01 FLHR spitting at idle
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,459
Likes: 2,892
From: Oklahoma
Is the carb clean JUST on the outside or have you been all through it? The lazy man's possible fix would be some fuel system cleaner (Sea Foam or Berryman's, my favorite) and see if it changes.I too suspect something plugged up in the low speed circuit. You never said how the plugs/exhaust tips took.
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: ventura, ca
I have torn that Mikuni open from one side to the other and from the top down to the bottom. That is the first thing I went after due to the crappy ethanol. The carb is as clean as can be. The plugs on the other hand are black, so now I'm going back after the carb but I am running out of things to tweak on it. Maybe I should try a hammer next, who knows it may fix it.
Last edited by madodge68; Oct 28, 2018 at 10:13 AM. Reason: adding to my comment
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 688
Likes: 350
From: Central Utah
Well, if yer gonna use a hammer, be sure you use a finish hammer and be done with it.
If fuel delivery seems ok, maybe plug wires chaffed/grounding out. Not to say the ignition system isnt at fault, but cover the easier stuff first. Ill sheepishly ask; on cleaning your carb, all passages were gently blown out with compressed air using a rubber nozzle?
If fuel delivery seems ok, maybe plug wires chaffed/grounding out. Not to say the ignition system isnt at fault, but cover the easier stuff first. Ill sheepishly ask; on cleaning your carb, all passages were gently blown out with compressed air using a rubber nozzle?
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: ventura, ca
Yes Sir Mr. Mike, I very carefully used compressed air with a rubber nozzle. I restore exotic sports cars from the ground up and I know a lot of the standard mechanical tricks, but it is always nice for someone to say have you tried this and maybe maybe not.
I still think it is the carb but nothing is clogged or dirty. Thinking back to when this started I used a gas can that was sitting in my garage, it is not that old due to the high ethanol in CA's crappy gas. (Thanks Moonbeam)
As far as the hammer I was referring to the handle and tapping when our carbs would stick from sitting around back in the 70's
I still think it is the carb but nothing is clogged or dirty. Thinking back to when this started I used a gas can that was sitting in my garage, it is not that old due to the high ethanol in CA's crappy gas. (Thanks Moonbeam)
As far as the hammer I was referring to the handle and tapping when our carbs would stick from sitting around back in the 70's
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,459
Likes: 2,892
From: Oklahoma
Have any clean plugs just to try? If clean plugs fix the idle, the problem would seem to be too rich off idle fowling the plugs. Is the float plastic foam or brass. Have you checked wet float level. The Mikunis I had had a little drain on the bottom of the float bowl Connect a clear flexible tube and open the valve with other end of the tube above the top of the carb and the gas level inside the carb becomes evident. If the float is saturated or has a leak, the fuel level will be too high.
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: ventura, ca
Well, if yer gonna use a hammer, be sure you use a finish hammer and be done with it.
If fuel delivery seems ok, maybe plug wires chaffed/grounding out. Not to say the ignition system isnt at fault, but cover the easier stuff first. Ill sheepishly ask; on cleaning your carb, all passages were gently blown out with compressed air using a rubber nozzle?
If fuel delivery seems ok, maybe plug wires chaffed/grounding out. Not to say the ignition system isnt at fault, but cover the easier stuff first. Ill sheepishly ask; on cleaning your carb, all passages were gently blown out with compressed air using a rubber nozzle?
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: ventura, ca
You all are going to like this!
So because the plugs are black kept going after the carburetor or carburetor it was minding its own business doing what a carburetor does.
while I was checking it and it would run it would run right and then all of a sudden it wouldn't run and I was about ready to shoot carburetor with 12 gauge but I heard this weird ticking noise so I put my hand down on the tank to listen to it and I got shocked. One of the brand new spark plug wires that I just got was arcing to my gas tank causing the back plug to fall .
now I have to wait for my Harley dealership to open so I can get new plug wires. I will bet you anything they won't cover them because it's electrical.
Oh well Let's see if it fixes the problem.
plug wires are Blue streak.
while I was checking it and it would run it would run right and then all of a sudden it wouldn't run and I was about ready to shoot carburetor with 12 gauge but I heard this weird ticking noise so I put my hand down on the tank to listen to it and I got shocked. One of the brand new spark plug wires that I just got was arcing to my gas tank causing the back plug to fall .
now I have to wait for my Harley dealership to open so I can get new plug wires. I will bet you anything they won't cover them because it's electrical.
Oh well Let's see if it fixes the problem.
plug wires are Blue streak.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,459
Likes: 2,892
From: Oklahoma
I would not expect a seller to warranty a mis-routed wire. Harleys vibrate and a wire will wear if it vibrates against something. If on the other hand the outer covering is undamaged and it is still "leaking" electricity, the wire is indeed faulty.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: ventura, ca
btsom- The wires are not mis-routed, I have been riding for many years and do all my own mechanics, but this one had me puzzled because I just replaced the plug wires and there is no chafing or warn spots that I have seen in the past. The thing that got me, I was test riding it and I put my bare hands on the gas tank and got shocked. I have never had that happen. The wires are about a month old and I can see the arc hitting the gas tank. If I use a screwdriver and hold it near the plug wire and near any metal and it will arc.
I'm going to HD today to purchase their wires. I have used aftermarket parts on Japanese bikes and most of the time they work perfectly. Harley's are different, they don't like aftermarket products.
I'm going to HD today to purchase their wires. I have used aftermarket parts on Japanese bikes and most of the time they work perfectly. Harley's are different, they don't like aftermarket products.
