hey all, long story short i'm picking up a 1988 883cc sportster for a song and dance. the bike idles well and revs up good.. until about half throttle where it will fall on its face and backfire out of the carb. the carb on it is an aftermarket S&S. it seems to me like the intermedite jet, not the main jet, in the carb is too small. hoping some of you guys may have some advice for me, thanks.

I wanted a harley all my life , I guess I will never have one , oh well ,
sound's like you need more clearance on the intake valve's ,

Has the bike been sitting for a while with old gas ? Maybe just take of the carb and clean it.

Had that problem on my 81 sporty and it turned out to be the timing.

I would go visit http://www.hdforums.com/. They are like TC for Harleys. I have an 07 FXD and my wife has an 07 883L, both are fuel injected. Could be a couple of things to check. The Harley guys can point you in the right direction. They are very good over there.

I had a 1200 custom with the same problem. The carb had debries in the bowl and after taking the thing off and blasting carb cleaner through out it, problem solved.

I got an 2005 XLC w/stage 1 and it is a fun bike.
This is the #1 XL website (imho) check it they can probably answer any question you may have.

http://www.xlforum.net/index.html

thanks for the replies, looks like i'll be tearing into this thing

hey all, long story short i'm picking up a 1988 883cc sportster for a song and dance. the bike idles well and revs up good.. until about half throttle where it will fall on its face and backfire out of the carb. the carb on it is an aftermarket S&S. it seems to me like the intermedite jet, not the main jet, in the carb is too small. hoping some of you guys may have some advice for me, thanks.


I can tell you right now to save your time and efforts on that S&S carb. Go buy a Mikuni and you will be very happy. I fought my S&S on my old FXR for months before finally buying a Mikuni. The S&S carbs are very tempermental you can have it tuned perfect when you leave the house and 50 miles later it's not running right. With the Mikuni you set it and forget it. Ran a Mikuni on my Dyna too never had one issue. Not to mention the Mikuni will run circles around the S&S in term of performance and throttle response.

I have a 1979 Honda Cb750k that had a very similiar problem but it turned out being a dirty carb(s)

nothing but problems Harleys are !! my dad has an 84 shovel head / low rider and that thing is the biggest pile of ???? I've ever messed with! That thing leaks oil like you wouldn't believe, YET all the Harley hugger around here say "It aint a harley if it dont leak oil" .. and they say it so proud like its there Modo.

Congrats on your song and dance purchase, and Good luck with your bike :thumbsup:, hope its not like my dads thats for sure!

on a side note... just be yourself when you ride your Harley. You dont have to wear a Harley shirt EVERYSINGLE time you ride the bike. Dare to be Different ? :D

John,
Good advice on what was stated above.
I would attempt to dis-assemble and clean it, especially all the little air/fuel passages, but if that doesn't cure it, go with a Mikuni.

Oh yeah, there will be the Harley distractors, you just have to learn to ignore them, which takes time.;):D

John,


Oh yeah, there will be the Harley distractors, you just have to learn to ignore them, which takes time.;):D

X2

The are fun bikes. Don't let anyone tell you differently. Most guys that don't like them have simply never had one. For those that have had them and not liked them, well, I don't know anyone in that category. :)

guys Im not trying to change someones mind or anything about harleys, i've spoken my mind on what i've been thru with my fathers bike. The newer models run good and dont leak so I guess they fixed that problem.

yes Harleys are cool, i've taken my dad bike for a spin and you have a sense of "Coolness" when riding that bike. No need for speed on that bike. But then when I get on my "CrochRocket" thats a whole other level of coolness.

Oh and one thing that has stuck in my head the very first time I rode my first motorcycle a fellow biker told me (17 yrs ago) "Always wave to other bikers" ! other crochrocket bikers always wave. The Harley guys hardly ever wave, I say 2 out of 10 will throw the hand up. I dont wave anymore to them, I'll look the other way while i pass them up.

I can tell you right now to save your time and efforts on that S&S carb. Go buy a Mikuni and you will be very happy. I fought my S&S on my old FXR for months before finally buying a Mikuni. The S&S carbs are very tempermental you can have it tuned perfect when you leave the house and 50 miles later it's not running right. With the Mikuni you set it and forget it. Ran a Mikuni on my Dyna too never had one issue. Not to mention the Mikuni will run circles around the S&S in term of performance and throttle response.

Bologna....I've had 3 on 3 different bikes and they are very low maintenence if they are dialed in right. They run great. Tune the idle mixture at every service and ride.

Mine coughed and sputtered like crazy since i bought it new in 02, a friend of mine opened a V- twin shop and got a dyno.
It took him the better part of a whole day on the dyno to cure the problem but she runs great now. Luckly he only charged me for 3 hrs dyno time.... well worth it.

Bologna....I've had 3 on 3 different bikes and they are very low maintenence if they are dialed in right. They run great. Tune the idle mixture at every service and ride.


Bolonga right back at you. I know several others that had the same issues with S&S carbs on street bikes. Have you ever ridden a bike with a Mikuni? Go talk to any real Harley hot rod mechanic and see what carb they suggest. S&S made their name with race carbs but, for a reliable street carb you can't beat a Mikuni. It's a point that can't even be argued. If you haven't tried one, I suggest you do and then come back and tell me it wasn't 100X's better.

I actually know two guys that have tried them on S&S 117's and disliked them. I've also heard they are superior due to more circuits and more chances at tuning. All I'm saying is if you have the S&S carb set up properly they are perfectly servicable carbs for many many years. The mikuni may be better but it's not needed escpecially if your buying a 88 sportster for a song.

I actually know two guys that have tried them on S&S 117's and disliked them. I've also heard they are superior due to more circuits and more chances at tuning. All I'm saying is if you have the S&S carb set up properly they are perfectly servicable carbs for many many years. The mikuni may be better but it's not needed escpecially if your buying a 88 sportster for a song.

I honestly don't know anyone that runs an S&S anymore. Even guys with 130ci bikes are all running Mikuni's. If the bike in question was running right I wouldn't have suggested a carb change but, the fact is it's not running right and I bet the carb has something to do with it. I understand he got the bike cheap and if he wants to keep the cost down just grab a CV carb from someone, he can probably get it for free. I would have given him one but, I sold it with a bunch of other Harley stuff. The CV varbs are great for reliable operation (CV carbs being what came stock on later model Harleys).

Everyone has an opinion and has to do what works best for him. I was trying to share real life experiences with him. I tweaked and tuned on my S&S for months. Installed a new Divinci booster kit and all the other trick parts to make it work. In the end I wasted a bunch of money. Bolted on a Mikuni and never looked back.

If it was my bike I would try and find a stock cv carb and be done with it. I have no issues with mine at all but others may not agree.

iv had a few s&s super e carbs do that,they MUST have clean fuel.any time your done riding the bike turn the fuel off and let it run out of fuel.pull the bottom bowl off,real easy one bolt.drain gas and shoot carb cleaner in there she will run great,fuel air screws should be 1-2 turns out depending on pipes and back presure

iv had a few s&s super e carbs do that,they MUST have clean fuel.any time your done riding the bike turn the fuel off and let it run out of fuel.pull the bottom bowl off,real easy one bolt.drain gas and shoot carb cleaner in there she will run great,fuel air screws should be 1-2 turns out depending on pipes and back presure


Do that "each" time you get done ridng the bike? No thanks. No carb should be that finicky.

LOL....I've put over 13,000 miles on S&S carbs and never cleaned one yet! I heard the same thing before I bought my first bike with one. Debris will mess up any carb. I also have to say I am a frequent visitor on www.bigdogbiker.com (http://www.bigdogbiker.com) I've been visiting the site and the previous one for 3-4 years. 99% of big dogs came with a Super G. There just aren't tha many problems until you start modifying them.

Been a week did we get the cob webs out of this thing yet ?

Do that "each" time you get done ridng the bike? No thanks. No carb should be that finicky.
no. just dont let fuel sit in bowl.i said remove the bowl just to clean out to get it running good again.you dont have to remove bowl every time

guys Im not trying to change someones mind or anything about harleys, i've spoken my mind on what i've been thru with my fathers bike. The newer models run good and dont leak so I guess they fixed that problem.

yes Harleys are cool, i've taken my dad bike for a spin and you have a sense of "Coolness" when riding that bike. No need for speed on that bike. But then when I get on my "CrochRocket" thats a whole other level of coolness.

Oh and one thing that has stuck in my head the very first time I rode my first motorcycle a fellow biker told me (17 yrs ago) "Always wave to other bikers" ! other crochrocket bikers always wave. The Harley guys hardly ever wave, I say 2 out of 10 will throw the hand up. I dont wave anymore to them, I'll look the other way while i pass them up.

Try a V Rod on for size, not a crotch rocket but runs good enough the crotch rocket riders will acknowledge it's presence and the airhead Harelys can't run with them.

no. just dont let fuel sit in bowl.i said remove the bowl just to clean out to get it running good again.you dont have to remove bowl every time


Cool. I thought that sounded crazy. :)

Try a V Rod on for size, not a crotch rocket but runs good enough the crotch rocket riders will acknowledge it's presence and the airhead Harelys can't run with them.


I've ridden both (extensively). I think the "wave" is more geographical than bike versus bike.

Frankly, I could cafe less if a crotch rocket ever acknowledges me. Actually, the same goes for any other type of bike. When I rode in Europe (for a few years), the atmosphere was like night day compared to the US. Everyone acknowledges everyone. No "class warfare" there. At least not that I noticed. I only did about 13,000 miles a year, so I'm sure I may have missed something. :)

I like all types of bikes. I prefer my FXD right now. Doesn't mean I won't have another cafe' bike. In 100% of the cases, it is the rider, and not the bike.:)

X2

Biking isn't like it used to be when I was young and that was over 40 years ago when I mounted a 650BSA Lightining. I was riding Triumphs, Nortons, Ducati's and BMW's when the Honda 4's and the Kawasaki 3 Cyl 2 stroke killers arrived. I've ridden Harley's and even owned a AMF Skirter oops sporter ;o) One of my all time favourite rides has to be the Suzuki 1100ES but the ride I kept, which was the only bike I ever bought new, and still ride is my 72 Laverda 750SF. For me no other bike has given me that true since of what riding is all about.

Getting back to what I said about "Biking isn't like it use to be" by this I mean - All you see on the road today are literally 1000's of Harley's with old timers. To day you can lease a Harley or a Beemer from a Bike Center. They will teach you to ride and assist you in getting a MotorCycle licence all for riding a Harley for 2 months out of the year and I should add - for a great deal of money. These people are not bikers but pretenders wearing $1,500 worth of leather sporting colours that flash " Look at me I'm a Biker" Sure these new rides are technological wonders with fake chrome fins over a square block computerized water cooled DOHC Hemi to a 6 speed auto shifting shaft belt driven 8" wide rear wheel that can essentially ride without anyone mounting it. In my day 3/4 of the bikers were young as most older bikers were lucky to have survived - lol - but we knew our rides inside and out. I still bring my bike into the house or up 2 flights of stairs to an apartment an tare it apart every winter. Not because it requires maintenance but because I'm a biker. For me it's cheap transportation that can get me there with a sense of enjoyment that I've leaned to appreciate over the years of riding motorcycles.

Being a biker has nothing to do with the bike you own or the riding style you prefer and nether has gender; however, there is another side to that last one ;o)

It is sad that there are no young people riding today. It's a sign of the times. They simply can't not afford the insane cost of insurance or the interest on taking a loan out to pay for a ride that costs as much as a small house in the country.

Society has reached the point were no one can afford to live in it and depression has spread world wide. I just hope we do it better the next time around. It's too late for me but man you youngster's had better wake up and take control - LOL

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3213/2969569621_8fd36edeea.jpg
OOPS - That's not mine but belongs to biker friend of mine.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3151/2618887636_47a6f14171.jpg
This is my Breganze

Biking isn't like it used to be when I was young and that was over 40 years ago when I mounted a 650BSA Lightining. I was riding Triumphs, Nortons, Ducati's and BMW's when the Honda 4's and the Kawasaki 3 Cyl 2 stroke killers arrived. I've ridden Harley's and even owned a AMF Skirter oops sporter ;o) One of my all time favourite rides has to be the Suzuki 1100ES but the ride I kept, which was the only bike I ever bought new, and still ride is my 72 Laverda 750SF. For me no other bike has given me that true since of what riding is all about.

Getting back to what I said about "Biking isn't like it use to be" by this I mean - All you see on the road today are literally 1000's of Harley's with old timers. To day you can lease a Harley or a Beemer from a Bike Center. They will teach you to ride and assist you in getting a MotorCycle licence all for riding a Harley for 2 months out of the year and I should add - for a great deal of money. These people are not bikers but pretenders wearing $1,500 worth of leather sporting colours that flash " Look at me I'm a Biker" Sure these new rides are technological wonders with fake chrome fins over a square block computerized water cooled DOHC Hemi to a 6 speed auto shifting shaft belt driven 8" wide rear wheel that can essentially ride without anyone mounting it. In my day 3/4 of the bikers were young as most older bikers were lucky to have survived - lol - but we knew our rides inside and out. I still bring my bike into the house or up 2 flights of stairs to an apartment an tare it apart every winter. Not because it requires maintenance but because I'm a biker. For me it's cheap transportation that can get me there with a sense of enjoyment that I've leaned to appreciate over the years of riding motorcycles.

Being a biker has nothing to do with the bike you own or the riding style you prefer and nether has gender; however, there is another side to that last one ;o)

It is sad that there are no young people riding today. It's a sign of the times. They simply can't not afford the insane cost of insurance or the interest on taking a loan out to pay for a ride that costs as much as a small house in the country.

Society has reached the point were no one can afford to live in it and depression has spread world wide. I just hope we do it better the next time around. It's too late for me but man you youngster's had better wake up and take control - LOL

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3213/2969569621_8fd36edeea.jpg
OOPS - That's not mine but belongs to biker friend of mine.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3151/2618887636_47a6f14171.jpg
This is my Breganze



I agree with "some" of the above. I see young guys riding all the time, so I'm not sure if maybe it is just my area, or yours. FWIW, we are NOWHERE near the type of economic times our grandparents faced. Yes, we have high unemployment, but to say we are in a depression is an insult to those that actually have been.

"To me" (and me only), a "biker" is just a guy doing his own thing, and happens to ride a motorcycle. To others it means something else. I really don't care that much, I'm just bored today. :)

I am a motorcycle rider (because I ride a motorcycle, which can never be disputed). "Others" sometimes refer to me as a biker, but a "real biker" (as defined by those that usually don't ride) would never refer to himself as a biker.

I don't have a problem btw with doctors and lawyers riding nice new motorcycles. I cannot blame them for being successful enough to be able to have one, and I sure understand the lure of being in the wind. To me, a "real biker" would get that.

I don't have a problem btw with doctors and lawyers riding nice new motorcycles. I cannot blame them for being successful enough to be able to have one, and I sure understand the lure of being in the wind. To me, a "real biker" would get that.

I don't have a problem with that either, as long as they can ride without crashing. And I do "get it", it's just like the guys who can go buy a fleet of classic/muscle cars, more power to them!

Sportsters aren't real Harleys anyway... they are what our wifes ride AKA Skirtsters. And I agree 100% Royce, I have a Mikuni on my Springer Softail and it outperforms the S&S carbs I have had before I knew the difference, and the tuneability is amazing. Mikuni's also outperform S&S carbs on the Dyno by an amount worth the difference. Have you ever tried to ride (a Sportster) with a bag on your head so your buddies won't kick you over @ a stoplight? lol Just wondered... I would rather ride a ricer than a Skirtster, but I will admit they are cheap, say HD on them and better than nothing.

I don't have a problem with that either, as long as they can ride without crashing. And I do "get it", it's just like the guys who can go buy a fleet of classic/muscle cars, more power to them!

For the record, I wasn't saying you didn't get it. I hate it when someone does that (like I just did). I was speaking in generalities. :)

update, i took the carb off the bike tore into it. it had some funky stuff in bowl but the jets and passages seemed clean. i also noticed the intermedite jet was a 26.5, which from what everyone has told me is pretty small and probably contributed to the lean backfires i was experiencing, so i went down to the motorcycle shop and picked up a few jets to tune with. i haven't had a chance to install it back on the bike between school and work. by the way, i'm a young dude who bought this sporty with my own money, got it from a friend for a grand. young guys ride, but i don't think most are into harleys ... they are too busy playing with there cell phones and scared to get there hands dirty. most guys at my automotive school couldn't tell a harley carb from a holley carb. sad.... anyways i'll let you guys know how this thing is when i get a free day to put it back on. cool discussion going on here

Your Hooked - Be Safe - Remember to ride with the aspect that every car you see is going to hit you and it's the ones that come up from behind that will more then likely get you.

Sportsers are REAL Harley's most girls I know ride softails. :) cause there easier to handle but I am not the one to put down what other's ride that just aint right. That would be like a Corvette owner dissing the Camaro guy.

Besides the original poster asked a question about a Sportster not ones opinion on what one thinks a real bike is!

Mike: Remember one of these a 77HDXLCR. This PIC says it's a 1000 but I'm certain the one I rode for a while had a 1340cc and had lots of Gold Stencilling on it. Believe me, it was a poor excuse for a MotorCycle as it would sooner high-side and fall over rather then lean over and dig into the corners - worse then Yamaha 650 in my opinion.

http://home.ama-cycle.org/membersonly/museum/images/b1/r77HDXLCR_600.jpg

I had a Garage and could Tune and Repair Bikes. Because I could ride many clients aloud me to test their rides for a period until I got it to run to my satisfaction before handing it back to them, so I had lots of opportunity to ride many different kinds of Motorcycles over the years. I never really made any money as I was mostly into it for the love of the ride.

I kind of liked that AMF Skirtster. It was fast enough and handled very well. If I recall there was an issue with trying to keep the lifters adjusted or the cam gears stripping - something like that with that model. Some of my favourite rides other then my Breganze had to be the 71 Ducati 750SS, 70 Norton 750 Dunstall Commando and the Norton 850 Interstate was one nice touring ride for the time. Of course you can't really compare a Beemer to any other bike as they are in a class by themselves. Seems to me I always had a Bonny in the garage and would not return to a client until I could get it to do 116mph single or 102 mph double - just loved tinkering with that archaic engine - LOL.

I never trusted the Honda 750 4's with their weak front forks and thin spoked rims. If you dug into the corners you could feel and see the front wheel flexing and it was not nice. Great engines though. Same thing with the 900K's. Liked the later Honda CB900 F2's though.

I got rid of my 1100ES for obvious reasons. Man what a cruiser, fast and handled extremely well for a big bike. 140mph and still climbing. I would compare it to the Jota Triple which I never did have the opportunity to ride. If I were to get another bike it would probably be the Moto Guzzi 850 LeMans. Rode one once and it was nice.

I can't believe the technology in these modern rides. Absolutely astonishing, but if I don't understand it and can't put a wrench on it - it's not for me.

Sportsers are REAL Harley's most girls I know ride softails. :) cause there easier to handle but I am not the one to put down what other's ride that just aint right. That would be like a Corvette owner dissing the Camaro guy.

Besides the original poster asked a question about a Sportster not ones opinion on what one thinks a real bike is!

He may have been texting his reply on his cell phone while pedaling his bicycle to work at Mcdonalds .....well at least thats the maturity level he's showing

Sportsters aren't real Harleys anyway... they are what our wifes ride AKA Skirtsters. And I agree 100% Royce, I have a Mikuni on my Springer Softail and it outperforms the S&S carbs I have had before I knew the difference, and the tuneability is amazing. Mikuni's also outperform S&S carbs on the Dyno by an amount worth the difference. Have you ever tried to ride (a Sportster) with a bag on your head so your buddies won't kick you over @ a stoplight? lol Just wondered... I would rather ride a ricer than a Skirtster, but I will admit they are cheap, say HD on them and better than nothing.
Softail says it all....and you think you know what a real Harley is...