What next?

First off id like to say hello to e eryone here. Bought my first bike, its a 2006 harley sportster xl 883 custom with only 9 miles on it. The owner bought it and only rode it once before putti.g it in the garage. The bike would not start without starting fluid and then would die without it. Removed and cleaned every jet and hole in the carb, drained gas and checked for any clogged lines, checked fuel filter, put new gas in. Now bike will start but will not idle, I have to keep on the throttle a bit to keep it running. Idle and everything is still set at factory and assume I shouldn't have to mess with it when only 9 miles are on it. Paid?$2500.00 for the bike and its basically brand new. Not sure what else to do to get this thing going? Any ideas? P.s. I also changed oil and filter and spark plugs.

the vacum line is in good shape and firm fitting and no blockage

Make sure the carb is settled in the rubber gasket properly,no air leaks.it should idle.good luck,let us know.

seated properly and as far as i know no leaks anywhere

bike starts and idles now!! one of the jets just wasnt quite good enough. problem im having now is when the chokes on i can rev it but when i turn the choke off it dies as soon as i touch the throttle? doesnt matter if the bikes warmed up or if its cold.

check and make sure the accelorator pump is squirting. when you twist the throttle

im going to check both first thing in the morning. i appreciate all the help greatly!! im soo close to getting it going i can taste the bugs in my teeth lol

chances are that the pump diaphram is torn due to old fuel sitting in the carb for so long easy fix you will be up and running with a bunch of bugs in your teeth and hair!!!!

diaphram is in great shape, atleast it was the last 4 times i took it apart in the last couple days cleaning the carb. also accelerator pump was squirting fine when i had finally got it running.

Old fuel screws up carbs. Your problem is in the carb. Take apart and clean it again. Tiny orifices etc.

Ok champagne 2878 ,what part of the country do you live in,not that has anything to do with your problem ,just wondering.it really sounds like your sucken unwanted air somewhere,it don't take much.

Florida, i think cowboy might be right about the carb not being seated right and leaking air, when i put it on it was dark and just kinda slapped it in there so im hoping thats it. gonna go check it now and see what i can see. might not have set the float right though either, i looked in the service manual on how to set it but it was a little confusing.

well not sure if the carb was seated good or not but it is now for sure, acclerator pump is squirting fine. too late to start up and test if it was the carb sating or not though.

fuels been setting in there for a while, alls pretty much adjusted right initially. you've had the blasted thing apart a few times, again check for the suckin blow leaks, check for timing, sparkage, checked your diaphram, throw in about a half bottle of sea foam, had an piglet that I picked up for my son a while back that had a few issues and the sea foam cleaned up what I missed, and runs like a raped ape now..

I wood chec to sea if yer float is adjisted right. Prolly a long shot, but just check to sea if yer head gasket is leaken?

Had the same problem as you did and it turned out to be several things, all of which have already been covered here. Vacuum leaks are the most common culprit, though. The leaks can be either at the cylinder intakes or at the carb flange where you bolt it to the manifold. Make sure your idle mixture screw is adjusted correctly. Make sure your spark plugs are NEW and gapped correctly.

Sounds like you practically stole that sickle! Hope you get it up and running soon!

think i have the culprit, the rubber boot that attaches the carb to the manifold seems to be a little loose fitting and think it is sucking air. played around with it and now i can rev her hard, but if i gently rev her she backfires out of the carb and dies.