving up and dying. So I think that's right...

Just think it hesitates a little... not sure that's normal so figured I'd ask... I'm hoping the weather will hold off thru this week so I can ride to the new member gathering at my local HD shop... (yeah I'm nuts, it's 30 degrees and I have a 25 or so mile ride to go!)

 

okay well figured out the major hurdle...

When installing the dynokit, I put the little ball and weight for the thunder jet in backwards... Causing it to not spray fuel on throttling up, hence a lean backfire.

Now, It's almost sweet, but after riding with a sustained speed and throttle possition for a few minutes, I get a cough. Gonna drive me nuts till I figure it out...

EVERYTHING I have read states a cough/backfire thru the carb is a lean condition. When I have it sitting in the garage and warm, I rev up... one pipe has a blueish smoke from it... I'm guessing from being rich? but it coughs at sustained almost idle speeds... so thinking I need to raise my idle mixture screw and possibly go down a jet size on the high end?

170/45 jet sizes? I'm roughly 2.75-3 turns out on the idle mixture screw...

 

That's a long way out on the mixture screw. I still think that 45 jet is too large. Too large of a slow jet will require you to open up the mixture screw a lot more.

 

I've got the 42 and 170 with SE Air cleaner and slip ons. Runs perfect. If I were you I would go back to the 42, it seems to work here.

 

Ill give it a try... Not hard headed at all... so anything is worth trying once right..

Thanks again for the advice...