HD Roadking Choke

[Davel]

Help please

Have been asked to start one up after 18 months of storage. It's an S reg.

Do they have a manual or automatice choke and is there a knack to firing it up please?

Going to see it this afternoon.

 

[Stumpy]

The starting procdure for my 2003 dyna(with carb) is as follows

blip alarm
turn on ignition
pull out choke as far as it goes(on carb)
open throttle fully then close
press starter and leave the throttle alone until it fires.

If mine has been standing for a few weeks it some times takes a while for the fuel to work its way though.


Hope this helps

Stumpy

 

[Davel]

Thanks for that!

 

[Straypuss]

Forewarned

My brother in law had one of these and had not used it for a long time. Would not start.... a, the fuel tap had gunged up and would not flow fuel
b, the pilot jet had gunged up
c, I had to remove the pressed in accelerator pump assembly from the float bowl as this too was completely gunged up.

ran fine afterwards

 

[Davel]

At the risk of asking more stupid questions, cos it won't start and the battery is very low:

Where is the choke/carb on these bikes?

Is there a manual fuel tap/switch on these bikes?

Is there a way to jump start them using a car's battery?

 

[Timolgra]

At the risk of asking more stupid questions, QUOTE]

 

[MMC]

Help please

Have been asked to start one up after 18 months of storage. It's an S reg.

Do they have a manual or automatice choke and is there a knack to firing it up please?

Going to see it this afternoon.

Let me know how you get on - I fancy getting a Road King... (cue various accusations of etc... )

 

[Straypuss]

A balanced opinion

Yes they have a fuel tap
If I recall correctly the choke is a pull up knob on the carb
prob have to get the tools out to get at the battery under the seat..fiddly

Mark based on a 250 mile trip to view my first (airhead) GS..they are crap...no go, comfort ,handling, brakes or economy. The rear crashbars dig into the pillions legs the screen is useless. Fine at 55 but struggle to maintain a reasonable cruise speed ie 70-80. That sticky out air filter is a pain in the knee. Great if you like polishing chrome or to pose on in the sun, big mudguards keep it clean at muddy BMF rallies. If you think MWB dealerships are staffed by rip-off numpties try some of the HD places dahn sarf. Lifestyle...chuckle chuckle...where's me velcro chaps?

 

[AndyT]

Which Model /Year Road King is it. Alot of them (all the newer ones I think) have fuel injection so no carb. The carb is behind the Air filter and there will be a fuel tap. Harleys are famed for being easy starters and I must admit I left mine for 6 months and it fired first touch of the button - I was well impressed.

Let me know if you have more problems as I have a Harley service manual in the house!!

AndyT

 

[MMC]

Mark based on a 250 mile trip to view my first (airhead) GS..they are crap...no go, comfort ,handling, brakes or economy. The rear crashbars dig into the pillions legs the screen is useless. Fine at 55 but struggle to maintain a reasonable cruise speed ie 70-80. That sticky out air filter is a pain in the knee. Great if you like polishing chrome or to pose on in the sun, big mudguards keep it clean at muddy BMF rallies. If you think MWB dealerships are staffed by rip-off numpties try some of the HD places dahn sarf. Lifestyle...chuckle chuckle...where's me velcro chaps?

Thanks for that - 55mph? That's pretty quick for Oxfordshire where everywhere's a bloody 30 limit... I've got one on hire for a weekend in a couple of weeks - but I can't see me getting rid of the GS no matter what. I'll report back...

 

[roddy]

if the harley engine does struggle to fire remove the spark plugs and let the engine spin this get oil in to the hydralic lifters for the valves, then stick the plugs back in.

this may help assuming it's getting fuel.

cheers

 

[peten]

I had an R registered Road King for 7 years before I saw the light...

Fuel tap is on the left hand side. Choke is on the right hand side. Pull it all the way out and just turn the engine over on the starter without touching the throttle.

Mine started first time after nearly 12 months sat in the garage. I had it hooked up to an optimate to keep the battery topped up.

As I recall, they don't fire onthe first couple of revolutions anyway so you need to keep the starter pressed for about 5 seconds or so when initially starting them.

Good luck!

 

[Lord Snooty]

HDRCGB Forum

For lots of info on Hardley Ablesons go HERE

 

[jimbo]

18 months is a fair while. If the petrol is that old it might be worth draining and re-filling. Whilst no expert I think the more volatile parts will have long gone, which will make the petrol less flamable.
Personally I often use a tin of 'Easy start', which you spray in the inlets just as your start the engine. Its highly combustible and often get the motor going. Did it last week on the car and the carb spat back resulting in a small fire on the chassis rail. Oops.

If you are feeling cautious, then I would remove the spark plugs and run a little wd40 into the cylinders and crank it over on the starter, can't do any harm.

Good luck

 

[Davel]

Thanks guys.

Apparently it was fired up few weeks ago but the battery is very low.

I felt really stupid last night cos I couldn't find the choke or a fuel swtich - but it was pretty dark.

The battery is low too which didn't help.

May try later this morning.

Cheers

 

[Shep]

18 months is a fair while. If the petrol is that old it might be worth draining and re-filling.

I agree Unleaded fuel is knackered after 5-6mths in a container, a year and you'll be lucky to start it, 18 mths it'll be a waste of time, use fresh fuel it should start.

I don't agree about the easy start though dodgy stuff IMO.

Shep

 

[MMC]

For lots of info on Hardley Ablesons go HERE

Very handy Snooty - ta for that!

 

[Davel]

Thanks for your help guys.

Charged battery up and she fired up fine.

It's one of those 95th (?) anniversary models and the owner collects it next week.

May take it for a short run round the block but the bloody screen looks huge.

Cheers

 

[Butler]

I had a S reg Dyna wide Glide.

I used to open throttle a couple of times.
Pull out choke and hit the starter button with NO THROTTLE.