Jetting CV carb

I think it would be a good starting point. 1/2 turn or more in or out from 2 1/2 turns on the mixture screw to dial in the pilot would mean go bigger or smaller on the slow jet, but I don't think you'll need bigger than a 45.:devil:

The idle mixture adjustment would be the place to start & as mentioned, from what I've seen, the stock needle on '04-'06 models works fine. I haven't played with the "Bonehead" ('04-up) models, but I do know the heads & cams, neither of which have made tuning a CV any different from before & I know several folks who have the newer models & have already experimented. Two ended up shimming the stock needle with a brass washer, one went to a 44 slow jet, but only because there's not a 43 available & the majority have found leaving the slow alone is best - as it has been for years & years. Might want to get a 175 & a 185 main to play with - the combination of XB heads & W cams is the reason for the 180 from the factory & you might end up going right back to it. But jets are cheap & since the exhaust crossover was moved, even easier to change. Great to go the dyno if there's one available & you've got the $$$ to spend, but a couple jets, a screwdriver & a little trial & error will get you pretty darn close to ideal.

Thanks for the great advice!!!! I've asked this question on a couple of forums and this is the first answer that is complete, well thought out and obviously written by someone who is an expert!!

This is a great place to be!

rejett

thanks for the info Art .. good Advice

I certainly agree & have preached "system" over individual parts. I like the N65C since you can get one cheap & most H-D dealerships carry them in stock, but it may not be the right needle for your particular application. It works great in '91-'03 Sportsters, but is it right for a Big Twin of a certain model? That I can't say. But for $8 you can find out & if making the needle change makes a noticeable difference in how the engine runs, then you know the needle was the problem.

With respect to the '04-up XL models, there were some major changes made & that's why what worked on earlier Evo models won't necessarily work on the "Boneheads", but the stock needle seems to work well. As previously mentioned, I don't know when H-D started putting the W grind cams in all XL models - they did in 1200's as of '04, but not sure when the 883's started coming with them too.

The W cams are different from the D grind cams which came in all Sportsters '91-'03 (except the '98-'03 1200S models) & while the lobe pattern isn't radically different, it certainly does change the tuning. And there's a big difference in 883 & 1200 heads, although you can't see it from the outside.