Maybe it's just me, I don't know. But I haven't been able to find a good mechanic in the Chicago area.

I asked a seasoned rider where he takes his bike for service and repairs - he pointed out a local "reputable" dealer. I called them said I need my carb fine tuned as I just rebuilt it. They kept asking me if I need an aftermarket kit tune up or dyno/dyna tune up. I said, my idle is off, and mixture screw is at factory setting but I don't think it's proper after (the previous owner) replacing the exhaust to drag pipes. They still didn't get it so they said, bring it in we'll check it out, you can pick it up next week.

I did get in touch, through friends, with an independent mechanic and he kept saying check with me next week already 3 times...and still hasn't seen me. He took my call because the friend of my friend gave him heads up about me, but I'm not convinced that he understood what I needed.

Maybe I'm too picky idk but is it too much to ask for a simple mixture/idle tune up? This is my 7th bike in the last 30 years but the first Harley so I really don't know what's proper tune up in what I described above. YouTube and this forum can only help so much. And this forum has been by far the biggest help.

Cheers

 

that goes without saying.
the issue practically involves every aspect of life. reason why i do all of my own work, actually cheaper even considering what you have to buy.

 

A lot of dealers won't even work on something with a carburetor. Have you asked for tuning help here?

 

I have but again, this being my first harley I really want a professional to look at it.

 

It’s unlikely you’ll find anyone at a dealer that even knows what a carb is, you’re going to have to find an old school Indy.

 

Look up Engines by Otto in Sugar Grove.
Not sure if he’s still around or not. I used to race with him—good guy.
Another good shop is Valley Racing in Beecher.

 

Finding a good mechanic is tough these days, no matter where you live. You have to get lucky. First to find someone, second to find someone who knows Harleys, and third to find someone you can work with.

It took me awhile to find a good Indy but the wait was worth it. Just finished a flawless 128 big bore on my Road King that I wouldn't have attempted without having an Indy I could trust completely.

 

It's been almost twenty years since HD used carburetors, an entire generation of dealer mechanics have come and gone in that time. If we look at the automotive world it's been two generations that have come and gone since carburetors were in common use. There's mechanics out there that know how to work on carburetors but my point is they're few and far between and it won't be easy to find who you're looking for, probably a snowballs chance in hell you'll find him in a dealership. I encourage you to do it yourself whether it's your first HD or not, there's never been an easier time to learn how to do it, you have the advantage of a gazillion gigabytes of information on line to help you.

 

Year? Model? ...Dump the drag pipes ... Check with a local independent ... As mentioned earlier in this thread most guys at a dealership today haven't got a clue and if they took the job on it would be worse than when you brought it in ... as mentioned @KK0G mentioned, do a bit of you tubing and you'll probably impress yourself with the results

 

He is still around he does all my dyno tuning. And just a few weeks ago he mounted a couple new tires for me.
He's a one man show and gets backed up at times though.