What would cause a WLA to stall when warm

[Lethal Farce]

Thanks for all the help. I think I found the problem. Pulled the carb and the bowl and main jet were full of junk. I will get a few new parts and it should be going by next weekend. I should have done that first, just being lazy and looking for some easy fix. I will let you know. I milled a plate to make a leak test connection and will pick up a regulator and fittings at work. Once I am done, if anybody wants to borrow it, it will be available.
LF

[evoKENevo]

I dunno,LF...like frisco said, a lean condition (blocked fuel delivery/poorly venting cap,etc) would seem most likely to queer things at higher speeds VS lower speeds,where delivery volume is'nt as critical...noting that,as he also mentioned, a rich condition would tend to make a cold start easier,possibley TOO rich,down there,for a hot/warm engine. All that and Wright's theory makes sense,as well...except that the closing of point gap (via wear on the breaker arm fiber VS manual resetting with good fibers) queers/retards ign. timing...making me wonder/ask IF the "cheating" by retarding the distributor a bit MIGHT be confused (after so long) with actually having advanced it a bit to compensate ?? In any case,when the point-gap gets TOO close, there's a constant arc/contact between points,that even a good condenser can't break/absorb...thus no shorter route to ground than the points/arc VS the.necessay, next shorter route via coils/plugs & spark/arc...as in NO or MINIMAL spark...and/or too much ign. advance OR retard on the low-end...in
MY mind anyhow !!

But,"hey"...let us know what developes...ok ???

[frisco-rigid]

Hey evoKen

You mis-read me..

I said a venting prob would affect higher RPMs--- Not idle or approaching idle..
A vent issue woulda killed the motor before he got down to idle which is where he said the prob occured.. A poorly venting cap can usually keep up with Low RPM's..

I uh, well you know, ahh, I did suggest debris in the carb also..
Now lets just keep our fingers crossed that it's really the prob and will now be remedied..

[Lethal Farce]

Good points guys. No pun intended. I will check the points today and see how they look.
LF

[evoKENevo]

Yo,frisco:
I don't think I mis-read you...but,in re-reading my own post,I could see where it might have seemed that way. So,I've edited it to clarify (hopefully) that I'm in agreement with BOTH you and Wright...on a subject we could ALL be "off track" on here..

Hey,Lethal:
Whadda-ya-mean.."no pun intended"...of course it was intended !!!

PS..crud in the carb sure was'nt helping anything..keep us posted..and,best of luck.

[Lethal Farce]

Found a big manifold leak on the rear jug this morning. Carb is done and waiting to test, but first have to find a 1 7/8 wrench. Is fixing the leak as simple as tightening the nuts, or do I need to get new seals and clean all surfaces up?
LF

[evoKENevo]

Lethal:
You could TRY just tightening the nuts..which just MIGHT work,at least TEMPORARILY..especially if you were to smear a little hi-temp RTV silicone on the old seals/surfaces. Hell..guys have been PATCHING things up with "bailing wire & bubble gum" for DECADES now. BUTT..I highly doubt it..and,would go with doing things the RIGHT way (new seals & clean surface,etc.) for the OBVIOUS reasons.

To WHOM it MAY concern:
Although ignition timing,etc.,may have nothing to do with this situation,the whole thing has been bouncing around in my head..and, something occured to me (slight flaw in thinking) forcing me to re-edit my earlier post (#22 here) yet again...damn this "oldztimers" disease !!

[Wrightturn]

Good morning,

You are correct that the timing was being advanced to correct a problem. The points would burn and raise a small peak which would close the gap. They could also burn away and widen the gap. The block could wear and close the gap. Points are fun. You developed a relationship and could sense what was wrong based on experience with the motor. I still have one bike with breaker points. They are cleaned and set long before they show any personality.

Dwell angle can screw up your day. The trike I rode was a test site for abuse.
It lived behind the shop in the rain and snow. Never had an oil change since it leaked enough to make it pointless. This was a Norton/Ducati dealer that didn`t give a damn about a Harley anything. The trike had been a "nickel snatcher" used by a "meter maid" for the city. I have no idea what became of it. When I bestowed maintenance upon it I was allowed to go somewhere and get back. Parts are still available for this motor which is amazing. My comments were based on "hands on" what screwed up most often experience. Clean the carb, replace the intake gaskets, make sure you have clean gas to the carb and you can go somewhere.

[frisco-rigid]

EvoKen
Did you Google that info in order to edit your post..? Credibility baby.........



Basically,,, the points have to be waaay close and or dirty to start arcing..
Arcing is usually from being old and and waaay used..
BUT--
Also from from too much juice from the coil.. That is why you must use the correct OHM coil, about 5 ohms for points.. Also a defective condenser, but a bad condenser usually just dies or screws up at high temp.. I've dealt with all these probs but this info is readily available everywhere..

Keeping points adjusted and run a points file through them periodically when they start to show wear will dis-courage arcing..

Dwell is the time the coil builds up a charge, the closer the point gap-- more dwell, the wider point gap-- less dwell.. Too much of either you lose power..

As always, Wright is dead on-- dwell is important but simply,, if the points are correct the dwell will be with-in specs..
Points are still my fav ignition-- They run my 120" marvelously..!

It's been over 30 years since I had a "plumbers intake" so I cannot remember any tricks, but definitely change the seals, clean, and tighten correctly..
All of our intake nuts had big marks on em cuz we just used a Stillson (monkey) wrench or channel locks..
If you want the directions for installing the Plumbers Intake I will scan em and send em to you.. Send me your E-mail add..
You've ended up just doing the process of elimination anyway huh..

[evoKENevo]

Yo,frisco
No...I did'nt "google"...did you ??