- hi guys.

- this has been a very informativeforum (thanks to all who
contribute their time/knowledge). Had it not been for this
forum and the service-manual , I'd be at the mercy of the
local mechanics .....

- have a question vis my 1996 Heritage Softail (EVO 1340
carburettored engine).

- when warming up the engine (without choke) , the idle
is the tradition Harley"potato-potato-potato" speed , ie,
slow (almost going to stall thing)(I don't have a tachometer,
so cannot tell exactly what the idle is , sorry).

- but when its nice and warmed up (eg , after a ride) , the
engine idles quicker , I don't get the "potato" effect anymore,
and there is definitely no feeling that its "going to stall".

- is this normal ?

- if its not normal , am guessing that its an intake system
air leak ?

- plan to pull the plugs and have a look at the colours later
today , but would really appreciate your kind advice.

cheers.

.

 

My does the same, seems to be the norm. Need to check the idle speed,shouldn't let it idle under 1000rpm(manual says 900 to 1100 I think) You won't get the sound you are after, but the evo's don't oil very well under 800 so you risk knocking the bottom end out of it. I usually pull the enricher to keep the r's up till it's warm, then mine idles @ 1100rpm, still has good sound but not the potato.

 

-hi.

- yup , sounds exactlylike what my motor is doing too.

-too low idle , and the oil can't make it up to the top
of the head ?Thanks for the warning.

cheers.

.

 

that's just the way evos are. my king also does that. i particularly like it though. when i'm knee deep in traffic i definetely do not like the potato oops i stalled effect. plus your enginge gets well and loobed at that idle speed. if you wanted you could adjust the carb to idle slower, but that means you really would have to warm it up pretty good or mess with the throttle as you go cold. plus like pistole said you can mess up your bottom end in the long run. good luck.

 

- thanks for the re-assurance there.

cheers.
.

 

Definately....+1

 

Definitely +2

 

Go to your car and start it cold without the choke on. Your cold car will do the same, idle to almost stall or even stall, then when warm run even and at a higher idle speed.

You don't set your idle cold you set it when your motor is warmed up to operating temp in you car as well as your bike. No differance.

If you want to see your idle RPMs buy a tach for a car set it for 4cly, hook it up to your coil then divide by 2 whatever it reads. I am going off of memory on that due to all of my vehicles have tachs including my 18 yr old Evo. It has been a long time sinceI have used my tach/dwell meter.

 

93 Fatboy ...same thing.

 

Once warmed up,my 90'fxstc does 950-1000 rpm somethin'.

I stick with that, f@#* the potatoe-sound, just give it a bit more rpm otherwise you end up with potatoemessmash-sound