QuestionQUESTION: I have a 92 Sportster with a 96-03 1200 motor(previous owner says it is a 2000). When I got it the rocker boxes leaked bad so i tore it down and replaced the gaskets. Put it all back together, added a k & n filter, Drag pipes with torque cones and baffles. Rejetted the carb from a 42/160 to a 44/170 and 2 turns out on the mixture screw. I rode the bike for about 35 miles at freeway speeds on monday and the oil got up to 260 so i pulled over and let it cool off and within another 20 miles or so it was up there again. I checked for intake leaks and had one where the carb meets the manifold and i fixed that. But haven't had a chance to ride it long enough to get it fully warm again. My question is if the Voes isn't working correctly or at all can that cause the bike to run hot due to it allowing a fully advanced timing curve the whole time?
ANSWER: Pull your plugs and let me know what color they are
Mike
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Plugs are paper bag brown or damn close to it. I did plug readings for all
three circuits and I was mildly lean on the needle so I shimmer the needle
and rode it again and could tell a considerable difference, and the plug
shows to be good now. The bike will actually cool off if I sit there and just
let it idle in the driveway which has me puzzled. Timing has not been
messed with and the Voes is functioning properly now. I hooked up an oil
pressure gauge and it has 15 at idle and 30 -35 when I rev it up, checked
all oil lines and they are good. Today after taking it for about a 30 mile
test ride it was right back up at 250-260 and when I got home the read
rocker box bottom gasket had blown out.
AnswerYour plugs sound fine. If your bike was running lean it would run hotter, but is doesnt sound lean. Your oil pressure is fine as well. Your bike is designed to run from 200-240 degrees so its a little over. If you use synthetic oil it will run cooler. Also, make sure your temp gage is accurate.
Good luck and happy riding
Mike
