[jdonnell]

My first post and a long one-sorry! I have a 1998 Fatboy that is stock. The bike started cutting out while cruising on the Interstate intermitantly. I'd be going 70mph and it would cut out and wouldn't go above 50mph. Now it has a racing idle that jumps from 1000rpm to 1100rpm over-and-over. Choke has to be completely out and you have to goose the throttle from time to time or it dies.

Heres what I've done: New coil, plugs, wires, cleaned fuel filter, changed vapor valve hose that had dry rotted (new vapor valve on order), intake gaskets, cleaned grounds, and verified gas cap vents ok. None of this helped so I hated but had to bring it in to the dealer

Dealer had it twice and changed the carb diaphram-did nothing; second time he changed the gap in the rear cylinder plug-did nothing

Any help on this is appreciated!!! Thanks.............

Jim D

[ffflhtcui]

Sounds a whole lot like an intake leak, doesn't it? Seems to me that the dealer would've checked for that first, though.

Sorry, I can't help, but I'll be watching on here for some answers. There's some pretty sharp guys who drop in periodically.

Good luck!

[hotroadking]

that's what I said on the other post, use carb cleaner, make sure the small tube is on and direct it at the intake seals at the heads and intake while the motors running it should change the idle if you have a leak.

[Seahag]

If it is an intake leak and you've replaced the intake gaskets already try this. I had a small intake leak and put my new gaskets in with a coating of RTV copper gasket maker on the intake manifold and the o-rings. The copper stuff is rated for the higher temps and I've had no more problems.

[jdonnell]

Originally Posted by hotroadking

make sure the small tube is on and direct it at the intake seals at the heads and intake while the motors running it should change the idle if you have a leak.

Small tube? You referring to the petcock vacuum hose or maybe the VOES hose? I ain't too smart

I did order new intake seals and thought I'd start all over. I saw rust in the left tank and maybe its causing problems. So I'll remove the tank and try cleaning it and should have better access to remove/re-install the intake. Manual says use non-metallic balls and shake it. Any recommendations on that?

[Seahag]

[quote=jdonnell]Small tube? You referring to the petcock vacuum hose or maybe the VOES hose? I ain't too smart

What HotRoadKing was referring to is using the small spray tube that comes with the can of carburator cleaning spray for pinpoint applications. Use that so you are sure its not being sucked in by the air cleaner from overspray...if you have an intake leak where your manifold mates to your cyllinder head, the idle will change from the extra fuel being sucked into the mix through the leak. I hope that is clearer for you.

[hotroadking]

Seahag thanks for clearing that up, thats correct, also if you are getting rust in the take pull the petcock and check the filter screen it might be plugged as well and causing your problem.

[jdonnell]

Thanks. I read that somewhere and forgot to do that. Already drained the tank and I'm in process of removing the tank to shake the rust out. I'll reinstall the intake with new gaskets carefully next time.