So my buddies bike was sitting around for 5 months in 140F Florida garage storage. The gas dried up and gummed up the carb. This is how to clean your ROAD KING carb (this was a 99) on the bike.

what you need:
allen wrench set
phiilips bit - regular size
4" long flat blade screw driver
patience
a small mirror
carb cleaner


0. ONLY do this work on a COLD bike -- (opposed to a bike that was just shut off). If there are any questions -- can you hold onto the exhaust pipe near the engine for 5 seconds. Work outdoors away from sparks, cigarettte, flame, etc... To make cleanup easier pour 1/2 gallon of soapy water at the base of the carb -- leave the puddle of water on the case there to keep gas from pooling.
1. siphon/drain the old gas out of the tank
2. remove the oval filter cover
3. remove 3 smaller allen screws that secure the filter, pull filter OFF
4. shut off gas (not really necessary since the tank has a vacuum switch that should block it off)
5. use a hex-bit phillips screw driver tip, and the 1/4" drive 2" extension and 1/4" socket use this to remove the 4 corner screws for the float bowl. the bowl is probably full of gas so wear glasses undernear when removing the screws. pull the bowl straight down. There is a metal rod that pulls out of a rubber boot on the front side (front tire) - that is a rod that goes from the linkage to a accelerator pump. the rod pulls right out. Leave the carb on the bike. move the float up and down while spraying cleaner at the float valve. spray the bowl with carb cleaner. spray cleaner into the small hole in the bottom of the bowl and several times into the tiny hole in the brass tube (that faces toward the bike).
6. Keep your glasses on and spray carb cleaner into the throat of the carb and in all the holes -- lift the silver slide up with your finger and spray/wipe-down the needle until it is silver. Mine was tan/brown from the bad gas. using a clean rag, spray and wipe off all soot on the slide, throat,etc... next we remove the jet that needle goes down into.
7. in the bottom of the carb there are a couple of removable jets - a small pilot jet and a main jet. if you can't see them take a mirror and reflect up there like a dentist working on upper teeth. Jets are brass screws that have holes drilled in them. When gas dries up it solidifies and/or gums up those tiny openings. This reduces the size of the openings or completely blocks them off. The dried residue does not come off automatically by putting additive in the gas tank, you must disassemble and clean the internal parts. Clean parts make your bike strong. dirty internal carb parts make the bike run like crap.
8. take a close-up digital picture of the needle where it goes into the bottom jet -- lifting the slide -- use this for reference later. The big jet is removed with a deepwell socket (2 sizes bigger than 1/4") and 1/4" drive ratchet. remove it and clean it with carb cleaner. There is a hole drilled through the center. Use the first/high string (.09) of a fender stat electric guitar to clean the main hole. use the red extension tube on the carb cleaner and blow cleaner into the jet, capping the other end. If the holes don't come clean immediately spray cleaner into a cup and soak the jet. repeat steps until clean. spray cleaner through the throat into that jet's hole. There is a nickel plated jet extension -- if it falls out clean that one too and reinstall it first (look at the picture to make sure the correct end is up) in the carb and under it the jet. reference a manual for correct torque using an INCH - POUND torque wrench. do NOT over tighten -- the aluminum body and brass will strip instantly leaving you with a real mess. There is a plastic tool that is best for retightening. If you can't find one my best advise is to use your fingers on the socket-extension only (no wrench).
9. Now the tricky jet. The smaller pilot jet is

 

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I'll offer up this about that.
Napa, sells a carb cleaner kit that comes with a dip basket so the small stuff doesn't disappear.
Soak that carb for 24 hrs, clean it with mineral spirts, blow all the parts clean and assemble with almost sugical cleanliness, in reverse order.
Works well.
Scott

 

I like to actually take the carb apart and be able to see for my self the all the parts are ok and are in proper working order.