Poor running Sportster Harley Evo Sportster Discuss Poor running Sportster in the Harley Sportster & Buell forums; I have an 07' 1200C which is running like crap, and I am begining to fall out of love with the machine. I have the following add ons that started ...

I have an 07' 1200C which is running like crap, and I am begining to fall out of love with the machine.

I have the following add ons that started the problem:

V&H Fuelpak
V&H Slip Ons (quiete baffles)
K&N RK 2939 (3929 cant remember the exact code)


The bikes an EFI machine, and it just does not run, it idles ok but under any load it backfires and the same on decel.

I have since removed the fuel pack runs ok but no speed 80 mph max, seems like it sucking in too much air, although the filter is designed for the 1200 sportster.

On the fitting instruction it mention something about removing a sensor led from the stock airfilter, but mine had no such sensor...

Has anyone made this set up work, if so how and what the hell am I doing wrong...?

I modest desperation...

Brigger

[JCourneyaP]

Long time no hear Brigger.
Weather treating you good on the otherside of the pond?

Did you call Vance and Hines and work with them? Work with them on resolution! May have a bad unit. Until they get it fixed throw the old air intake back on. Computer Dowloads.......You can look at a jet and guess the size or read a number on it. You never know what you just downloaded.

Originally Posted by JCourneyaP

Long time no hear Brigger.
Weather treating you good on the otherside of the pond?

Did you call Vance and Hines and work with them? Work with them on resolution! May have a bad unit. Until they get it fixed throw the old air intake back on. Computer Dowloads.......You can look at a jet and guess the size or read a number on it. You never know what you just downloaded.

Hi M8,

Its been a hectic rally season, but the weather killed most of the fun, we had our summer two weeks ago it was the weekend which co-incided witht the Ace Cafe's London 70th Annual Brighton 'Burn-Up'. 16,000 biker attended fro all over the country and Europe.

Harks back to the mods and rockers days of the 1960's, when they used to batter each other to death on the beaches of Brighton, Margate and Southend each year on every bank holiday of the year....

and it was the 50th Anniversary of the '59' Club... and old Rockers clubs which kept the 'ton-up' boys off of the streets, The Vicar that started the club all those years ago still rides and attends... (though not this year)

Back to my 1200C my fuelpak is not the 'down loadable type' its programable one with the a sheet of codes. I have tried V&H had one reply and then my emails either failed to get thru' or were ignored. The worst thing is, that UK V&H dealers will not support items purchased from the states... I'm sure there is some statutory obligation, but they simply refuse..

So I have $1000.00 of kit I cant really use... (depressed)

Brigger

[shovelmike]

Great to see you on the forum again, Brigger. Sorry you are having such grief with the Sporty, it's bad to part with your hard earned money and have the bike run worse! Have you checked to make sure you haven't got a vacuum leak somewhere? The symptoms lead me to think that's a real possibility.

Originally Posted by shovelmike

Great to see you on the forum again, Brigger. Sorry you are having such grief with the Sporty, it's bad to part with your hard earned money and have the bike run worse! Have you checked to make sure you haven't got a vacuum leak somewhere? The symptoms lead me to think that's a real possibility.

Hi M8,

Thanks for the reply

Re: vacuum, not sure how I would check that I am not mechanically minded...

VBrigger

[shovelmike]

Examine the vacuum line to the petcock to make sure there are no cracks in it, with the bike idling spray WD40 around the seals between the heads and intake manifold and head and manifold and throttle body..if the RPM increases there is a leak.
If that doesn't reveal anything, try some codes from other similar intake/exhaust combinations..you'll be trying to find a map that's a little richer.
I know it's not good to hear at this point but I favor the Power Commander III USB. It's a little more flexible. You download from a good selection of maps. If the closest matching map is still too lean you can use the buttons on the unit to add fuel (or subtract if rich). Those who are really computer savvy (not me) can change the values in the individual cells (RPM and throttle opening %). A knowledgeable dyno operator with an exhaust analyzer can create a custom map.
I hope you get the bugs worked out. Ride safe and God bless. Sincerely: Shovelmike.

[Wrightturn]

Hey Brigger,

The symptoms sound like a vacum leak like Shovelmike suggested. Remove the breather and backing plate. Look for loose sensor on top of the intake manifold that air could enter. Start the bike and spray a light oil or solvent around the manifold and listen for the bike to smooth out for a few seconds. If it does you have found the leak.

I would also check for a parts mismatch. Get the part number for the Fuel Pac and the K&N parts. Did you get the K&N backing plate or just the filter ? The 07 EFI has some changes from the 04-06 bikes. If you can post the numbers I will be glad to check them and make sure they work on an 07.

Haven`t been to your side of the pond in 12 years. Rented a Sportster and had a great vacation (holiday). Keep an eye open for Vincent parts.

Originally Posted by shovelmike

Examine the vacuum line to the petcock to make sure there are no cracks in it, with the bike idling spray WD40 around the seals between the heads and intake manifold and head and manifold and throttle body..if the RPM increases there is a leak.
If that doesn't reveal anything, try some codes from other similar intake/exhaust combinations..you'll be trying to find a map that's a little richer.
I know it's not good to hear at this point but I favor the Power Commander III USB. It's a little more flexible. You download from a good selection of maps. If the closest matching map is still too lean you can use the buttons on the unit to add fuel (or subtract if rich). Those who are really computer savvy (not me) can change the values in the individual cells (RPM and throttle opening %). A knowledgeable dyno operator with an exhaust analyzer can create a custom map.
I hope you get the bugs worked out. Ride safe and God bless. Sincerely: Shovelmike.

Thanks Shovelmike,

Test that out tonight, if it ever stops raining... guess I better consider a Sportster powered Ark....

Kev

[shovelmike]

Just hook that belt to a paddle wheel in the stern and you're good to go.

Originally Posted by Wrightturn

Hey Brigger,

The symptoms sound like a vacum leak like Shovelmike suggested. Remove the breather and backing plate. Look for loose sensor on top of the intake manifold that air could enter. Start the bike and spray a light oil or solvent around the manifold and listen for the bike to smooth out for a few seconds. If it does you have found the leak.

I would also check for a parts mismatch. Get the part number for the Fuel Pac and the K&N parts. Did you get the K&N backing plate or just the filter ? The 07 EFI has some changes from the 04-06 bikes. If you can post the numbers I will be glad to check them and make sure they work on an 07.

Haven`t been to your side of the pond in 12 years. Rented a Sportster and had a great vacation (holiday). Keep an eye open for Vincent parts.

Hi Wrighty....

Im getting confused now.... us sons of the 50's are a little slow on the uptake...!!

Breather ? Backplate? I fitted a K&N RK 3929 (or 2939) air filter specificall for 1200C sportsters.

When I remove the original equipment filter backplate (I assume thats what we are taking about) there was not a breather or any signs of a breather being fitted. I simply removed the original filter and replace the backplate with the K&N item. The orignal cover was suppossed to fit the filter, however the K&N plate it is about 1/4 to 1/2" smaller than the original plate.. could this be the problem...?

Brigger