I have an '02 RK FLHR. I have had the the bike, apparantly, lean out causing backfiring on deceleration and popping at the carb on accelleration. This sounds like classic carb problems but it is intermittent. Commonalities between each occurance are 30-40 degrees, moisture ( either rain, drizzle or in one case dense fog), not noticed during accel after initial hesitation. I have pulled and replaced the plugs. They were black but had been firing. I checked the intake manifold for leaks with starting fluid nothing there. On each occasion after parking I have noticed water dripping from the air cleaner cover. Could this be icing on the air filter?

thanks,
Vern
'02 Road King FLHR
stage 1
SE slip ons

 

At that temperature I guess you could get carb icing, although I have never heard of it in a bike. If your plugs came out black, that does not sound like a lean condition. Black is usually an indicator of a rich condition.

If you have water dripping from the air cleaner cover, you might just be getting water in the carb. If you think it's ice, just pull the air cleaner cover the next time it happens and see if there is ice on the filter element.

Sorry I couldn't be more help.

Regards,

Bill

 

I need all the help I can get!! The water makes me think that it may be ice but I don't know. At warmer temps it starts and idles fine. I think if it was spark or fuel it would show up under more circumstances.
Vern

 

if you do alot of short rides or it doesn't warm up enough then is shut down you will get condensation

 

it could very well be carb icing.

the european version of my jap bike actually passes coolant thru a tube that goes thru the 4 carb bowls to prevent this.

the plane I fly ( piper P28) has a duct that when activated draws warm air from the exhaust manifold to the carb air inlet.

for some reason american market bikes ( HD and the metrics/rice rockets) don't have a provision for this and you figure a darn good part of the USA gets cool from october to april.

 

If it was carb icing, then the ice would be inside, past the backing plate and not out on the air filter element. What causes carb ice is the expansion of air in the carb venturi, which super-cools the moisture in the air. I would look for a vacuum leak, or check again for an intake leak.