Hello all,

Fairly new here. Traded my labor for a 1996 Heritage Softail Classic (all stock, except for chrome) last spring, rode as much as I could last year. This year late winter I took my bike to the “local” dealership to do the 25K service, and had them replace the fuel petcock due to the previous owner replacing the leaking one with a 20 dollar valve from the local auto parts store. However, the parts store valve did not have a port for the “vacuum line” (I’m new to motorcycle mechanics, especially Harley’s,) on the back of the fuel shut off valve. Owner had threaded a wood screw in the line to try and seal it off. When I got the bike, it wouldn’t idle unless the choke was pulled out 3/4 of the way. Going down the highway, I can push the choke all the way in. When I come to a small roadside town where the speed limit drops from 70 to 35, I have to pull the choke out when I come to a stop to keep it from dying. The dealer mechanic said I needed a high flow air filter and some new jets to make it right.

Just out of curiosity, what carb came stock on that bike so I can start figuring out what I need to get for jets? If that’s even the problem. To me, it seems like a lean issue, so I cant figure out why they would think I would need a high flow air cleaner. I’m assuming they’re talking pilot jets, since it runs great on the highway. I have a snowmobile with dual mikuni carbs, which I understand pretty well.

 

Stock carb is a Keihin CV 40
See sticky`s at top of page
Take it off and thoroughly clean ( debris in slow speed circuit?) and set float before you start throwing parts at it.
JMO

 

The fuel valves that are vacuum operated can be a problem, once they start playing up, so IMHO a non-vacuum tap is preferable and cheaper. New ones are readily available on Ebay and elsewhere. However it is likely your bike also has a vacuum tapping to the ignition system, via a VOES (vacuum operated electronic switch). That can mess with running, if faulty or disconnected. By all means follow 88's advice and service your carb, indeed I suggest buying a rebuild kit and install that, as part of your overhaul of it. Then look into the other things I mentioned.

 

Agree with eighteight and gbrown, your carb probably just needs cleaning.

Here is a website with good info on servicing these carbs, and a good source for parts also:

https://cv-performance.com/

 

Just to be clear, this problem did NOT exist until immediately AFTER your " late winter"service visit ?

 

This problem occurred before I even got the bike. I figured with that vacuum line being disconnected that it was the culprit.

 

Wondered because on 05/19 you wrote that it "ran like a champ" on a 111 mile ride

commence carb cleaning

( PM sent)

 

Yeah, that 111 mile ride was just down the country highways out here, with no small towns, no stop signs, not much out here. It really did run “like a champ” that day, but wasn’t too concerned about the whole choking thing because the previous owner had replaced the shut off valve. But, I appreciate the help. Ill have to start looking for a rebuild kit. And I’ll look in my PM’s

 

Never been there but I imagine that much of Montana is “wide open country”

Good for you!

 

The vacuum line was plugged up because the vacuum operated petcock was removed. But it’s “T”ed to the VOEs too. Your problem is either with the idle circuit or the idle setting. Has the carb been worked on? Simple tell is the silver plug on the bottom rear of the carburetor, if it’s there it’s stock if it’s not someone messed with the air fuel mixture.