Hey,

My 2004 Fatboy won't stay running without shooting the carb with ether. Any ideas? Had it garaged for a year, had put Stabil in the tank at the time. Bad gas? Have no idea where to go from here.
Thanks for any help

 

You are not getting fuel out of the carb. First check to make sure the petcoc is in the correct position, check for fuel in the tank, make sure the vacuum line is connected to the petcoc, tap on the side of the carb with a soft mallet to check for stuck float needle then we can go from there.

 

I'd pull the tank and carb and give them both a good cleaning.

 

Well did all that and still the same. Thanks for trying to help. Any other ideas before it costs me a mint at a HD dealership?

 

Did you also check to see if you are getting vacuum for the petcock? If you even get the slightest vacuum leak it will keep the bowl from filling up all the way.

 

2006FLST is correct. If you are not getting gas either the petcock is faulty or your vacuum line has a leak.

 

His carb could be gelled up. When you put the Stabil in did you run the bike enough to get it into the carb and jets?

 

Clogged jets. Need to break down the carb and pull the jets. Doesn't take much to clog them after sitting for a year. Just cleaned my son-in-laws carb after his return from the desert with the same issue. Used a small dental brush (used to floss between teeth) in the jets and carb cleaner. The gas had began to varnish and clogged a few of the holes in the jets. New gas in the tank with some seafoam and the bike was good to go.

 

OP said he pulled the tank and carb and cleaned them.......

 

There is cleaning and then there is cleaning especially after sitting for a year. You can spray the hell out of the carb parts and still have clogged jets if they don't get scrubbed out. Actually, replacing the jets is easier and the cost is relatively inexpensive.