Delboy's Garage, Lowering Harley Sportster idle speed, and Vlog.

[@LicoDays]

Thanks! Very useful information. I’m a new rider with a 2015 Sportster 883, who was wondering how to lower the RPM of my bike. Thankfully I saw this video before I ruined my Bike.

[@Moonfleet41]

Thank you so much Frederico for your kind and generous donation, it all goes towards making the videos and running the projects, so it's very much appreciated.. Glad the information could help you out!

[@aboutmyfathersbusiness8324]

Dropped my idle on my 2010 Road Glide 7 months ago to 800 rpm. According to the dash gauges, they show amps are reasonably steady between 12.5 and 13.0. All running lights are on and no issues with the fuel pump. Oil stays steady at 30 psi (just as stock 1100 rpm). No issues at all. At idle. my 1980 Shovelhead has 10 psi of oil pressure when hot. No issues with the motor for 26 years. Just replaced the main seal in the transmission as it no longer held oil. I am now reasonably convinced the high idle on the later models is an emissions requirement.

[@ChuckWood]

keeps the cat hot.

[@Wilbarrow]

Sir I would like to just say THANK YOU very much for sharing your incredible knowledge with us. This world is a better place with you on it. Take care and keep the shinny side up.

[@Moonfleet41]

Thanks Larry, you are very kind sir, im glad the videos can help and inspire you.. thanks for wathcing, and take care.. Del.

[@scotlan6114]

you are correct.. I used the FP3 Fuelpak to adjust my idle which is specific to temperature. the higher the temp, the slower the idle and vice versa..colder the engine temp, the higher the idle. the Fuelpak Tuner does allow a user to adjust and set the idle, and I'm glad to have come across this vid. excellent info which I will keep in consideration when tuning. Thanks.

[@MultiSim0n]

Thanks for information. Thought mine was ticking over too fast but feel confident now that all is well. You sent a reply to me a while ago about Velociraptor air cleaner. Got it all sorted and jets done and it's great. When I get stuck again I'll let you know. Keep up the great work! Simon.

[@Moonfleet41]

Steeve, you really are too kind, those are amazing comments to make, and i truly appreciate it, i think 8/10 riders know something, and could pass it on if they tried, and if we all shared our knowlegde, imagine what a powerful collective force we would be, im no mechanic, you need certificates to call yourself that, but any rider can learn the basics to keep thier bike safe, but so many dont, its up to us who do, to put a hand on our brothers shoulders, and bring them along with us..peace. Del.

[@Moonfleet41]

Hi Kate, i wont go into a How-To, becaue i dont think thats what you want....but maybe this can help, there are three kinds of Sportster engine..an 883, a 1200, and a converted 883.. the 883 has lower crank gearing, so the lesser power can cope pulling away, and the 1200 has bags more power so doesnt need lower gearing... so when you convert an 883, you end up with a bike that has loads of power AND nice low crank gearing..making a fiesty fun bike...and better than both.(which is then an XR1200)

[@Moonfleet41]

Hi mate, thanks, am aware of all that, but it's important to keep the information simple, anyone with your knowledge would know better than to do it anyway... thanks for watching, appreciate your input, Del

[@smock19nathan]

You have to be one of the best explainers i have ever watched, great job! I have a 07 1200 and would love to hear it gallup, but i would rather hear it run for years to come. Much thanks from the U.S.A.

[@Moonfleet41]

Hello Ryu. thank you for your question....Yes you can install some different shock absorbers on your Harley, and as long as you only change the size by a maximum of 2 inches then that is fine.... I have a short video on the adjustment of the throttle cables, i will send you that in a private mail, but have no video of how to change them, we only film the things we do here, not all jobs.. sorry not to be more help... take care, Del.

[@Moonfleet41]

Thanks Jim.. yeah you're right... i always say it this way..."Did the bikers of the 1930's get all dreamy eyed about the bikes if 1915, did they try to make them sound the same or look the same..."No, of course not, they embraced the new age and better technology and never looked back... and much as Harley bikes are designed to evoke a laid back past era, they are modern reliable efficient bikes and should be embaced as such, just like our Brothers from 70 years ago did. thanks for watching Del.

[@Moonfleet41]

Thanks ZX you're very kind, The point here is that there are many new harley owners, some investing £10,000 or more in thier new pride and joy...and they follow the old historic rose tinted dreams into harley ownership, often without realising that a modern harley has very little in common with the old vintage bikes..everyone loves the old charming beat of a 60 year old bike, but to try and make your modern bike do that has a hidden danger i wanted to highlight..thanks for watching... Del.

[@Moonfleet41]

Hey Lars, i cant see any reason why you would need to upgrade the oil feed, unless you are running more power via bigger pistons and revving the bike out more. If you wanted to drop your idle speed then it wont hurt to make the oil do a bit more work.but remember you still load more pressure on the bearings as there is less resiprocating inersia and the cylinder firing hits harder against the big ends..but all in all, upgrading oil feed is never a bad move..hope that makes sense, good luck, Del.

[@Moonfleet41]

Hi Prof...yeah you can side step the dealer for that...the little electirc modules are plug and play.. they all come with instructions, and fit 'piggy back' with your existing ECU, you just connect them up and cable tie them under the left side panel.. Google a few options, "Kytech", "Power Commander" "V&H", lots of after market options..and most of all, as long as its not running lean, and you are happy with the performance, then you can live without it...but it will make it a bit crisper.Del.

[@Moonfleet41]

hey Byron, good to hear from you buddy, its all just boring crap from the past, but at some point it can teach us lessons for the future....too much information makes you a nerd, so i temper it back a bit..lol.. thanks for watching mate... Del.

[@Brentboy111]

Direct and to the point. Brilliant! Have wondered about this all winter. I always work on the principle of "just make it happen" when it come to my nightster. Ok Del,got it mate,shall not be touching it in any way. I also realise how I knackered my old '81 sportster. Genius vid's. You da man!

[@hazepennington9303]

This guy knows his stuff about Harley's, I like it when a technician tells you exactly what can happen from doing certain modifications to your Motorcycle,, he's right in everything he said..💯👍

[@Moonfleet41]

Hi Karl, congratulations on the Dyna, they are, in my opinion, the best Harley model and for me, the less frippery and dangly bits the better, give me a black Streetbob any day! ... Always happy to help if I can, get an avalanche of e-mails every day, but I'll do my best! ... Happy riding, Del

[@byronand5]

Really interesting background and technical info, thanks mate! I don't get the chance to just hang-out with anyone who knows a lot about Harleys so Del's Garage is the next best thing!

[@Moonfleet41]

yeah i got that....the the issue is not that "we cant fix them with a lolly stick and some blue tack" its that now days we dont NEED TO... they dont go wrong... they just work...and baring a puncture, almost nothing will stop a modern harley from getting you where you want to go......and im sure that even back in those sepia tinted days we all remember... we would have far prefered NOT to break down and have to bodge it home...but to just make it all the bloody way home...lol.. cheers mate Del.

[@zx8401ztv]

I know nothing about harleys but its dam good advise, if you want old then buy old but expect to work on the old beast a lot to keep it happy. As far as requests are concerned, your a nice bloke and you know what your doing, people will see you as a fountain of knowedge and you dont mind sharing your knowedge with people. You just saved loads of unnessary engine deaths!, spot on mate :-)

[@Moonfleet41]

You are most welcome and glad you did it as you now have proper oil pressure again at idle... cheers Del

[@Moonfleet41]

No problem Kate... that would non be a concern, PennyPitstops Harley is a converted 883, and its totally reliable, and a real blast to ride... pulls away from any factory 1200, thats for sure.... good luck with it... Del.

[@Moonfleet41]

Thankyou for your kind comment, i did hear they were from Brazil, and its good to know that people are aware they do damage... take care, Del.

[@Moonfleet41]

Yes, to check the plug colour....ride along at high revs...pull in the clutch and hit the kill switch...thsi will kill the engine before it has a chance to idle and then the plugs will show the mixture you are getting at road speed....it feels a bit weird killing the motor while you are riding along...but just keep the clutch lever pulled in, and brake safely to pull over to the side of the road.....this way you will have the right reading on the plug tips.. good luck, and ride safe. Del.

[@Moonfleet41]

Hi John, always best to check, it truly does reduce your oil pressure, which is never good, in extremely hot weather it would certainly lead to accelerated wear, but if you have got away with it so far, it's all good! Thanks for watching, Cheers Del

[@Moonfleet41]

Hi mate.. the answer to that is no, KZbin shrink all uploads to one format and resolution, if you are having buffering issues then thats your broadband speed...you need a good connection to stream videos... and you may have a 'download limit' too, they can slow it down as you approach it towards the end of the month...also times of day can effect it..Sunday afternoon is the worst, everyone is online so it loads the network... i load in 720 too, so not that high anyway, cheers, Del.

[@Moonfleet41]

You are right on all counts Jimbo, bikes have moved on a whole country mile in two decades, they are easy now for any joe to buy and ride and just put away and forget till the next time.. my point in this vlog was to make mention to those who want to hane the old vintage feel, then there is a price to pay, because modern bikes are just not the same...the good thing about progression is that it keeps new bikers coming in to the fold..and that is crucial to our survival.. thanks for watching. Del.

[@Moonfleet41]

Hi Jim... thanks mate, common misconception, so thought it would mention it... thanks for your kind comments mate, cheers, Del.

[@PeterF-zb1kf]

I know this video is a few years old but I'm glad I found it. I'm new to Harley's and bought a Sportster 72. First thing I thought was its idling to high at just over 1000rpm. Spent an age looking on how to lower the idle. Then came across this video. Thanks. I shall leave it alone.

[@Moonfleet41]

Good plan Peter, enjoy your bike mate !

[@tinaanguiano6687]

Hey Del, I did as you suggested and put the proper specs for the jets. I tried this before but it just wasn't running right. However, this time I rechecked everything for the third time from when I replaced the manifold gaskets. After I got it all back together everything is running perfect. No pops, backfires, or idle issues. I guess it's true when they say third time is a charm! Thanks for your input and posting great information for us all. Tina

[@Moonfleet41]

Hi Tina, thats great news, im so glad you got it figured out, its pretty satisfying to make it run right in the end.. take care and ride safe... Del.

[@Moonfleet41]

Thanks P, i knew you would see it the right way..and i almost used Truimph's new bikes as another example, but that would have made it even longer..the new biker likes the ease of use, and often to thier credit they DO know the difference, they know they would truly want a charming old 57' panhead, but see the prices, the work in keeping one on the road, and opt for the easier dealership option..at least we are getting new bikers to replace the old, and thats vital to all of us..take care, Del.

[@Moonfleet41]

No Gary, that will make a rough aggressive idle thats hunts and surges, but what the new guys want is a bike to idle like a 36 Knucklehead..its the super heavy flywheel that helps it lolop along like a giraffe, and a long stroke cylinder..modern bikes are short stroke and lightweight cranks, think about it, you'd never make a modern fuel injected Corvet V8 sound like a nail head sidevale V8...its just different engineering..and the danger is in the oil gearing.. good to hear from you buddy, Del.

[@Moonfleet41]

If you mean the res' cap is weeping...its a common mistake when handling the cap when its off....ill bet you took the cap off, with its rubber liner too and laid it upside down so as not to get the wet side dirty????? this lets fluid drain back between the white plastic plate and alloy cap...and it slowly weeps out of the tiny air holes on the side...take off the cap and all the liners..dry the whole lot bone dry with a cloth, reinstall and it will be fine..its not leaking, just excess spillage

[@jimbo80982]

A lot of people will disagree with me in favor of potato but as you say , they aren't designed to do it. Sure , having the noise is good , but Id rather have a bike that lasts longer than me and wont feel like its about to shake itself to bits! Great video , yet again :)

[@Moonfleet41]

Its great to hear form a guy who has longer experience than me.... you're dead right of course, the old bikes were so utterly different to today machines in everything but looks... Today, with digital ECU management, the spark is fired only when it is needed... and a fat healthy spark it is too... thanks for watching Captain..i truly appreciate your support... ride safe, Del.

[@Moonfleet41]

Lots of things to be carefully considered there, if you are truly thinking of taking a sportster out to 1440cc, then you need to know the side effects of the finished work...and the massive extensive amount of work needed to make it reliable.. to go from 883 to 1440 is almost a race motor, you will be boring out the crank cases, making provision for hugely increased crank case pressure, and lots of work to fuel it right...yes it would be a brutal bike..but a hard bike to build and live with..

[@Moonfleet41]

No, i think it is only a few people who want thier bikes to idle real slow like an old Knicklehead, and there are a few electircal items in the aftermarket that can make that happen... the warning here is that it will lower your oil pressure and cause lubrication issues...

[@Moonfleet41]

Thanks Earl....just sharing the love mate... appreciate you watching.. Del.

[@crouchjoey]

Nice to hear someone telling people what they need to hear instead of what they want to hear...

[@azkiker]

Hey Delboy thanks for the info on the idle i was doing some research and i have been an avid follower of your channel.... and my God u have been really helpful and informative, If you remember i asked you about the dual disc for my 09 883r a few months ago, so i got that sorted. This idle info u have put up is awesome. Keep it up man!! Arton. all the way from Bahrain

[@Moonfleet41]

Hi Arton, you are most welcome my friend, its a pleasure to help... i hope you have warmer weather over there right now than we do..!!!! its minus 6 degrees tonight..!!! Ride safe and keep warm.. Del.

[@azkiker]

no its actually a beautiful weather right now, great for riding ! 19 degrees at night and about 25 degrees during the day. Coldest it gets here is about 10 degrees.

[@Moonfleet41]

hey buddy.... mentioning Sugar Bear in any post must be done with reverence and respect... he is a total legend and one of the Godfathers of motorcycle customising...a man who touched off a blaze that has engulfed us all and will burn in our hearts for ever.... i have so much respect for him, he is one of my tive "Bucket" conversations...just to share a five minute chat with im would make my life whole...him, Indian Larry, and George Barris are the true free thinkers... thanks for wathing, Del.

[@zambam3]

hello Del, I love your videos brother. You keep things simple and you seem to care about the new riders. I did a frame up restoration on a '73 superglide and I learned a lot. I think you can tinker with the old bikes a little, but there are torque specs and info for a reason. The sound of old bikes are amazing. Older bikes need more maintenance,but are straight forward. Keep up the good work! Cheers from Canada, Rob

[@Moonfleet41]

Hi Simon, thank you, you are too kind, with the Discovery people, its all on who tells them about it and votes for me..but i do it got you, not the TV.. with washing your bike, ill risk sounding a bit obvious, but its just common sense mate, Penny rides it what ever the weather, so when its dirty, just wash it off with hot soapy water and a sponge, take your time and get every bit of dirt off, then rinse with a watering can, and dry it off..then just polish up the shiney bits , easy mate.

[@turbocobra]

Good video Del... Are there not aftermarket cams with higher duration numbers that help create the lopey idle (tickover)?

[@Moonfleet41]

Hi Steve. you're right to think about raising that idle back up, it's damaging in many ways, it not only starves the top of the motor of oil but also places undue load on the bearings and it struggles to keep going, the big and small end bearings will suffer plus the valve train and cam suffers with the excentiated lash too. Just raise it up so it bobbles over gently with no labour..and a carb motor it will vary in different temperatures, but thats ok as long as not too low. take care mate. Del.

[@johnathandavis1523]

I used to have a 2006 sportster that I bored out from 883 to 1200. I put a mikuni hsr42 carb on it and it has an idle adjustment knob. I would usually turn the idle up high to let it warm up instead of choking it. but you can turn the idle down manually until it dies if you want to. I rode it several years with a low idle between 650-700. without problems. granted I never took the bottom end of the motor apart

[@Moonfleet41]

Hi mate... not had any personal experience of the Thundermax, so cant offer any kind or worthwhile feedback.. but with the RPM, 800 will be fine, if it was my bike, i would maybe go to the trouble of fitting an oil pressure gauge, this way you will see exactly how your oil pressure is doing and whether its lubricating properly at idle, if the gauge drops to nil at idle you'll know its too low....if it stays healthy, you may even be able to drop it back to 750 amd know its safe..cheers buddy, Del

[@Jbcmastertech]

Awesome information. I have a 2016 1200c and when hot it idles at 1050 rpm. Sound good to me and now I know I'm not hurting the engine. I was considering a manual idle control valve but after watching your video I'm not going to do that to my bike. Thank you for the info.

[@Moonfleet41]

Most welcome buddy... as long as its controlled by the ECU, then dont mess with it.. the dealer can attend to it if you think its idling too fast.. that way you retain your warranty cover too..!

[@Moonfleet41]

Hi mate,without a rev counter it's impossible to tell accurately,but you can be approximate by counting the beats..if you imagine a Harley motor ticks over with the famous 'potato potato' sound, better described as 'buddum' 'buddum' 'buddum'..with each "buddum" being 2 beats or 1 revolution of the crank..so if you are looking for revs per minute there are 60 seconds in a minute,so if you look at your watch second hand & count the "buddums" as 10secs passes on the dial, then multiply by 6...easy!

[@manuelj.quintana6997]

I have to tell you, thanks a lot for your tutorials of how to keep harleys in shape,. I used to pay lots of money to a not certainly cualified mecs to maintain my bike in order, but thanks to you i started doing it myself so i did really saved a lot of money, by the way i had in 2009 a sportster 48 and i just love it more every day, thanks for all ad stay simple as always, i hope 4 more hd videos. Take care del bye

[@jimbo80982]

Hey Delboy , not much of a harley rider myself but this still stands. I moved from an 1993 XT 600 to a 2012 Vstrom 650 (from the dealer) a couple of weeks ago and I am surprised how far we have came. You look even at that bike from 1993 with all its parts exposed , manual choke , manual idle setting , manual lights , classic carbs ,bare basic electrics and look at the showroom new electrics of the V-Strom with its fuel injected , autochoke , low emission engine.I think it shows good progression

[@ghostanime84]

Thank you for this vid. I'm new HD and got a 03 Sportster. I was worried it was too high now I know better. No worries here anymore. Thanks!

[@Moonfleet41]

Thanks for watcing mate... Del.

[@greenslade76]

many thanks..been told will need a full service brakes bled,carb cleaned blah blah blah,just panic stations on money the over floe did pee out fuel last time i used her so hope that not a big issue,but love your vids have learnt so much as a novice thanks

[@Moonfleet41]

Ha ha, 'bar stool bragging rights'...winning the beer arguments is most important aye..lol. thanks for your very kind comments mate, its greta to have suck kind support.. cheers again Del.

[@earljohannsson1167]

Lots of great information... Refreshing to hear a guy that actually knows his stuff.

[@Moonfleet41]

Hi again...ok, unfortunately i can't make a video setting up a Harley carb as i dont have a carb'ed Harley, but i watched your video, and it sounds fine..that's a pretty much correct idle speed, not too slow, and firing nicely, to check the mixture is right, put a plug spanner in your pocket, find a long straight road and ride for about three minutes at top revs...hit the kill switch and pull over without letting it idle...take the plugs out...if the tips are biscuit colour, that's bang on. Del;

[@Moonfleet41]

Hi mate,18" apes are pretty radical to ride with,but if you truly want them that big you'll need longer clutch cable, pair of longer throttle cables & longer wiring for the switch gear,which if they are wired through the bars,is a hefty task being fiddly & long-winded..but if you could bear to go with 12" apes then get some Streetbob bars from your H-D dealer & you can also get a plug in wiring extension kit & just Streetbob cables, way easier and way cheaper! The 18" option could cost double!

[@davehughes8212]

So glad I came across this one! I just sold my '74 XLH and got a 2002 sporty. I was surprised by the high tick over and was going to try lowering it. Not now! Cheers :-)

[@Moonfleet41]

Glad I could help!

[@ch2kensh2t]

Took your advice, PO had dropped my 2000 xl1200 and dropped it down to around 850. Just changed my air intake and had to adjust my mixture screw as it was running too lean and found this video while doing research. Turn my mixture screw 1/8th turn out and then adjust my idle until I was at 1050/1100 and it runs so my better! Thx mate!

[@Moonfleet41]

Hi again.... if you watch the video again buddy, i did say, that you can lower idle speed on carbed bikes..meaning "it is possible" but you still do the same damage.. your bike needs to idle at 1100RPM minimum in order to pump oil to the heads....if you set it any lower.. you will dry out the rockers and small end bearings.. the damage will reveal itself in a couple of years when it starts rattling.. leave it alone mate, its very little gain for a lot of future pain... take care, Del.

[@Moonfleet41]

Hi mate, congratulations on your bike, that's a great choice. You can indeed treat your bike to some special oil to help protect your internals if you want to....they will run fine on ordinary mineral, but if you intend to ride it hard, then there is no reason not to increase the internal protection a bit.... The best oil for your Harley if you want to splash out would be "Screaming Eagle Syn3".. this is developed for the XR1200 which revs to 7k and also for tuned Harley motors...good luck, Del.

[@Moonfleet41]

If it has sat for two years, then its only gonna be clear whats up after you try to start it....pump the tyres up, fiut a new battery, put some new petrol in it....and hit the button.....then go from there...you never know, it may just fire up and ride you away..good luck.. Dell

[@Moonfleet41]

Ok, that's great as they are dead easy... have a close look at the carb, while looking also twist the grip to open and close the throttle, you will see the little wheel that turns to open the throat....that little wheel comes to rest on a screw (called the 'throttle stop')....you adjust this screw to set the position that the throttle stops at....so once you have identified it, just run the motor till its hot...and screw the adjuster in so the revs lift up to a sensible level...job done.

[@cigarcaptain]

Howdy, good videos. Another contributing factor to the unique sound of older Sportsters , in particular the ones with magnitos. Both cylinders received spark at the same time. One being on compression the other on exhaust stroke. Dont know about the new ones but I owned a couple back in the 60s and 70s. Thanks for the videos

[@Moonfleet41]

Hi Leandro, its not too hard to return your idle speed to factory spec.., is your bike carburetted or fuel injection?

[@Moonfleet41]

No problem buddy, its a very common question and we get asked it all the time, you can make simple single item upgrades to Harleys, or go the full fat and change the whole respiration system, but it needs to be the right parts..and guys so often get told by the dealer they MUST go the full fat way and spend a fortune on pain of engine damage and warranty void..but its mostly to sell you parts you dont need...so ill send you a quick run down in PM where i can type more than 300 characters....Del.

[@michaelsullovin7786]

Very well explained. Makes perfect sense. I guess the Harley engineers who actually made/engineered the engine and manual should know what's best.

[@treefrogs2894]

One of the things I highly recommend to anyone who owned a Harley-Davidson a preheater to your oil tank it's all about your oil viscosity anyone who have a Harley Davidson keeping your oil temperature warm before you start the bike and it's 60 degrees temperature Fahrenheit prolong the life of your motor when you hammer on the trouble on a cold motor massive amount of wear and tear top end

[@shanelodge391]

Great job! Enjoy your tips. I have '09 883 Iron with forward controls. Can I fit an oil pressure gauge; Arlen Ness says NO !

[@Moonfleet41]

Hi Shane, does Arlen Ness say no, you can't fit one, or no, they don't make one?? ANd why do you feel you need one on a modern Sportster??

[@packjoe2004]

Thanks for this information. New Sportster 883 owner. Yes, when I start my bike cold, rpm around 1500, then I wait until 1100 before I take off. I came on here to see if I can lower rpm but you changed my mind.

[@Moonfleet41]

Thanks mate, glad you liked it.. Del.

[@Kris_Stiletto]

A "Bobber" is just a stripped down "Stock Harley." This was done to make them lighter. In the "Old Days," this was a "High Performance" technique to make them go faster. It has nothing to do with the "Model" of the Bike... Stiletto :)

[@pR1mal.]

One big reason that the "Bobber" movement came into existence was because of WWII surplus Harleys and Indians, and later surplus police bikes. They were relatively plentiful after the war which made them relatively affordable, and like all bikes they lend themselves well to a gearhead with a little imagination. Being duty bikes they carried around extra weight from crash cages, huge fenders, luggage racks, radio's, windshields, etc. Gearheads took those heavy bikes and started "bobbing" pieces off. Anything considered extra had to go. The emphasis was on light and mean. Not surprising really, many of those guys were former combat veterans who had become accustomed to the adrenaline of being shot at. The bikes gave them a taste of that excitement and vitality. Adrenaline. The clubs they formed gave them back some taste of the brotherhood they had experienced in combat, many of them felt isolated and it was a great coping mechanism for them. And during those times many people couldn't afford a car, but could afford a bike. I guess the more some things change, the more they stay the same.

[@XS2ThunderboltX]

I have a 1995 Buell Thunderbolt S2 with a Mikuni carb. the carb is not even a year old but when I first put it on it ran perfect. one day my fuel line went bad and got in my float bowl. cleaned main jet and cleaned bowl now it won't hold idle and spits through carb. Help....replaced intake gasket replaced battery,cables,motor mounts,fixed electrical,fork seals,oil tank, and tank filter.

[@redponte1]

Thank you for the knowledge, just bought my first harley a sportster 48, and yes the older bikes sound awesome. Mine ticks over when cold bout 1330 rpm down to between 950 to 1050 when warm. I thought I had to let it when warm up as the wife's complains when I do lol.

[@Moonfleet41]

Congratulations on the 48, you must be very proud, they're a very cool bike. and yes, there's no need to run them to warm up, just give it 30 seconds and pull away.. the warming up process can be done by just riding gently for the first few miles.. ride safe and have fun.. Del.

[@MrDmunk]

Hey thanks for explaining the whole situation with regards to the idling etc

[@consiglieri1981]

All this started because I was trying to adjust the mixture screw, I read a lot about it and I did my best, I still don't know if I set it good but now it runs smooth, previously it was "coughing" and I even got a little flame out the exhaust once I was playing with the screw. If you can make a video about how to set the carb proper will be great. Thank you again!

[@Moonfleet41]

Thanks mate... its a shame most people find out too late..

[@johnhenry1873]

i have a 2001 883 verry low idle people think it is going to die but she pluggs away just fine and has been for quite some time now over 40,000km on it and when i herd you say its bad for them i thought it would be a good idea to do a teardown of the motor and see if ther was any dammage..there was none kind of a waste of time but at least i know my motor is still in great shape and better to be safe than sorry.. great vid tho.

[@wowmichaela8226]

Hey I installed a short exhaust, and a spike air cleaner on my 06 dyna wide glide. Now my question is, is there any adjustment for the fuel injection carb? If so what kit do I need? Or should I get cause there is some back firing .thank you

[@Jeefster-is8xl]

Hi Del, great vids, they've had me giggling now a few times since finding 'em. Super informative and I think you come across as a top bloke! My situation is that I have 2007 Fatboy that used to run erratically on the original EFI system that it had. I have a personal disliking of the 'new style' HD dealerships for a number of reasons so I didnt want to keep taking the bike in to the shop if I could avoid it. Having owned carbed HD's before I just hated the feel of the injection system. (maybe thats what made me think it was running strange) Long story cut short, I took the EFI and all of the associated electrickery off the bike. I plumbed in a Mikuni 42 + Evo intake manifold and used an Altmann ignition system for the sparks. This modification absolutely transformed the bike, and it pulls and responds so much better than it ever did with the EFI (in my opinion) I'm conscious of the issues with the low idle therefore always keep mine at the sweet spot, which is slightly less the EFI's, but higher than the real old ones. Its hard to know the exact RPM's without the tacho. I done the work myself one day in the garage, and can highly recommend the Altmann ignition system, and Charles Altmann himself. I sourced the parts through Mark at 'Barnaby Wilde' in Honiton, Devon and he is also a great bloke to deal with. I really dont like the new Harleys, with ABS, and fuel injection, (its just not right & proper :) and find the dealerships really annoying bland places full of beige people. (eg) One day whilst visiting a stealership in Newcastle I had my old Triumph jacket on. Some guy noticed this, and came up to me with a straight face, tapped on the Triumph logo, then informed me that I had spelt Harley wrong!!!! I quickly exited the shop past the Harley Barbeque range and lawn mower accessories (really!!!) and vowed never to enter such an establishment ever again. Just thought I'd share that with ya. Sorry to go on. All the best from down under, Geoff.

[@Moonfleet41]

Hi Geoff....your mail had me nodding in agreement all the way through mate, Bland and soulless places with beige people (usually failed car salesmen), and nothing to offer you unless you have £10k to spend and a brain injury.....in the face of Victory, Indian and all the Japanese cruiser bikes...the one thing Harley have left over them all if the hard core brand or a hard core bike...but take a look at the bike...and its like Hulk Hogan....looks hard till you learn he like Tofu and yoga..!!!! Loving the idea of going back to carb, obviously the new bike have to conform to radical EU laws to get them sold...but that doesnt stop us doing great mods like this...well done buddy, and ive made a note of Altmann, i love companies like that. ... With your idel speed, the Softail motors have external oil lines and a dry sump, so run a heftier oil pump to cope...so you can run yours happily at 900 and have no ill effects.. its Sportster that will suffer the most as they need to be 1100 to be really safe, they just dont have enough crank weight to keep the pistons rolling with inertia, so rely on the combustion stroke, which is ever 4th turn...and that, with 3 turns to slow down, punched too hard on the bearings... To best set the idle without a tacho....use the "Willam Tell Overture", (Lone Ranger Theme), as that will give you 1000 rmp....play the song in your head and set the idle trotting along to that....works every time. ! Thanks for watching mate, and ride safe on your Harley.. Del.

[@robertlumsden942]

just got around to reading this. so fast forward 6 years. my new 2018 Heritage Classic idles at 950. I read where they did that so they could keep it cooler. I guess they solved some of the other mechanical limitations ie oil pump pressure etc. my bike sounds great especially with the new pipes.

[@Moonfleet41]

I think you're right on that, they've listened to the custom bike world as they always do, and deliver what we want, slow revving engines are everything that Harley is about, so as you said, am sure they've made the changes to make it safe, and congratulations on a beautiful bike!

[@Moonfleet41]

You and me both Brother.. i had to sell my Harley, needed the money, but ll get back there and life will be good.... and yeah, ill have a modern 96" injected motor i can thrash and abuse...not a leaking old concrete mixer that gets flustered and wets its pants over 55MPH...

[@mickyflakes]

Top advice del...I was looking at lowering my idle, on my 2017 48, stage 2 ....its about 1100 rpm now, so like u say, I leave it has is...cheers..sounds mint anyway..👍

[@Moonfleet41]

Most welcome mate. Glad it helped, modern fuel injection bikes are best with a healthy idle..

[@AmitTHAKUR-yq4sk]

You are a God! Beautifully explained! Thanks a lot

[@ottohopkins]

What so you think about the 88ci big bore kits for the sportsters iv been thinking of doing it it's only around $900 its cheaper than buying a new bike and I would still have the slim style that I love with more power?

[@Matze96DAK]

I wish a good evening, or whatever daytime ya all faceing at the moment. I ride an 1000 ccm 1984 Ironhead. What's the lowest still healthy rpm ya would suggest for that old sporty?

[@Moonfleet41]

Hey Rob...thank you most kindly sir, thats very kind of you to say.. i DO indeed care about the new riders, and its a terrifying prospect that some day we will all be either legislated or technologied out of existence...already most kids leave school and cant fix a fuse in a plug... and fathers done seem to teach their sons any more...and as bikers are a brotherhood, its on us to help the new blood and keep them safe under out wing until they are fully fledged...ride safe buddy, take care, Del.

[@muddymudskipr]

Just got an 09 Sportster with the fuel-injected 1200cc Evolution V-Twin. I've never had a problem with the way it sounds but I ran into an issue recently and I'd like to investigate. After a decent 1.5 hour ride (much of which was 5th gear freeway riding @ 65mph), I slowed for a stop sign and my engine/idle stayed revved way above its normal idle speed. I tried feathering the throttle to get her to calm down but she stayed revved up. A few stops later it got better but not all the way. Something's not right... any thoughts?

[@Moonfleet41]

You're very wlecome buddy, thanks for watching... Del.

[@tony55575]

thanks my friend I appreciate your reply I'm just going to leave it alone I don't want to get in there screwing with all that crap have it start running crappy thank you for your reply I appreciate it and good job you're doing you do really good things and I've learned a lot from you

[@Moonfleet41]

Most welcome Tony, your bike will love you for leaving that one alone... the oil pressure drops at idle when guys try to get them chuckling over like an old knucklehead, those motors are built different with heavier crankshaft, modern bikes need to be resting about 1k rpm to be comfortable... thank you for your kind support my friend, great to have you aboard!

[@Moonfleet41]

Hello Edson, great to hear from you and welcome aboard ... I am always very happy when people watch the videos from so far away, I bet the weather is warm where you are LOL! ... thanks for watching, Del

[@Moonfleet41]

I think you miss the point a atd here mate.. weather you have an FI motor that almost cannot be adjusted, or a carbed motor that can... it is imperative with modern Harley motors that you DONT... the oil pump gearing will fail to send lubricant up to the heads at 800rpm...and at those revs the bike will be stood still, and an air cooled bike stood still just cooks...making the oil starvation problem even more consequential... they tick over at 1150 for good reason and need to be left that way/

[@Moonfleet41]

........Cont... so if you convert an 883 to 1200, you ned up with what Harley put in the XR1200 and is INO, the perfect combination.... they are totally relaible, it is only a sawp of the pistons and barrels.. then a fuel managment decie to reset the fueling... at best it will cost you about £1000, and be a teriffic bike to ride..and no, there are no reliability problems or issues what so ever... well done for joining the dark side kate...you are among friends.. take care, hope that helps Del.

[@AdamDay1979]

Good stuff Delboy, you are now my guru in all things biking. You should have your programme on the discovery channel. Your best thing I watched in years, and the best things is I have saved money and learnt new skills. I do have a quick question how do you keep the Harley so clean? Im not sure what are the best cleaning methods are, or what equipment I should be using.

[@haufenscheise]

Hey Del, thanks for this eye-opening v-log! Keep up the good work, I´m always watching ;-)

[@cwircwir1]

From my experience most of Sportsters 1200 tick over on 1000 rpm. My 1200c from 2011 tick over on 1000 rpm( Vence and Hines exhaust and screeming eagle heavy breather)....

[@coloradobikers]

you are absolute right regading lowering down a modern HD engine.

[@teyacapan]

great help I was just thinking of getting one of those gadgets from spain to get that vintage sound on my dyna street bob 2009. now i'm just going to be happy with what I got.. I changed my spotster 1200 1995 because I thought a biger ingine would give me that slow idle sound... and was not aware of EFI.

[@Moonfleet41]

Goo dplan mate, they can take a slightly slower idle speed, but ive heard bikes that are dropped so low they are just hanging on to tickover..down at 700....its only gonna lead to long term bearing wear for no reason... if you want a real cool sound...ten belt primaries with an open dry clutch sound awesome...lol

[@teyacapan]

Moonfleet41 will do like you say I rather have dependability, performance and relaibiity.. thanks mate