'89 FLHTCU hard starting - HELP
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'89 FLHTCU hard starting - HELP
Here's the problem, I have an '89 FLHTCU with a '90 and later CVH carb. The bike runs beautiful once it gets warm but its tricky when starting it cold. To start it up I pull the enricher all the way out, hit the start button and she fires right up and sounds ok for about 30 seconds to a minute or so (ok so far so good right?), then the idle starts to get pretty ragged so I start playing with the enricher which doesn't seem to help at all, you pretty much have to stand there and babysit the throttle until the bike warms up. One other thing that doesn't seem right is when you crack the throttle and release it there is a fine spray of raw gas that shoots out the breather side of the carb. Also when its cold it wants to backfire, like the timing is off but it doesn't happen when it gets warmed up. The bike originally came out of Kansas and the elevation here is about 6500, could it be the jetting is off? Really starting to get frustrated here so ANY help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Thanks
Road Captain
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From: Virginia Beach, VA
RE: '89 FLHTCU hard starting - HELP
Let me get this straight. You are running a carb on your 89 FLHT and the enrichener is not doing anything unless it's all the way open and...your fuel system is spraying gas OUT of the carb into the breather. I don't mean to sound sarcastic....but this sounds like a no brainer....you carb needs some attention, and it sounds like a rebuild is in order. I am a fule infection bubba myself, but I have rebuilt enough carbs on my chevelle to know that your enrichener (choke) system is not performing as designed. I know when I had my 92 Softail, I had to put the enrichener in rather quick and use the throttle or it would foul the plugs because it was an S&S carb and it was famous for that. If you want the function back in your current setup, then pull the carb off and rebuild it. It should not take but a few hours....and then you should be back in business. If you don't have the tools etc...ask around, someone you ride with can probably to it for you, or worst case.....you can take it to the dealer and pay out the butt for the same thing. Get the service manual and buy the rebuild kit and do it yourself.....it's not that hard.
Good luck
[IMG]local://upfiles/494/2199B8DF43B149EA8A9BA67E74AC80CB.jpg[/IMG]
Good luck
[IMG]local://upfiles/494/2199B8DF43B149EA8A9BA67E74AC80CB.jpg[/IMG]
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RE: '89 FLHTCU hard starting - HELP
Sounds more like a set up problem than a rebuild problem. You didn't mention exhaust type which could be giving you reversion too. The only way to check it out is to see what jetting you have in the carb and start over again to set it up correct for your location. From the way you describe the gas spraying out the carb, you also may want to do a compression test or a leakdown test also to see if your intake valves are sealing properly.
Also don't take for granted that timing is on either, recheck that also.
Take a look here for some guiedlines, your jetting will probably be leaner on that bike.
https://www.hdforums.com/m_65123/tm.htm
Also don't take for granted that timing is on either, recheck that also.
Take a look here for some guiedlines, your jetting will probably be leaner on that bike.
https://www.hdforums.com/m_65123/tm.htm
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RE: '89 FLHTCU hard starting - HELP
Thanks for the info. Exhaust pipes are the factory SE stage 1 type. So I'm guessing that so long as compression is over about 90lbs. per cylinder that part of it should be ok right? I was going to rebuild the carb on general principels anyway, the bike has 66k miles on it so I'm sure it could use it. Any tips on what size jet works well for what altitude? Also whats the deal with the idle mixture adjustment, could this be contributing to the problem I'm having? Like I said everything percolates super once the bike gets going.
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RE: '89 FLHTCU hard starting - HELP
Compression at 90+ should get you down the road.
Jetting depends on elevation, but the "norm" would probably be around a #42 stock in that bike and #165 or so on the hi speed jet. the higher you go in elevation, the lower the jets go.
Tha idle mixture should be set fully warmed up and to the higheat and steadiest idle available. Don't bottom the screw out hard or damage will result.
Jetting depends on elevation, but the "norm" would probably be around a #42 stock in that bike and #165 or so on the hi speed jet. the higher you go in elevation, the lower the jets go.
Tha idle mixture should be set fully warmed up and to the higheat and steadiest idle available. Don't bottom the screw out hard or damage will result.
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RE: '89 FLHTCU hard starting - HELP
Hey TC thanks a million for the tips! I'll get back with you guys when I get the carb straightened out, maybe it will help someone else out down the road when I find out whats going on.
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