Just finished my restoration project. '94 heritage that went from whitewalls and fishtails to forward controls and wrapped drags. Have a fuel or elect problem that I need help troubleshooting. Bike starts great, and pulls okay at lower rpm's. However, it doesn't want to run strong at regular street speeds without me pulling the choke out most of the way. If I don't pull the choke and twist the throttle hard, it sputters and loses power. I hate to have to take it in to a shop if it's something simple- but where do I start?

Thanks all,

bs

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It sounds like you have a high speed jet stopped up in the carb. The low speed will keep the bike running on start up and take off but the high speed jet dumps more fuel as the throttle is opened. By pulling the choke, which is actually an enrichner, you're manually dumping more fuel. I would start there.

 

You need to rejet the carb. Is is stock? Did you do anything to the carb for the pipe change?
Assuming your running the stock carb I believe your needle is to blame. Try the 1988 sportster needle: HD part # 27094-88. A 45 slow speed jet, # 27170-89. Main jet will be ok.

 

thanks guys. I know nothing at all about re-jetting the carb. It's the original carb with SE high-flow breather kit on it. It had the same problem before the pipe-change. Any additional detail about how to clean or otherwise unplug the high speed jet?

 

After all that I took the AC off and soaked it in thinner for 10-mins, and then blew it out with the compressor. While it was soaking I took a spin around the block and it ran great! I used the airgun and blew out the holes I could see with the AC off and remounted. Just came back from a 100-miler. Ran frickin' fantastic! Must have just been something clogged. Thanks everyone for the advice.

 

Awesome! It doesn't take much to stop up those jets or restrict fuel flow. Glad to hear it didn't require someone else wrenching on your machine...

 

I love it when it's EASY!!