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[DannyNY]

Hi all, new here..
Got this bike a couple months ago.. Has 34,000 + miles, Stock (I'm pretty sure) 103 motor, Hi flow air cleaner, and Reinhardt True Duels. I had Harley check it out and they said Stage 1 tune is installed. It was running fine when I first got it but as time went on, it started popping out the pipes alittle on decel. At 2000 - 2500 RPM, it was bucking and hesitating. I held the throttle at 2000 RPM and it was dropping to 1500 for a sec and go back up every couple of seconds. Now, I don't know if it's the cold weather here in Daytona but It's running like crap! Farting, sputtering, bucking, popping.. alot!! Seems after it warms up to operating temp, even longer, it smooths out and is ridable but I can feel it's still there. Harley service said I need the SERT and the dyno tune to get it to run right. As much as I love this bike an $800+ "tune up" is NOT my way to go.. He also said that it's only gonna get worse.. Is that possible? There are no codes on the bike to say there's a sensor out somewhere.. Just looking for any input on what possibly be causing this. I also replaced the fuel canister in the fuel tank, and still the same. Sprayed some Gummout by the intake to see if there might be a leak but it's not. I ordered the V&H Fuelpak hoping that will correct it. I don't intend to modify/upgrade the engine at all. Any advice or input would be GREATLY appreciated. If I missed anything in my description, please ask away.. This is driving me NUTS!!
Thanks in advance

[Ironhorse]

Danny,

Start with the basic checks for intake or exhaust leaks. Take carb cleaner or WD40 and spray it around the intake and listen for engine speed changes. Then take your bic long neck and hold the flame up against every exhaust joint starting from the head back. If there is a leak, the flame will flicker.

Open you fuel tank and turn the ignition on. You should hear a whine telling you the fuel pump is running. If you hear a hiss, it could mean you have a leak in the internal lines.

Others will have suggestions too.

Mark

[Twolanerider]

Danny, as Mark suggested above find out why it's not running right and get that corrected.  Be very very suspect, however, of the advice from the dealer you described to tune away the problem. 

As you described the bike ran fine then it did not.  The existing tune did not change in that time.  So something else on the bike must have.  That being so the tune is as good as it ever was.  Find and fix the driveability problem and the bike will run fine again.

There are many issues that will cause a bike to run poorly that won't throw a code.  Mark mentioned many.  So don't let the lack of a code make you believe there is a lack of a problem.  The dealer trying to dismiss basic troubleshooting and immediately throw you an expensive tune is your first problem; though it's an easy one to avoid (just don't give him your money).

[DannyNY]

Thanks Mark and Twolane.. As I said, I sprayed some Gummout by the intake and no idle speed change.. I will take Marks advice about the Exhaust leak check and the fuel tank check. I knew it really couldn't be the tune, I haven't done anything to the bike to change that..
Thanks guys.. will let you know the findings.

[hdbrad03]

The internal fuel lines are known to develop pin holes thus reducing fuel pressure.


 


   Brad

[DannyNY]

Thank you Brad.. I read about that.. I should have replaced the other line when I did the filter change.. I'm thinking now that moving it around may have stressed the other line giving me problems now..
Thanks again

[DannyNY]

Just checked the fuel tank.. it's a little to early to fire it up now lol I hear a kinda scratching sound for a spit second and then just the whining of the fuel pump.. Would it be hissing the whole time I have the ignition on after the fuel pump stops?

[Fired00d]

The internal fuel lines are known to develop pin holes thus reducing fuel pressure.


 


   Brad

Was thinking the same thing.

Danny do you notice it getting better/worse depending on amount of fuel in the tank? IE notice it less on a full tank and/or worse as the tank decreases in fuel?

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[Bulldog]

Mine was doing the same thing. I had everybody telling me my power commander was bad, all kind of stuff. Then a guy I trusted said got to Auto Zone and get 2 new spark plugs. took about 5 minutes and she was running like new again. Sometimes it is the simple things.

[grandpa geez]

Just curious as to know if problem was ever diagnosed and/or fixed??? 

[DannyNY]

Sorry for the delay reporting the fix. It was the simplest thing.. I took off the air cleaner and I had some K&N cleaner laying around and cleaned and oiled the filter and it's been running like a champ ever since. Thanks for all the help and suggestions.. You were all very helpful

Danny

[Dead_Reckoning]

Sorry for the delay reporting the fix. It was the simplest thing.. I took off the air cleaner and I had some K&N cleaner laying around and cleaned and oiled the filter and it's been running like a champ ever since. Thanks for all the help and suggestions.. You were all very helpful

Danny

Nice to hear the Issue has been resolved.
My neighbor, Carol, started having the same issues. I showed here hoe to Gap & Change her Plugs and Remove and clean the K&N Filter.
All was right with the world after that.

I have been told by several peeps that running a bottle of Lucas Fuel treatment through it doesn't hurt either.
once a year I run Lucas and Marvel Mystery through my fuel.


I have also seen another Bike that it turned out to be a hairline crack in the after cylinder exhaust header


In both instances neither bike need a Fresh Tune,

DR