66 XLCH Mikuni Setup Help

[Robbie8919]

Hey All,

I just picked up my first Harley and got a 66 XLCH. When I got it, it had a S&S Super E that I found someone with Gorilla Hands had put together. Now I have a Mikuni on it and its barking, chugging, and wanting to start each time I kick it. Keep in mind it hasn't ran in 7 years. I have been kicking it with the S&S on it for a month now and just put the Mikuni on it yesterday, but I do not know a basic screw or jet setup for this Carb. Any suggestions in that area  would be great. Keep in mind this is also my first Mikuni. I am coming off of years of being an a-hole on a crotch rocket. After it got stolen I decided I want a Harley so I went "Old School". Give me some credit for jumping right in the deep end of the pool.  Thanks in advance.

[garyajaz]

lots ran the  old 38 round slide micks with great success.
what mic you running?

unfortunately I cant help on the round slides.  I have had S&S L series for many years on mine and never a mik.  so cant just help with jet sizes and such.
hang on. some one should be able to help.

is the crank sumped?  they tend to leak past check ball in pump.
can drain from bottom of crank.
check for air leaks at intake.
I have a crotch rocket thing.  does that make me a A-hole?
lol.  hell, I a whore.  I will ride anything

[Panzer]

Is this a new Mik your running on the iron or did someone give it to you off their shelf?
First things first please.

[Robbie8919]

It is a round slide but I am unsure of the diameter. I did not see anything on the housing that eluded to a diameter. It is used, and was on the bike previously when it ran. The S&S that the previous owner was trying to run was the "friend gave it to me off the shelf" Which I determined was cracked internally. I took it apart and cleaned it yesterday just to make sure it was all good. I know it had a 325 jet and the needle was a 6DPI, Slide was a 25 I believe, and I did not write down the other jet sizes (Yes I am an idiot). It wants to bark and spit and spudder now. I have the idle screw almost all the way in and have been playing with the air screw trying to adjust it in 1/4 turn increments between 1-2 turns out. With as much as I have been kicking it with the two carbs I am going to get some fresh plugs today. I am going to try a smaller gaping at first (25-30) and work on that. I was told that it has Andrews Cams in it but I havent wanted to rip it that far apart to confirm. I do not know the size of cam either. Hence my wanting to try and play with the fuel and spark a bit. I'm completely a newb to all this pushrod Harley stuff. I'm young and almost as stubborn as this bike so when I am messing with it I am kicking it while making adjustments (yes I am giving it a great Number of kicks between making another adjustment) for on average about 2 hours of straight kicking each time.

garyajaz-  I'm not sure what you mean by Crank Case Sumped. I am guessing here ( did a google search on crank case theory in a 4 stroke engine Like I said "NEWB!!!"), but I believe you mean does the crank case have too much oil causing it to froth and pulling down oil pressure which would cause it to not lubricate so well. Thus causing  a harder start. I do not know. I can check it and try to drain the oil a bit if its too high. Thank you guys so much for replying. Since the bike used to run off this carb I and its clean with nothing noticable wrong with it I am hoping its merely a screw setup I am messing up here.

[garyajaz]

good your young.
you now proud owner of a iron exercise machine.
when sumped its like you trying to run in a few feet of water.
if it is and you get it running it will over fill oil tank and spit out breathers and such.
there is a plug underneath cases under crank. drain it.
if its sputtering its trying at least.
air leaks?  you using choke?
what color/how do plugs look?
if sat that long also maybe stuck advance unit.
you did replace the points right?
and thats a mag unit  ,   wonderful.  what a beasti to start out on.
timing also is a consideration.
do you have a manual?

[garyajaz]

bike ran off that carb.  ok.  and you cleaned it.
I would guess carb not the problem.
set the idle high, air screw 1.5 turns after light seat.
have you tired a shot of either?

[garyajaz]

good hot spark at plug?
am guessing comp is good.  can kinda tell from kicking it..lol

also tight push rods can cause that problem.
but I still thinking mag.

[Panzer]

Just saying LOL, after about 15 kicks and it doesn't start, two hours won't help either. (shudder)
Lay the plugs on top of the heads and kick her over a few times (not in the sun) nor near the plug holes to see if you have a good snap of a visual spark.
She'll take approx 2-1/2 qts of oil in the oil tank.    If not sure, drain and fill.
Gap points @.022 at widest spread........they do open and shut, right? 
Keep us posted.
Like the government....we're here to help. 

[nibroc]

tow it to a small hill--coast down--pop 2nd

[Robbie8919]

Garyajaz- No noticable air leaks, Yes I am using the choke and also trying it with out the choke as well. It does seem to bark the best at about 1.5 turns out. Idle screw is pretty much seated. Points are new. I read online to gap them at .015 at widest. Ive tried Ether. The compression on it is AWESOME. Spark is hot.

Panzer- You are right about the kicks. I try to kick it a good number of times after making an adjustment to run out anything. But yes I am a sweaty mess while doing it. Its a lot of work. As for the plugs I did it one better. I kicked it while holding on to both of them and confirmed visually. Yup it was a (Dare I say it) shocking experience. I'll try to drain the oil and refill it to rule that out. I read online from Harley that the points are supposed to be .015 at the widest. So that is what the points are at now. They are brand new along with the coil in the mag. I did confirm they open and close when I went through the mag to clean it up to clear up any possible corrosion.

Nibroc- Since its so close to starting I do agree with your joke and think it could use contant rotation to get it running. Just like an electric start. I cant load it into my truck by myself though since its a short bed. I am actually thinking of building my own roller jumper. They are simple in theory to build. I figured its better to do that than to sacrifice the integrity of the bike by putting an electric start on it. Plus I would rather spend $300 on building something I can resell for $700 than Spending well over a grand and a lot more of my time on converting it to electric.

Thanks guys for your help. I am actually not going to be able to work on it over the weekend though. I have to get some injections in my spine due to an old Army injury. (Yes I am aware I am only 29) I will post back when I get a chance to work these suggestions. Thank you for the help. It really is appreciated while I learn this monkey.

[garyajaz]

idle screw seated?
as in slide all closed?
could be part of it.  set it up for high idle to start off and adjust as necessary when it finally runs.
what throttle position you using when kicking?
all way closed? open a bit??

post a pix of bike.
panzer mention 22. I used to run my mag at 18. still. it sparks....

[garyajaz]

re read your post.  drain oil and refill??
if oil new and good leave it.
I was saying drain crank case sump.

[Robbie8919]

No I mean it is all the way in to open the throttle for a high idle. Sorry for the confusion. I was reading that with the Mik you dont use the throttle at all when trying to start it. I have actually tried to do it though a few times. I mean you never know unless you try. The pic of it shown here is an old crappy pic from when it was in Mississippi. I live just outside of DC. This was when the bike ran.

[attachment removed after 60 days by system]

[Panzer]

Spinal injections and you're kicking it 2 hours........omg.
No wonder you need injections.     Just kidding.
I know how it goes, try one thing and kick, try another and kick......repeat.....repeat.
Ok, me wrong on the points .o15 - .o18 
Hmmmm everything new.......wow.
If it was a mower, I'd say you sheered a flywheel key. 
I'm at a loss (well, just a little)
Try this...........pop the points cap, take a small screwdriver (points closed, ignition on) and spread the points open and closed a few times........you see spark there?
No tits on the points is there?
Just thinking out loud.
Hmmmm, but it barks you say?  I'm still thinking.............hang in there.
Others will chime in, I'm sure.
Still thinking, stay tuned. 

[Panzer]

Here's another thought...............
I live on the border of Pa., Delaware and MD............push it up here and we'll both look at it. 

[garyajaz]

panzer, the open points trick works with a batt ign.
not so much with a mag

[garyajaz]

is it back fireing when trying to start?
kicking back?  (timeing)

[Robbie8919]

It does backfire sometimes. Sometimes that kick is touchy as heck. When I am trying to SLOWLY push it down to get it on the compression stroke to kick it again it has caught a spark and kicks back at me. Lol. Like I said I am a newb to Harley and Motorcycle Maintainence in general but I feel I have pretty solidly covered the basics. Which is why I am stumped myself. I am going to drain and refill it like suggested. I am just not going to have time to do it this week. Which SUCKS. I want this thing running. I will take some better more recent pics of it as soon as I can. Its in kind of rough shape right now. I figured I would get it running before I go spending money on chrome since it sat in a moisture filled garage for the last 7 years without running. It played hell on it cosmetically. Right now I am hoping not mechanically. .....

Oh and in case you guy think of this, yes I drained and flushed the tank before trying to run the bike again However since last night I spent 45 mintues looking for my tv remote and it was in my hand the entire time I would put that one past me to forget. HAHAHAHA. To my fellow Vets out here have a great Memorial Day weekend. I am going to Arlington National Cemetery to have a beer with my buddies there. If you throw me a name I will make sure your buddy gets one too.

[garyajaz]

ok, you have passed the initiation.
you have kicked the required amount
but if you want to be a true iron head you will still bend over busted up back or not...

(just kidding on that last)
hope you doing well.,

I can only suggest you reset timing.  find out if your mag has internal advance or manual.
i.e. turning the mag.  my ol 55 K model had a left hand twist grip and a cable to time mag.
yours might have something with a spring. or detent.
maybe take close up pix of your mag.  it needs to be retarded to start.

in my sporty drag days on alky we had timing set for that fuel.
which was not particular good for starting.  same stuff.  ended up with a roller.
(also very high compression)

[Dogbone45ACP]

I think Garyajaz hit the nail on the head. That ole magneto needs some tlc. I'd replace the points and condenser. Clean well where the points sit. Check the contacts in the cap. If its been sitting in a damp garage, who knows what is growing in the mag. Use genuine Fairbanks parts if you can find them. Gap plugs at .020", non resister. Points at .017" if memory is still good. And as Gary said check the timing.

[Panzer]

panzer, the open points trick works with a batt ign.
not so much with a mag

Forgot it was mag........see, I'm not the only newb here. 

[Panzer]

I'm staying here till the cows come home...............I want to know why this kicker won't start. 
I'd like to know the compression on this one.

[nibroc]

wasn't tryin to make a joke 'bout takin it to the nearest hill and poppin 2nd--ya don't have to put it on a trailer or in  a pu to do that--just throw a rope around the neck and pull it with an atv--when you're pushin 70 it's best to do that on the initial start--at 29 just kick the "Potty mouth" outa it

[Robbie8919]

Nibroc- I had thought about pulling it to start I just dont like the idea of it. It just seems to have a high probability to drop it. But believe me when the beers start to get plentiful after kicking it, the idea starts to sound better.

Garyajaz- It is a Manual mag. Has the bar coming out of the back to turn it by hand. I have it turned all the way in towards the motor. This is what I was told was the direction to turn it to retard the timing to kick it. If its not the right direction then by God I will feel like an idiot and take every measure to project myself in that light. Lol.

Panzer- I do not know the compression on this one. All I know is it is stock except for the Carb and Andres Cams that are in it when it was completely torn down and gone through in the mid 90's. With these old Harley's I know it could get pricey to take it apart just to look at it because its not the same when you put it back together. I also do not know what size Cam was put in it to even make a guess. All my right leg and ankle know is its got really good compression.

Dogbone45ACP- The condensor is in good shape. The points are new and currently gaped to .015" which is what I found to be stock. The coil in the Mag is also new. I do have an extra set of new points for it.

I dont keep my bike where I live since I do not have a garage. I did not want to put the old girl through that since she has been through so much. She is at my buddies house down the road. I havent had time to get over there this week to work on her since I have my toddler son with me this week. ( he is almost 4) His mom and I exchange week on week off Sunday at 6PM. So if I can I am going to try and make it over there Sunday night for a bit if not then on Monday after work. Thanks again guys, I'll keep you posted.

[Panzer]

Robbie,
If that avatar is a pix of you, (no disrespect meant) it's no wonder you can't figure the bike problem out. 
Did you carry a briefcase in school too? 

Only kidding bro, only kidding.