Carb fell off

after sitting in the rain all day last week it hasn't run right since, it runs like it had bad gas, I changed the plugs checked the vents put on a new air filter and no change it runs with the choke out but still sputters when I give it gas, without the choke it just sputters and want's to die it will idle fine with or without the choke, really sputters and looses power in 4 and 5 gears. so I gave up and was going to ride it to the shop and have them look at it, and it died on me a block from the house. after I pushed it home I inspected the situation and noticed that the carb fell off at the intake. I pushed it back on, not knowing till now that it had been sitting there with no support since I put on the aftermarket a/c I didn't put any mounting hardware to attach it the the motor. after I put it on it would start and run with the choke out and ran real fast but wouldn't start with it in, I was wondering if that intake rubber gasket wasn't sitting right could it have been pulling air causing my problem. and I'm going to put the stock a/c back on if I can find one as I don't have mine anymore.

A support is particularly important in your case, since you hard-tailed it. Every bump on the back is a much harder shock on anything mounted, and with no support, it can just pop off.

Those rubber gaskets are easily damaged. I would recommend a replacement straight up, eliminate any guesswork.

You can buy a carb support bracket same as comes with several aftermarket air-cleaners separately & they're not very expensive. You could make one, but the carb will slip onto the manifold & appear to be OK when it's cocked off @ an angle, then the gasket will leak. The bracket I'm referring to attaches to the heads with the head-breather bolts & will line the carb back up the same as it was with the stock A/C backing plate.

well I got the carb seated back , the gasket looked fine, I gimmied a bracket for temporary just too see if that was the problem. still doing the same thing as before, maybe I can explain the symtom a little better. when the choke is in and I give it gas it acts like it's not getting any that's why I figure that when the choke is out it runs better but it still does it but not as bad. I don't get any backfire. kinda when you give it gas it gets a dead pause. anymore sugestions? could it be a timeing issue, coil, ignition, the jets. I've gone with the idle/mix screw from 1 turn to 3. guess it's beyond me so I'll have to take it in to the shop.

I'd bet you've still got an intake leak. The carb/intake seal can look fine & the carb can look like it's mounted straight but either one or both are still not right - been there, done that. Replace the seal & since you've got the stock A/C backing plate, put that on & get the carb mounted like it's supposed to be. Then you can adjust the idle mixture screw, etc.

The "choke" actually isn't - it's an "enrichener" - a separate fuel circuit that doesn't restrict airflow like a choke, but does add more fuel. When the engine runs better (warmed up) with it out that tells you the mixture's too lean & assuming proper jetting, that means intake manifold leak.

Another trick is to get it running and spray a little WD-40 or similar around the intake at the heads and at the cab and if the engine speed changes, there's your leak.

Listen to the boys - change the gasket. They got me out of the exact same problem a few weeks ago (Major Idle Problem post). Identical situation, identical symptoms. When I pulled the carb, the intake gasket looked fine. It was not. It had a hairline crease on one edge that kept it from seating, but you would have to put it under a magnifier to see it. Gaskets are cheap insurance. Otherwise you will drive yourself nuts looking for another cause.

I would say when your carb fell off it probably did damage to the gasket. Not that much $ to change and really not that hard to do. I bought one of the aftermarket brakets when I changed to the 37 airhorn (not a cleaner yet) and it was slick.

If that gasket got any damage (my guess would be stretched really my first one did that) you have an instant intake leak around the base of the carb. Another possible is that something broke loose in your fuel lines and blocked off your primary or main jet inside. That cuts fuel that the enricher will put back and would lead to a instant lean situation too. My guess would be main since it will idle.

Just options man, good luck. I know carbs can give you the syndrom quickly.

well I took it to the shop and should know tomorrow, and the gasket was streched when I put it on had problems because it acted to big, the tech said they have been having problems with the gas around here so that's what he will check first, I also have a problem with my headlight keeps blowin a fuse so there trackin that to. hope the damage isn't to big to the pocket book, I know the gaskets are about 7 bucks, heres your bill sir, 10 bucks in parts and 300 in labor. this is the indy's test, they have been good to me so far, gave me a free air filter saturday

got the bike back today. cost 240 to fix 23 bucks in parts the rest labor. the problem was I had a piece of plastic cloging my jet, so he put in a 165 and all is good, changed out my cv vacume line. my sevice book is on the next to buy list for sure now now for the horror story. the tech tells me today that my lic plate bracket is cracked and about to break off so he said he would fix it, yep he forgot, so when I got there at closeing to pick the bike up they went on a last joy ride, everyone at the shop was out side waiting for him and when he pulled up he says the tail light and lic plate broke off, the owner says where is it? he says I left it down the road, I didn't have any means to stop and carry it back:witsend: so then we made a hole new bracket and mounted it all back up with my busted taillight that had to be taped up, but in return since they didn't have another taillight I got some new black smoke signal lens covers and some amber bulbs, needless to say I think I'll find another shop if I need some work done. at least the bike is running like a champ with that new jet.

At least it's running well.

Every time I see this thread I think about when I first learned to ride. It was in 1980, and I had bought this hardtail Sportster from a guy who ended up being my first husband. I didn't know how to ride, and I learned on that thing. In the process, I hit a tree and knocked the carb off. We couldn't get proper clamps for the carb and ended up using radiator clamps to put it back on. This was in Atlanta. I then proceeded to ride the bike back to Daytona like that, with the carb falling off about every 50 miles or so. It's HOT to put it back on when it's been running. It was nuts. Finally got to Daytona and got some real clamps.

first morning I went out to ride to work, and as soon as I turned the bike over pop goes the carb:gah: so I put it back on and went to work, I'm gonna make another bracket for the other side on sunday, hope that will keep it on till I get that bracket, not to mintion the dill hole had my Idle/mix screw out 3 1/4 turns

I'm putting on a CV carb on my 75 sporrty...working on a bracket right now...Sure hope it's strong enough...Don't want my carb falling off....

165 would be main and I nailed one, Me a happy NOOB :roflmao: . Maybe all the headaches with my CV has taught me something .

Glad you got your scoot running correctly that is great news. I would have been sore at the dude that didn't pick up my plate and light. REAL SORE. That is BS all the way. I know the rest of the fab stuff won't be any problem for ya. If you got the rest of that bike put together a bracket or two isn't anything for ya. Again congrats on having your girl running again.

what did ya do

Did walk under a ladder to pick up broken glass while holding an umbrella inside?!
Wow hang in there seems like in comes in threes. So hope all is well for ya soon.
Later
Voo1

all good, just a little iffie if they say it's gonna rain:roflmao: