Good morning! So first - I'm a rookie (and I mean rookie - new to being on a bike and never wrenched in my life but wanting to learn). I bought a 2006 HD Sportster 1200 XL Custom last fall. Beautiful bike! Noticed the vacuum was leaking behind the petcock. It was running fine at this point. I looked around and due to parts shortages etc finding a petcock with the vacuum assembly was difficult and expensive so when I called the HD local dealership, the replacement part didn't have a vacuum box (small rectangular attachment) on it. 6 week backlog - had to order same part from somewhere else. I installed it and plugged the vacuum line/hose (at the petcock end - so its still actually attached to my carburetor). It wouldn't start. Changed plugs and it started and ran fine.... for about 2 weeks. I filled up and started to notice it would.... hesitate/lurch while I was riding. This is present in all gears even 5th. I put seafoam in it (maybe a bad batch of fuel??)..... rode the piss out of it..... seemed to improve but still present. I use 91 octane (94 if it's available). I've talked with other riders here and they use the 91 without issue as that is the "high octane" available at most stations. The lurching/hesitating seems most prevalent in 3rd gear and 5th regardless of speed. I will be riding along and lurch back to normal.... lurch lurch back to normal, etc. The bike had previously been sitting in someone's garage which is not good. Has very low mileage. I'm not sure where to begin. It has a slow consistent idle at about 1000 rpm although it has stalled a few times when I'm starting it cold (from what I gather this is somewhat normal). It does not have black smoke present. When I changed the plugs they were black... suggesting (I think), that it was running rich.... I haven't checked the new plugs since I replaced them in October 2021. I checked the air filter... its a bit dirty and I am happy to clean it or replace it as it's winter in Canada and I cannot ride right now anyway, but not filthy. I am considering that my carb is simply dirty? I have no idea when the last time it was cleaned. I've never even done an oil change let alone cleaned a carb but that's why God invented youtube.
Has anyone else had a similar issue with a sporty running like this? If so, did you figure out what the culprit was? Maybe I actually need a petcock with the vacuum thing.... but after doing some reading I am thinking its not mandatory to have the bike run right? Just trying to figure out where I should start..... grateful for any suggestions and happy to answer questions to help narrow down my search for a cure!
PS - if this doesn't belong on this sub-forum I apologize. I just joined and was not sure where to put this.
Thanks,
DP
Has anyone else had a similar issue with a sporty running like this? If so, did you figure out what the culprit was? Maybe I actually need a petcock with the vacuum thing.... but after doing some reading I am thinking its not mandatory to have the bike run right? Just trying to figure out where I should start..... grateful for any suggestions and happy to answer questions to help narrow down my search for a cure!
PS - if this doesn't belong on this sub-forum I apologize. I just joined and was not sure where to put this.
Thanks,
DP
/images/favicon.ico)
