Weird throttle/bucking - please help
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Wheeling, WV
You have to drain the tank first before you can remove the petcock to clean the screen.
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From: Chesterfield
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Joined: Jun 2012
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From: Chesterfield
Well, things have gone from bad to worse. I have new spark plugs, and I put new spark plug wires on, and now it stalls, stutters, and takes a while to fire up. Idle is poor and rough, after warm up. I have the manual and looked at removing the petcock, but I don't really want to futz with it. I am going to have it shipped to a shop and looked at by a professional. I don't want a project bike. Frustrating.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Frozelandia, Minnysota
Just what I was thinking. That's too slow, even for my 883.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2009
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I too have a 2002 XLH883 (Standard, not hugger), but all this stuttering and stuff sounds like an ignition problem. Either coil or nosecone module.
Also, for shifting, I don't shift to 2nd until around 25mph, 3rd at 35mph, 4th at 45mph, and 5th at around 55mph.
Also, for shifting, I don't shift to 2nd until around 25mph, 3rd at 35mph, 4th at 45mph, and 5th at around 55mph.
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 533
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From: Virginia
As has been previously mentioned, pull the petcock, clean the filter screen that's inside the gas tank, inspect the vacuum-diaphragm in the petcock, and the vacuum line from the petcock to the manifold.
One OTHER thing that might be happening is that the trigger-wires to your coil may be loose - stock, they are a "pinch-cap" connection that can vibrate open after a while.
One OTHER thing that might be happening is that the trigger-wires to your coil may be loose - stock, they are a "pinch-cap" connection that can vibrate open after a while.
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 533
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From: Virginia
Well, things have gone from bad to worse. I have new spark plugs, and I put new spark plug wires on, and now it stalls, stutters, and takes a while to fire up. Idle is poor and rough, after warm up. I have the manual and looked at removing the petcock, but I don't really want to futz with it. I am going to have it shipped to a shop and looked at by a professional. I don't want a project bike. Frustrating.
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Joined: Jun 2012
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From: Chesterfield
Turns out the carb was all gunked up. Now I know what the looks and sounds like. Thanks for the thoughts guys, I appreciate it. Rode in to work today and it's a beauty again.
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From: Chesterfield
Well, seems like my praise was pre-mature. Same thing happening, only worse. I'm trying to work through the final 2gallons in the tank so I can clean out the petcock and replace all the fuel lines. Oddly, after the bike stalled completely, and being unable to start it with the starter, I was able to pop the clutch and it fired right back up. Any idea what that means? Sounds electrical.
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 568
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From: New Jersey Somerset
Do you get this popping type of sound when it happens? if so, it might be your vacuum piston jumping around. The symptoms you are desrcibing are very similar to mine when my vacuum piston was jumping around due to the needle moving up and down. I would ride and out of nowhere the bike would make like a suction popping sound and it would jerk as if all the fuel just stop flowing, then in less than a fraction of a second the bike would go to normal. It would happen constantly