Erratic idle

[stevef]

Hello, I actually have posted to this site before. I believe that the website had been redone in some fashion last year. Anyway, I have a question that maybe someone could answer for me. I have a 1974 XLH that ran perfectly with a Super E 1.5 years ago. The carb was completely drained and cleaned with carb cleaner and all passages blown out with compressed air before being wrapped up and put away whilst some frame/frontend mods were done to the bike. The problem is now that the bike has been reassembled, it will not idle correctly. In other words, it either idles too high or too low whenever it feels like it. The engine has brand new intake bands, the pushrod adjustment is correct, the ignition system (points, condenser, coil, plugs, plug wires, and all associated wiring are in perfect order) is functioning correctly. The carb has been rejetted numerous times and all to no avail. It seems like the carb "puddles" gas. The needle and seat and float level are correct. The idle speed screw is extremely sensitive to the slightest tweak clockwise or counterclockwise: the bike either races or wants to die. There is no vacuum leak to be found. The engine sometimes pops through the carb and dies. It is then extremely hard to restart. All in all, it seems like it is running way too rich and rejetting is not helping. The plugs are black (not wet though). The bike runs like a top through the gears, however (no engine integrity problems)- the problem is at idle. Is it possible that there is an internal carb problem? Any other help is greatly appreciated. Thank you, SteveF.

[LagerDrinker]

To me it sounds like needle and seat arent sealing or there is a prblem with the float itself. Im not familiar with s&s carbs but but the funcition and operation of most carbs is the same. if float bowl is filling up too much itll pour fuel out. try removing bowl and operate float with finger to make sure it stops fuel flow? Obvious cautions should be taken when doing this...no smoking, clean up all spilled fuel before trying to restart bike.


BTW, welcome to the hangout.

[WaBiker]

Float is the first thing that comes to my mind.

[oneeye]

I had the same problem so i replaced the float that took care of it

[ODIN]

Sounds like the choke could be a possible problem

[LouEvo XL]

Steve, welcome to the BHO...

can't help with your problem no exp with E carbys....

the float sounds suspect to me.....from your description.