G'day..............I'm currently servicing a mates XLX. He has just resently picked it up and has asked me to tune it.

 Problem is,previous owner has made a hash of DIY carb tuning,the bike is running very fuely.

Can enyone tell me what the stock jet sizes for 84 XLX Ironhead Keihin butterfly carb are.

This would give me a starting point and save me some time in finding out by trial and error.

Appreciate any help...................Ricco

the fatory manual for later Ironheads states:

1979
main 165, slow 65
1980 - 1982
main 160, slow 68
1983 - 1985
main 160, slow 52



But if it has drag pipes on it, good luck. A lot of people over the years on The Horse:Backstreet Choppers board have had heaps of issues tuning one of those carbs with drag pipes on an Ironhead. Drag pipes ruin your day, any day.

By the way, a lot of people like to pour shit on that carb, but for 17 years I rode a 1985 FXEF with the original Keihin butterfly still on it, and with an Andrews float bowl kit, and a knurled idle mix screw (tough to find now), it has always run brilliant. I could never understand why people junked them for a costly S&S or whatever. I still have that bike with that carb on it...in UK.

They came from the factory with the idle mix screw plugged. If the bike has non-stock pipes, it is smart to unplug that and adjust the idle mix right. Run engine til warm, then turn clockwise to stumble point, counter-clockwise to stumble point, and set in right in the middle of those two points. Note: with the stock idle mix screw, it is tough to do this...you need a 90deg screwdriver really...you can still get the knurled idle mix screws for the CV carb, but not for the butterfly version. But I do know a guy who is making them, if the bike's owner is interested. They look similar to this, the CV one:

http://www.johnsmotorcycleparts.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=28

This is the float bowl kit, around $20 USA, most of the big catalogs still list it, any good shop will have one:
http://www.andrewsproducts.com/motorcycle/cams/hi_flow_accel.htm

Make sure the accelerator pump nozzle is squirting gas right down the CENTRE of the carb throat. It is common for them to be misaligned, and throw the fuel to the back when the wick is twisted. Make sure that the accel. pump rod does NOT rest on the diaphram when throttle is closed. If it does, it can dribble gas out the nozzle from vibration

A Ramjett metal manifold and a Screaming Eagle air kit sure helped on my 85 FXEF, too. Good luck!










 

oh, and I found some further reading for you. These weblinks take you to a complete tuning guide to those carbs. The original article appeared in one of the Easyriders Tech Tips And Tricks volumes, 20 years back. Someone helpfully uploaded it on to the web....  click and print   


http://pweb.jps.net/~splaxco/hawgstuff/keihin1.jpg

http://pweb.jps.net/~splaxco/hawgstuff/keihin2.jpg

http://pweb.jps.net/~splaxco/hawgstuff/keihin3.jpg

http://pweb.jps.net/~splaxco/hawgstuff/keihin4.jpg

http://pweb.jps.net/~splaxco/hawgstuff/keihin5.jpg

http://pweb.jps.net/~splaxco/hawgstuff/keihin6.jpg
 

Tell your mate to do himself a favour and put a CV on it.

I changed my stock crap Keihin ('84 XLH) for a CV off a Fatboy.  Much better throttle response and improved fuel economy.

Plenty of cheap CV's about..

Wasn't knocking your reply, Dave.

Just giving him an alternative option, I was quite happy with the keihin,, but after having a "qualified engineer" fuck up the body trying to remove a screw and spending a rip-off price on a second hand body,,,,,, and then getting fucked around by the local stealership because, as they told me, "you can't buy parts for them anymore" a mate came to the rescue and offered his stock CV... worked a bloody treat... I sold the bike recently,, but I must say, I would never have gone back to an original carb if I had kept it.

Try it if you get the chance, you might be pleasantly surprised....

P.S. I've got another mate with a box full of CV's,,,, $100. each, last I heard

Thanks for the info kiwidave.

She's a great old bike and we would like to keep her in stock trim if we can.We can always go the other route if we have to. (s&s e)

These old bikes need to be preserved.........Big help...Thanks...Ricco

Damn right! but they have to "evolve" if you don't want them ending up like the dinosaur,, EXTINCT

I loved my Ironhead, almost to the point of obsession (just ask my ex-wife, LOL).

PS It's got a CV in this photo,,

I know were there is a 58 Ironhead for sale, not 100% original but close, thats the real clasic with magnito.

No worries, Bucket. All good debate and certainly your advice is usually preferred. I am a bit contrary sometimes