on my 1986 wide glide, recently realized I had trash in my tanks, first thing that made me figure that out was gas and a bit of tiny particles that looked like sand was pouring out from my S&S carburetor! ****! opened the bowl to the carburetor, hoping that would do it. Put the plug to the bowl back on. soon as I turned the gas back on it was free flowing again, out of the carburetor. any suggestions? could it be the float is stuck open? how do I fix this? I don't have much experience with carbs, but I am willing to figure this thing out. I'm determined. any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

if there was trash in the tank and bowl, there is trash in the needle and seat, i dont know much about s and s carbs, but i know they are simple, so take it all apart and spray it down with carb cleaner, hope that helps. chad.

 

thanks chad, I'll try that. seems to me something must be stuck open, obviously because the gas just won't stop running out. probably gunky crap inside it still. Tomorrow I'm gonna take it apart and see if cleaning it out does the trick.

 

simple, undue the 4 screws on the bottom of the bowl, drop it down and clean it out, put it back on and you should be good to go.

 

Put a can under it and let some fuel flow to flush it out. Then put an in-line filter on it.

 

havent had an S&S apart but had several others apart, cars, dirt bikes lawnmowers etc...sounds like a stuck open needle to me. the grit is prob just sediment from the bowl gettin washed out, I wouldnt be too concerned. take the carb bowl off, should be a float on a pivot attached to a small needle valve thats gettin stuck in its bore. clean the bore (seat) with a rag around a small screwdriver CAREFULLY. clean the needle & inspect for wear, most have a small rubber cone lookin tip on em to seal. if all looks good reassemble.
theirs probably a kit for yer carb to replace just those components relatively cheaply sense you'll have it apart but they rarely go bad in my experience, just get gunked up.

or....whap side of carb lightly with small hammer couple times will un-stick em lol....quick fix

good luck!

 

did the same as M&D88FXSTC said to my S&S a few months back, been working fine since.

 

Have had this happen a couple of times, on the S&S super E, the easiest way that has worked for me is to shut off the fuel petcock and disconnect the fuel line to the carb.

Then grab a 5/8" wrench and loosen the brass fitting that the inlet hose attaches to a few turns. Don't take it out all the way or the needle will pop loose, that is where the needle sits and loosening it up a few turns will lift the needle from the seat and the fuel will pour out of the loosened inlet when you do this and then flush the grit out and let the needle sit flush again.. Then tighten it back up a few turns and attach the fuel line.

Then take the 5/8" wrench and remove the brass bolt at the bottom of the bowl to flush whatever crap is still left in the fuel bowl. from there, replace the bolt and turn the fuel on , the gas coming out of the overflow should have stopped.

If not, then it's time to take off the carb and inspect the tang on the float and the needle and seat to see if it there is an issue.

 

Worked like a champ..