Okay guys, I have a history - a bad one - with carbs. I've NEVER worked on one that ended up better than when I started.:doh Carbs and me just don't get along for some mystical reason. With that in mind I'm asking for any suggestions on where to look for my particular issue.
I ran dangerously low on fuel about two weeks ago. Due to weather and other curcumstances the bike sat for about a week before I finally got around to filling it up again. 3.06gal. topped it off. That night I was riding to work and while down shifting I thought (yeah still not sure) I got a weird little pop. Not the ussual pa,pa,pa. I can't really describe it. It may have been nothing but thought I'd mention it just the same.
Anyway, next day while riding at speed, I got an unusual sputter as though it was running out of fuel. It was a momentary thing, a second or two, then resumed as normal. This WAS NOT the charicteristic "Sportster carb cough" but rather the sensation of running out of fuel.
This "sputter" issue has continued and gotten progressively worse to the point where it actually cut out on me on the way home from work yesterday. She started right up and I babied it home. There was some "sputter" once or twice but she didn't die again.
When I got up in the afternoon I took her for a little ride, half a mile from home it died again. It was always on flat ground before - although ALWAYS while accelerating, usually pulling out from a stop or up-shifting - but this incident was on a hill - maybe 30 degrees. Re-starting was more difficult this time. When she would start, she died immediately when I tried to pull out (turning "up hill" as I did). Tried turning the petcock to reserve (no change) and finally back to "on" and eventually she ran long enough to get me back home. Oddly, without any indication of a problem.
There is plenty of fuel in the tank. No air-lock as I've had the cap off countless times double-checking for fuel. When it does run, it runs flawlessly so I do not suspect fuel quality (93 octane). If anyone has ANY suggestions on what to look for for an easy fix I'm open to just about anything.:rolleyes: I have not checked electrical connections yet, although it is similar to the issue I once had due to a broken battery terminal. I should mention at this point though that when it cuts out, all other electrical functions (indicators, headligt, etc.) stay working, which makes me doubt that's the culpert. I'm running a Kurk. HyperCharger but haven't changed the element or fuel filter in over a year. Yeah - that, along with electric connections, will be the next place I look. All ideas are :welcome !!!
My time has been in short supply lately due to other obligations and if I can't find some simple, easy fix / issue I'll turn her over to the pros later this week. Been planning on riding the Almost Heaven Run in two weeks but not risking it till this problem gets fixed for certain. Last thing I wanna do is be left sitting hours from home along some deserted stretch of WV backroad with a broken bike :doh
I ran dangerously low on fuel about two weeks ago. Due to weather and other curcumstances the bike sat for about a week before I finally got around to filling it up again. 3.06gal. topped it off. That night I was riding to work and while down shifting I thought (yeah still not sure) I got a weird little pop. Not the ussual pa,pa,pa. I can't really describe it. It may have been nothing but thought I'd mention it just the same.
Anyway, next day while riding at speed, I got an unusual sputter as though it was running out of fuel. It was a momentary thing, a second or two, then resumed as normal. This WAS NOT the charicteristic "Sportster carb cough" but rather the sensation of running out of fuel.
This "sputter" issue has continued and gotten progressively worse to the point where it actually cut out on me on the way home from work yesterday. She started right up and I babied it home. There was some "sputter" once or twice but she didn't die again.
When I got up in the afternoon I took her for a little ride, half a mile from home it died again. It was always on flat ground before - although ALWAYS while accelerating, usually pulling out from a stop or up-shifting - but this incident was on a hill - maybe 30 degrees. Re-starting was more difficult this time. When she would start, she died immediately when I tried to pull out (turning "up hill" as I did). Tried turning the petcock to reserve (no change) and finally back to "on" and eventually she ran long enough to get me back home. Oddly, without any indication of a problem.
There is plenty of fuel in the tank. No air-lock as I've had the cap off countless times double-checking for fuel. When it does run, it runs flawlessly so I do not suspect fuel quality (93 octane). If anyone has ANY suggestions on what to look for for an easy fix I'm open to just about anything.:rolleyes: I have not checked electrical connections yet, although it is similar to the issue I once had due to a broken battery terminal. I should mention at this point though that when it cuts out, all other electrical functions (indicators, headligt, etc.) stay working, which makes me doubt that's the culpert. I'm running a Kurk. HyperCharger but haven't changed the element or fuel filter in over a year. Yeah - that, along with electric connections, will be the next place I look. All ideas are :welcome !!!
My time has been in short supply lately due to other obligations and if I can't find some simple, easy fix / issue I'll turn her over to the pros later this week. Been planning on riding the Almost Heaven Run in two weeks but not risking it till this problem gets fixed for certain. Last thing I wanna do is be left sitting hours from home along some deserted stretch of WV backroad with a broken bike :doh