Converting fuel injection to a carb?
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,558
Likes: 5
From: Massachusetts
Carbs are fed by gravity. Gravity didn't fail yet, as far as I know. No fuel pump, less wiring. Keeps it simple, and simple is good. I remember my first car. You open the hood and you could see a carburetor, a motor and a generator. With my modern time piece of crap buik, I need to go to see a mechanic for almost anything. Electronics everyfrigginwhere.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 8,641
Likes: 26
From: Ozark Country
It's been going down hill ever since they replaced the fool proof manual crank windows with electric driven windows...
A tune up used to consist of points, plugs, and a dwell tach.... Now they have to plug the engine into a computer to do anything...
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,396
Likes: 146
From:
I read all these posts complaining about heat, pinging, decel popping, and the expense of fuel management systems, and asking who is competent to tune them, and still a lot of guys say they like their EFI better than a carb. Carbed bikes are easily modified with only a jet or needle change. You can get all the stuff you need and change back from a $10.00. EFI requires a Fuel management system and usually a dyno tune to get them to run even marginally well. We all know the EPA has the EFI running dangerouslyly lean from the factory. Change cams, big bore etc, back to the dyno again. With a carb a simple jet change usually has it running well. Cold weather starts are easy, pull out the choke give it a couple of squirts, hit the button and it's running. Yeah you can ride right off on the EFI bike before the oil has circulated but is that a benefit? The carbed bike will pull away nicely after a couple of minutes in real cold weather too but the oil will have circulated to the point it's safe to ride. Ride what you like, I have both a carbed ''02 FatBoy with a pretty hot 95" and an '07 Streetglide with EFI 103 and a race tuner. I trust my carbed bike and don't see any advantage to EFI.
Club Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
yep, just cleaned out the old cabinet last week and found my ole dwell meter,,, suckers battery just about ate the whole insides up...... trash can.
wonder if the timing light still works...???
wonder if the timing light still works...???
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,716
Likes: 103
From:
Carb easier to tune, no cpu. More stuff to go wrong with EFI.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom
Verdad Gallardo
6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public
Verdad Gallardo
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window
Verdad Gallardo
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
From: Pa.
Converted mine this week to a Carb. Went with a Mikuni HSR42 and did the Andrews gear drive cams as well. Sounds and runs awesome! Hope to have pics and vids up for you guys soon. This topic has been debated over and over again but with little to no response from those who have done the conversion.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 8,641
Likes: 26
From: Ozark Country
I'm running a 'dialed in' Mikuni HSR42 on my 1550 (95") WG, along with the higher compression 10.25:1 pistons, Screamin' Eagle 204 cams, high flo intake and exhaust, and a good dyno tune..
I love my 2003 EFI FatBoy (high flo intake/exhaust, Screamin' Eagle Race Tuner and good dyno tune), but there is no way it could keep up with the carb'd WG....
I'm seriously considering converting the Softail over to carb....
