SE 44 mil carb - Harley Forum

03fxst · #1 04-25-2009, 08:30 PM

Hey lads and lasses

Thinking about going up to the Screaming Eagle 44 carb and intake manifold kit. Does the bigger throat make that much of a difference in power. My heads flow at 135 cfm max intake and 111 cfm max exhaust. Does that leave me with a great deal of untapped potential in terms of air that the stock manifold and carb cannot deliver on? I also run the SE air intake and SE II slip ons.

still chasing the ponies...
03FXST

Wrightturn · #2 04-25-2009, 09:42 PM

Been there done that. Displacement, air flow, and engine build are all factors. With proper jets it works very well.

I hear a lot about being over carbed but there is a lot to consider. The few Mikunis I have worked with have changed my thinking. My wife rides an 800cc metric with two 36mm carbs. Works fine. I rode a 450cc Honda with two 40mm carbs that performed great. I still own a 1.5 inch Amal that was too much for a 500cc BSA single. That carb is in a box with an S&S Super G.

Live and learn.

frisco-rigid · #3 04-26-2009, 03:28 AM

Well hello again 03 & Wright too

If I remember right,, your motor is 95" now,,,, yes.???

The larger throat makes a big diff in butterfly carbs like the S&S's.. Too much venturi will bog you down in the lower range.. But that is moot here cuz I believe the 44mm SE is a CV which is more forgiving..

However----
I think you will be blown away with a 45 Mik for reasons you've heard from me before.. More power and better mileage than from all the B's E's G's SU's, Keihins, Bendix's, Linkerts, (hmmm, shouldn't even be in this list) etc etc I've used over time..

I have a used spare----pay shipping both ways and try it out..

BTW-- I can say with NO exaggeration or embelishment--- we have Not heard ONE ping outa any of our motors on these 116* summer days that we ride in, down here in the Phoenix Valley, since switching to Mik's..
Of course over-all tuning is vital..

03fxst · #4 04-26-2009, 07:22 PM

Thanks guys
Frisco I might just take you up on that very kind offer. Will a 45 mik fit my stock manifold for the test and will my exisiting SE breather fit it? I know I have to go the a bigger manifold for the SE 44 carb but both the carb and manifold combined cost less than the Mik alone. When you say the CV is more forgiving what do you mean? This weekend's ping pong hill climb was a not too subtle reminder that I am trying to build a daily commuter that is still an arm streatching beast when I twist it up. When I have to sacrifice a small bit of power for rideability I have mostly gone that route.
I'm going to do a little more research before deciding if I need to step up to the bigger carb. Okay, need is the wrong word there. I just went back to the decemver 2005 issue where Donny started his TC performance series. That's where the hook was first set for me and I want to remember everything that went into my planning.

Is there a cure for this.....
03FXST

frisco-rigid · #5 04-26-2009, 09:03 PM

Hi 3

The Constant Velocity part of the CV is what kinda forgives a toooo big carb..
As you crack the throttle, opening the butterfly, the slide rises as intake is needed.. In this manner the air/intake velocity doesn't have a chance to slow down and Bog down the motor..
If you ever ran a, just for giggles, Super G on a, just for giggles again, 61" panhead you would immediately know what I mean by Bog Down..

Now to compare to a Mik..
There is no actual Venturi.. The opening between the bottom of the slide and the carb throat IS the Venturi..
When you twist the wick the slide rises increasing the opening//Venturi..
If you crank it tooo fast and DO overcome the changing venturi slowing the velocity somewhat the Accel pump covers you like a good buddy..

If you want to try this I will send Carb and AC and some AC mounting hardware to support unit.. The operator (that's you) needs to figure out how to mount..
The OD of the carb throat spigot is 1.925".. Your OEM manifold spigot ID would need to be a tad under that..
OR I could send the manifold adapter.. It mounts to an S&S E type Flange manifold with a bolt center of 2.750" and the carb spigot slips into it..
That's what i use..
You would need to get correct length Throttle cable..

The cheapest I have found (perhaps somebody knows a better price) is $260 delievered for just the 45, no AC etc.. When I buy the carbs that is how I buy them,,,,, bare-bones and use my own mounting and other stuff..
When these guys send me the carbs with a motor they send the whole Kit-n-kaboodle..
OR
For the Whole kit $445.. Both are outa Jireh Cycles..

I have no dog in this hunt,,,,I don't care what you decide on,,,I am simply giving a wee assist..

Have a ball

03fxst · #6 04-28-2009, 09:07 AM

Wow, talk about a reality check. Glad you raised the pricing Frisco.
I went to the dealer and an aftermarket shop yesterday to see what the cost would be. The Mikuni kit here with manifold, breather and all fittings and gaskets is just over nine hundred dollars. The SE 44 with everything is just under 500. So, how much better is that Mikuni? And will a 44 give me enough kick for the five hundred. Maybe I should re-tune the CV and spend the money on a nice chrome springer front end...Maybe some progressive shocks underneath...

You gotta pony up to pony up..
03FXST

tommyglide · #7 04-28-2009, 01:31 PM

Hi 03, you are not to far from Ace and I'm sure he said he tweaks the stock carbs with good results. I think I'm sure he said that.

frisco-rigid · #8 04-28-2009, 02:12 PM

Hey 3

I bet a dime to a doughtnut the full 45 Mik Kit at under 500 will give more than the SE 44 at under 500..

However, like Tommy sugg's, perhaps if you have your current carb tuned real good, it's not difficult, it may at least give a wee more than it has been giving..

Contacting Ace might be worth considering..

Wrightturn · #9 04-28-2009, 02:32 PM

Hey 03,

Don`t give up on the stock carb. As far as the detonation problem is concerned you don`t need a 44 or a Mik to solve it. Not that a Mik wouldn`t be nice to have. Get to know the stock carb. Don`t overtighten the mixture screw or tear the diaphragm and they are hard to screw up. Don`t waste money on kits with lots of jets you are never goig to use. A needle and a few low speed jets can make a dramatic change for less than $15.00. DON`T drill the slide. I have lots of jets. Tell me what you have and I will mail you the next larger size.

milindh · #10 04-28-2009, 03:12 PM

If I had $500 laying around and wanted to upgrade a carb set up I'd definitely go with a Mikuni Total Kit. Last year they were going for $455 from Jireh and that included everything-Carb, manifold, fittings, new hi-flow Mikuni/K&N filter, backing plate,.. etc. Just bolt it on an go. If for some reason you want to do things a little more custom (like different air filter configuration) you could buy the bare carb like Frisco says.

Aside from Mikunis being the best performing , easiest to tune, and offering the best tuning info, I'm just on a an anti-Harley parts jag these days. Their recent price increases, often double or more than they were eight months ago have soured my lingering taste for OEM stuff. Of course you could tweak your stocker but you'd still have to get a new air cleaner anyway.