(Hopefully) Easy Sportster Carb Tuning Question

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Jan 31, 2012 | 04:55 PM

#11

John_K

Road Captain

Joined: Feb 2011

Posts: 731

Likes: 7

From: Windsor Ontario

Quote:

Originally Posted by Imold

On my 883, I opted for the jet change, quick and easy. I've done needle tweaks on older bikes, but don't consider it a job for someone not comfortable with taking a carb apart. That diaphram on the Harley carb can sometimes be a challenge to get back on right (stiffening it up in a freezer might help). The needle change is supposed to improve everything up to wide open, but on an 883 I don't think anything less than a 1200 kit makes enough difference to be worth the cost or effort; it's a pretty sedate bike, good for an old geezer like me. Intake seals get blamed a lot, but they're easy to check; just spray some wd40 around them while the bike is running; if there's a leak, should get a momentary rpm change as the oil stops it.

Yeah, I missed the part where his ride is an 883. Still, it's not likely he'll need a jet change on an otherwise stock ride. I'm running a 42 on my 1200, with no lean issues at all. I had plenty of carb farts and off idle stalls prior to changing the needle, now those have all disappeared. As for the intake seals, they are $2 each, and take about an hour to replace. They do harden with age and should be replaced about every 3 or 4 seasons. If he has the originals then they are leaking.

Jan 31, 2012 | 05:25 PM

#12

Imold

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Jul 2011

Posts: 27,096

Likes: 4,673

From: Frozelandia, Minnysota

Quote:

Originally Posted by John_K

As for the intake seals, they are $2 each, and take about an hour to replace. They do harden with age and should be replaced about every 3 or 4 seasons. If he has the originals then they are leaking.

Didn't seem to be leaking last spring, and the bike ran fine all summer, but if that's all they last, I'd better change them when I do some work on mine this spring, they're older than that. Some things are better fixed before they go bad.

Jan 31, 2012 | 06:13 PM

#13

John_K

Road Captain

Joined: Feb 2011

Posts: 731

Likes: 7

From: Windsor Ontario

Quote:

Originally Posted by Imold

Mine were original on a 5 year old bike. After I did a little research, I decided to pull them without even testing and sure enough... one was pinched and eroded, leaking badly, looks like it was a faulty install right from factory. Both were hardened compared to the new ones. The consensus among other Sporty owner/mechanics seems to be about a 4 year life span. The only 'special' tool required is an appropriate size ball-end allen driver to get at the manifold screws on the carb side. Only precaution is to not pinch the seals on installation. This maintenance job will for sure rule out or fix lean issues caused by a manifold leak. In my case, it was causing severe popping with orange flame out the rear cylinder ...it was getting a richer mixture than the front.