S&S p#ssing me off

[lucky23]

anyone run a mikuni on a 1970 XLH? what kind? My S&S Super E is frustrating the hell outta me. either won't idle or idles too fast. no inbetween. .66 main and .28 mid.

[garbiker]

look for a air leak . even a small one will drive you nuts. take a small butane tourch not lit and about half open and hold to each spot where it could leak and if it revs you found the leak. DONT LIGHT IT LOL cu gar

[russzx6]

Throttle shaft bushes, always a sneaky spot. . .other than that . .yeh what Gar said

[SpringerSam]

I use WD-40 if a torch is not available...if the idle changes when sprayed...there is a leak.

[CosmoTG]

I tried the WD 40 method and got a lot of smoke off the heads and cyls but no higher revs. Be careful if you use the propane method, if you get a spark you could light the gas. We used to use the propane method to find intake manifold leaks on cars. Worked great but fire is NO fun...Cosmo

[csa89xl]

Mine was running like crap a while ago. The float needle had become detached from the float. Just sitting on top of the fuel inlet nipple. Surprised it ran at all. Easy to check.

[archemitis]

you dont know hard to tune untill you get a mikuni. S&S has to be the easiest carb to tune, followed by a CV. mikunis have something like 7 tunable circuits, compared to 3.
if it fluctuates, its gotta be an air leak.

[IronMick]

... Be careful if you use the propane method, if you get a spark you could light the gas ...

Is there really any possibility of danger here? Many people have said in the past that the propane is superior to WD-40 for this test for two reasons: finer particles means it gets thru leaks better and it is much cleaner.

I do not want to be spreading scare stories here. I suspect the probability of danger is so low as to be not a consideration.

[archemitis]

Is there really any possibility of danger here? Many people have said in the past that the propane is superior to WD-40 for this test for two reasons: finer particles means it gets thru leaks better and it is much cleaner.

I do not want to be spreading scare stories here. I suspect the probability of danger is so low as to be not a consideration.

i think the key is to not let the motor get warmed up, no matter what you use. i use carb cleaner, but only on a cool motor.

[hog rider]

Always had a hard time with mine on my 75.I hated that carb.

[IronMick]

i think the key is to not let the motor get warmed up, no matter what you use. i use carb cleaner, but only on a cool motor.

The concern expressed was about a spark. I have never seen an external spark on a running engine. I don't think the engine being warmed up would be a problem either.

Like i said, i see no danger here and i do not want to have scare stories frightening off beginners.

[archemitis]

auto ignition for gasoline 475°F
diesel 410°F

im not sure about other liquids, but an air cooled motor gets hot enough to make gasoline or diesel ignite, so i like to play it safe with a cool motor.

http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/fuels-ignition-temperatures-d_171.html
theres a good chart

[frogg_nutts]

Shaft bushings..
Good lucky:)

[frogg_nutts]

You don't suppose that real m/c riders sumetimes use spellck to keep Irons going? its hard keping vacations feasable..One would think Ya need altenators,solidid state this an that..and theres here.
So..rather than a cell,I take a lap with..if Ya se a post from the side of the road its me.
C

[Rascal]

Is there really any possibility of danger here? Many people have said in the past that the propane is superior to WD-40 for this test for two reasons: finer particles means it gets thru leaks better and it is much cleaner.

I do not want to be spreading scare stories here. I suspect the probability of danger is so low as to be not a consideration.

I agree IronMick! Years ago there were some accidents with people carrying bic lighters, yet I still carry one. Kinda like the old eBay, seeing 124 negative feedbacks from a power seller with over 20,000 feedbacks. Otherwords, I think the risk is low, but that's just my opinion.

[-stinky-]

I also believe the chance of starting a fire using the propane method would be very unlikely. I'm sure somewhere its happened before, but torches don't light up all that easily. How many times have you tried to light your propane torch and had to strike the thing two or three times to get it going? The chances of some errant spark falling from a running motor and landing perfectly in the stream of gas coming from the end of the torch would be pretty slim.