Carb Problem

Energy One

John C

New Member
Hello everyone, I am new here at "Big Dog Biker" and wanted to say thank you for having me. I am having an issue with my Bike and was hoping someone could help me out with a possible solution? I just had a new Throttle cable put on and made all the adjustments to my SS Super E Carburetor and all seemed well. The wife and I took Her out for a test ride and after a mile or so the Bike felt as though the engine had stopped and there was nothing when I turned the throttle? All of a sudden it would get gas and buck and go a little bit and then quit again then the gas would come back and she would do this back to the garage. After sitting for a few minutes she will run great then when she warms up so to speak the problem started again. I am sure it is something simple but would appreciate any thoughts on what it could be. Thank you for any help with this situation...John
 

roadie1389

Well-Known Member
First - check the little black rubber caps on the vacuum ports are one there. Should be 2, one on intake and one on the top carb body. Next, did you recently rebuild it or just new cable? I'd clean the bowl out and make sure no junk is in there. Then start from the beginning default settings for the carb. Get the SuperE manual and tuning guide from SS website, https://www.sscycle.com/tech-info/instructions-data/carb-quick-guide .

That's the first places I'd start.
 

knothead

Second Chance Customs
Welcome from Tennessee....
So a super e and super g carb are pretty much the same just one is bigger for bigger engines as far as jetting and so forth...

How long has the bike been sitting no riding it?...is the gas old?....like 2 or 3 month old gas?...let us know that answer and we go from there
 

John C

New Member
No the gas is not old. It idles fine, throttles fine at idle and runs great for about a mile then she acts like she isn't getting any gas and doesn't shut off, she just doesn't ride. Then all of a sudden the throttle will respond and she will buck and ride about 20 or 30 feet and do it again. The second time I pulled into a store lot and sat about five minutes. Started Her up and she ran great about a mile back to the garage. It only seems to happen after about a mile or so and She is all the way warm. Until that point she runs strong and smooth.
 

SKOGDOG

One of the old ones.
Roger had an issue one time that was because his fuel line was obstructed. It had been pulled too hard during installation and interfered with fuel flow, especially at startup. I would definitely look at the fuel line from the tank to the carburetor. Just undo the fuel line at the carb and be sure the flow is adequate. If so, you can look at the carb then Sediment bowl, and settings as Eric described above.
Sure sounds like a fuel supply issue.
 

awg

Guru
I was thinking the same thing Mike. Sounds like it is starving for fuel. Like vapor lock. Maybe the gas cap has that thing in it that everyone takes out.
 

bdm7250

Guru
Supporting Member
:agree: Sounds like it could possibly be vapor lock, also could have chunks of liner plugging up the petcock. It's easy to drain the tank and pull the petcock. Could be a plugged crossover line as well.
 

John C

New Member
The fuel is flowing without blockage. As I stated earlier, She starts without a problem, idles fine and runs great for about a mile then it's like the gas just stops and then comes back on and She will lurch forward as she catches fuel and then dies again and repeats. Let her sit a few minutes and she runs great again. It's more a jet issue I am thinking?
 

John C

New Member
I opened the Bowl Plug yesterday and there was plenty of clean fuel in there. I just don't get why She will run strong and tight for the first few minutes and then start up. Then, like I said if I let Her sit a few minutes, she will fire back up and ride strong again but only a short distance and then the problem happens again. I am riding along and all of sudden I just loose throttle but she still running. Then she will start jumping and bucking. No backfire or smoke, no popping so I am leaning toward a jet or adjustment issue.
 

SKOGDOG

One of the old ones.
I still suspect the tank liner, petcock, or fuel supply hose. Did you remove the supply hose at the carb and check the flow for 30 seconds or so?
 

SEAL-rider

Active Member
New user signed up yesterday - what bike? - what engine? E-carb gives some hints. 2005 117? You stated that you or someone else replaced the throttle cable and made all the adjustments. What adjustments? If only the throttle cable was changed no adjustments were necessary other than cable tension. What else was adjusted. I would start there. If the mixture screw was adjusted, then Iightly turn it to bottom it out and count the turns. 1 - 1.75 is common. Open back up to where it was. If less than 1 turn try opening 1/4 turn. If more than 1.75 try closing 1/4 turn. Always warm the engine first. If one of the adjustments improves the situation you are on the right track. There are some good vids on youtube on adjusting S&S carbs.
 

HMAN

I just like my Freedom
Supporting Member
To me it sounds like your gas cap is not venting correctly. Or perhaps the tank vent line is plugged, or as Skogdog suggested tank liner coming loose and clogging the petcock? Just more stuff to check. For shits n giggles, before you ride next, lightly loosen the gas cap, not enough to cause a spill, and see if ya have the same one mile issue?
 

SEAL-rider

Active Member
To me it sounds like your gas cap is not venting correctly. Or perhaps the tank vent line is plugged, or as Skogdog suggested tank liner coming loose and clogging the petcock? Just more stuff to check. For shits n giggles, before you ride next, lightly loosen the gas cap, not enough to cause a spill, and see if ya have the same one mile issue?
Why would the gas cap become an issue after he changed the throttle cable? Unless the heat wave was a factor.
 

HMAN

I just like my Freedom
Supporting Member
Because he didnt actually do the install himself. Its hard to say what the hell happens when these bikes sit at someones shop? Landmark caps have been known to have venting issues. When it occurs.....who can say? I was trying to rule out simple stupid shit. Cause thats all I know.
 
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