free website stats program Engine cutting out | Harley Davidson Forums

Engine cutting out

cooloff

New Member
Hi all,
new to HD! I recently bought my first HD its a 1994 883 Hugger converted to 1200. It had been sitting in a garage since 2007 and not running. I've had it serviced and cleaned out (was running fine). I was out last Sunday and went on a decent run, towards the end of the day it started loosing power ever so slightly which gradually got worse until the engine started cutting out. Now when i go start it up it, it starts fine but cuts out after a while (within a minute or two).
Any help would be appreciated

Cooloff
 
Welcome Cooloff to the HDTimeline forum and your first post. Do check out the Self Help section to find out details on how to clean the fueling system from the internals in the tank, fuel filter, petcock (vacuum diaphragm if equipped), vacuum line (if cracked) will cause diaphragm to pinch of fuel), float-viton needle-seat gummed up or needle grooved/mushy to debris in the float bowl (a slurry of varnish, rust and fuel tank lining) etc...!

You did not say to what extent you cleaned things up, but depending on how long it was stored, just *sniff* the fuel, if it smells like varnish...you not only have to drain, and simple clean, but serious use of SeaFoam and Gumout to deep clean the works, and spray carb cleaner into the intake to loosen things up. It could be your initial cleaning loosened some of the more stubborn stuff and it is contaminating the works..
 
Last edited:
Hi NEWHD74FAN,
it was cleaned out serviced and carbs "shotgunned" by a workshop who specialise in Harleys and was running fine. I am thinking because i was running low on fuel (not on reserve i think) it may have picked up some dirt/grit???
On another note , i can't read what position the "reserve" is on the tap, does the lever point up or down?????
Sorry but i'm new to all this

Cooloff
 
Look carefully on the lever, opposite handle is the index pointer, it goes UP for ON, goes RIGHT for OFF, and DOWN for RESERVE.
 
Hey, we all get caught once in awhile when the bike runs low on fuel...my Sporty ONLY gets about 35mpg if I ONLY do short in town 3-4 mile loops during the week, but if I do only highway at 75mph, I get a whopping 49.5 mpg so yes, sometimes when I feel that familiar sputter you have to remember to reach that valve to go to reserve by feel because it is tucked in a bit...I am thinking of getting a Pingle fuel valve/filter/diaphram shutoff because they are easy to reach and look clean and trick...:s
 
Back
Top