Hi Folks,

I've spent too much on tows to and ubers from the dealer. Help!

I'm a novice here, but my (wonderful - really don't want to give up) 2006 Sportster 1200 Custom is stalling / sputtering when I stop at lights/stop signs. I can hear/feel the engine rpms drop down low when I hit the clutch too, especially when downshifting.

I cheated and pulled out the clutch, but apparently that is doing more damage.

I can keep the engine running by revving the throttle to keep the rpms up at stops.

I don't think it's the idle; it starts great from cold and sounds great until that second or third stop. (no tachometer on my 2006) Maybe a simple idle adjust would do it?

Any ideas?

Thanks

 

I would begin with cleaning the IAC.

 

The dealer hasn't been able to figure this out? Is this bike carb'd or EFI? I'm assuming EFI, in which case I am of little help.

 

2006 is carbureted. I'd rebuild the carb and replace all three manifold seals. Combination of dirty carb, leaking seals, and voila, you get symptoms like you report.

John

 

Thanks Neville,

I fed your suggestion into my AI program, (I use Chat GPT for all kinds of things for work and play... it can be very wrong sometimes... ) and it tells me this..."Your 2006 Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200 Custom has a carburetor, which means it does not have an Idle Air Control (IAC) valve, as this component is typically found on fuel-injected engines. The IAC valve regulates the engine's idle speed by controlling the amount of air entering the engine at idle, but since your bike uses a carburetor, it doesn't rely on this system.

For your bike, you should focus on cleaning the carburetor, particularly the idle jet and main jet, as these are more likely the sources of idle and stalling issues. Also, checking for vacuum leaks and ensuring the throttle linkage operates smoothly will help maintain proper idle."

Does this make sense?

 

I thought 06 was the first year EFI was available. Anyway. Easy enough to tell by looking.

Well if its a carb than your dealer is especially useless. Follow John advise above. Do you need the choke to start the bike when cold?

 

Thanks John.

I have just one carburetor right?

Should I take this to the dealer?

Can any motorcycle mechanic do this or does it need harley parts?

Ballpark - What am I looking at for parts and labor (hours) here?

 

I was (am) a naive rookie here... I bought the bike at a good deal and later found out it was one of the last carbureted engines harley made - or so I was told...

 

carbureted...

 

Don't go to the dealer. Find and independent shop.