1972 sporty xlch kick start only .. starts up first kick when cold but after about a 20min ride i shut it off and wont start back up. i push started it and it started back up. any idea what the problem can be? once it cools back down it will start up fine. i mean it gets hot but nothing crazy .

thanks
chad

 

Your trouble is quite different that what is normally found. First kick when it's cold? That is rare!
I would check the float level to start with. It sounds like it is getting flooded after it warms up. Do the ends of the exhaust pipes look sooty black? Are the plugs sooty black as well after an attempt is made to kick start it warm? If the answer to those is yes, then it is something with the carb, thus the reason to check the float level.
After that I would look at the points, throw away the condenser and install a new one.
Keep us up to date on the progress. To start looking for the problem these items are a good place to begin............pg

 

Do you shut off your gas when you stop riding?
Could the carb be leaking fuel, but it evaporates before you go to start it when it cools all the way if the fuel is shut off?

 

One of my friend got samekind of problem with his shovel, cure was to add fiber insulation plate between maniflod and carb.
This plate comes with S&S carbs ( only good in S&S [8D] ) some cars has also that plate.
We used plate from VW beatle, yeah that old aircooled, it's equiped with Solex (38 mm) carb and repairkit fro that included that plate.
Plate was about 1/4" thick I don't remember manufacturer of that repairkit, but sure it worked with that shovel.

-sepixlh-

 

well thanks for all the advice...BUT it turns out if i just kick it without giving it gas starts up warm with no problem.. i must have been flooding it..

 

Yes. you were flooding it.........pg

 

Hey, I think you might have been flooding it