How To Adjust Idle on Fuel Injected Harley Davidson

Knowing how to adjust idle on fuel injected Harley Davidson is something you can’t afford to miss if you just acquired one.

Your Harley Davidson’s idle speed refers to its swiftness when you free the brakes even when it is still running.

The idle speed of motorcycles from this brand comes with a control actuator.

You can regulate the idle promptness by means of the correct idle screw from this point.

Also, you can regulate the idle speed using the small knob that pokes out of your bike’s engine section positioned on the left or right side.

This is particularly true for those using fuel-injected motorcycles. If your bike does not come with such a knob, a low or high speed will normally signal a mechanical issue or an unclean engine compartment.

Why Idle Need To Adjust On Fuel Injector?

The main objective of making adjustments to your fuel injector is to enjoy the desired engine speed while idling so your bike runs efficiently.

When you do this, you are essentially establishing the right air and fuel mix at idle. Plus, you’re setting a brilliant standard for future tuning.

Don’t forget that a carburetor supplies your bike’s engine with fuel and air differently while idling than while at wide-open throttle.

In brief, separate components and systems become functional as soon as you step on your bike’s gas pedal. Also, they’d require dialing in.

Before getting into this, you need to ensure that all your idle control is in place. This is because all the systems work together to decide the behavior of your motorcycle when parked or neutral.

How Do You Know Your Harley Need To Adjust Idle?

There often some indications that your Harley Davidson needs to adjust idle. Idle-related issues on your fuel-injected Harley Davidson are normally an indication of a dirt-accumulated throttle or some other mechanical issues.

Cleaning the motorcycle very well is one way to know if the dirty throttle is the issue. Also, you want to check your speed sensors, vacuum leak, or engine problems.

If idling your bike does not solve this, you want to hire the services of a professional mechanic.

How To Adjust Idle on Fuel Injected Harley Davidson

Tools Needed

  • Allen wrench
  • Phillips head screwdriver
  • Socket wrench

Time

Adjusting idle on your fuel-injected Harley Davidson should roughly take an hour. If you are faster, it could take less.

Step By Step Guide

  1. Check your bike’s manual to know the speed your Harley Davidson should idle at.
  2. Your unique manual will tell you the perfect speed, and it normally ranges from 700-1,000 RPM (revolutions per minute).
  3. Check out the carburetor by the sides of your bike’s engine.
  4. If you have trouble finding it, use your manual and locate the bike diagram to know where it is.
  5. It is a fairly big metal part of the device with a tube atop and a circular port by its borders. You’d normally find it below or next to the engine.
  6. Note that the location of the carburetor changes from motorcycle to motorcycle.
  7. Its job is to mix the fuel and air in the very proportion that will make it burnable.
  8. Also, it controls your bike’s idle speed via a little screw that is rightly called the idle screw.
  9. This screw regulates the amount of gas that is fed into your bike’s engine when you are not throttling.
  10. Locate the idle screw beneath the float bowl for a coil. A little gas container that positions beneath the carburetor are the float canister.
  11. Search the float bowl for any screw connected to a one to two-inch coil. When you find it, note that you’ve found the idle screw.
  12. The coil vertically rests on the carburetor on some motorcycles.
  13. Some motorcycles, on the flip side, have the coil horizontally positioned and tapers towards the body of the carburetor.
  14. The idle screw can either be positioned on the right or left side of the motorcycle. Look for it on the edges.
  15. Some manufacturers built the knob of their bikes to poke out on its sides close to the compartment of the engine.
  16. Turning this knob counterclockwise or clockwise will help you adjust your bike’s idle speed.
  17. If edges are blocking your access to the screw, you want to remove them.
  18. If a panel or trim piece stops you during the process of screw adjustment, it makes sense to a part of it from your motorcycle.
  19. To get this done, utilize a socket or Allen wrench to take the screws or bolts that keep the panel in a place away. After that, gently remove the panel from your bike.
  20. Kick-start your bike and let it be for about two to three minutes to let the engine acclimatize. Evaluate your idle speed on the tachometer.
  21. The tachometer is the speed gauge on bikes. Read the calibrations when your motorcycle is idle.
  22. If the speed falls within the standard idle speed range, make sure that you refrain from changing it.
  23. If, on the other hand, the speed is not within the standard range, you may want to increase or decrease it, depending on what is important at the moment.

If you are doing this when the temperature outside is around 4 °C (40°F), allow the motorcycle to run for about ten to fifteen minutes.

Bikes feature a cold idle configuration that’ll limit the speed until your bike’s engine becomes sufficiently hot.

Note that some motorcycles come with tachometers that allow you to read the speed when the bike is on.

The tachometer can be used to evaluate your bike’s idle speed to know if it is within the perfect range.

If your bike does not feature a tachometer, you can still carry out this process by monitoring the sound coming from the engine.

Generally, the idle sound should be analogous to a low-tuned rumble, and your motorcycle should move sufficiently fast so you can steady yourself on it without setting a foot aground after releasing the motorcycle.

If you want to increase your motorcycle’s idle speed, tighten the idle screw in a clockwise fashion.

Harley Davidson will low idle stall when your idle speed isn’t high, utilize a suitable Philips screwdriver to turn the screw in the clockwise direction.

If the idle screw is beneath and if the coil is vertically positioned, then you want to turn the screw in an anticlockwise direction.

Turn the idle screw two times to adjust it slightly, or five times to adjust it dramatically.

NB: The screw normally comes with a Philips crown. This is normally the air consumption screw if what you see is a close-by flathead screw.

When you are turning the air combustion screw, you can use it to regulate your bike’s idle speed.

Also, this screw regulates the amount of air that flows into the carburetor when you are riding it.

As a result, messing with this screw is not a nice idea.

Undo the idle screw in a counterclockwise fashion to decrease the speed.

Screw the bolts one to five times depending on how drastically you’d like to decrease the speed on your motorcycle.

Climb your motorcycle and free the break to ascertain how it now feels.

After you are done adjusting the screw, kickstand your bike with one foot. Gently release its brakes to let it stay idle for five to ten feet.

This will furnish you with the knowledge of whether the speed is acceptable or not.

If the speed feels too high or too low, ensure further adjustments to set it at the right place.

Do’s and Don’ts

Do’s

  • Always regulate the speed with the motor at complete operating temperature.
  • Moves the screw right-handed to surge speed and left-handed to reduce it.
  • Ensure you acquire the right manual idle controller for your motorcycle. 

Don’ts

  • Don’t drill very far into the plug
  • Don’t tighten the idle screw excessively
  • Don’t apply extreme force when removing the plug

Advantages of Idling

  • Allowing your motorcycle to idle will help it become more efficient and effective.
  • Idling your bike before riding it provides the individual parts the opportunity to.
  • Idling your motorcycle before using it will help prevent problems such as the crack and leakage of certain engine parts.

FAQ’s How To Adjust Idle Speed Fuel Injected

What Is Bike Idling?

Idling is an engine state characterized by the functioning of the engine without the engagement of the throttle.

This means that your bike is operating at an idle speed when you start it first thing in the morning or when you pause at road signs with the engine still running.

The right bike speed is contingent on the layout of the engine and the fuel/air mix. The manufacturer decides the right idle speed.

Is Idling My Motorcycle A Bad Practice?

Allowing your bike to be idle is not a bad practice so far it doesn’t do it beyond proportions.

Liquid-cooled bikes come with the ability to stand idling than their air-cooled counterparts.

You want to consider the temperature when you are allowing your air-cooled bike to idle.

Why Is My Bike Idling So High?

Your bike is probably idling so high because it is receiving a lot of fuel and air mixture in a neutral or low-speed state.

This is normally because there is a misalignment of the idle screw sitting on the carburetor.

Also, it could be the result of a throttle screw that has gone out of place, or a bad throttle cable or sticky throttle.

How Can I Adjust My Harley Davidson’s CV Carburetor?

Search for the idle screw beneath the carburetor sides, in a pathway near the float container.

Driving in the screw or turning it in a clockwise manner will lean the idle mix and driving it out, or turning it in an anticlockwise manner will supplement it.

Drill the enclosing the idle screw out. Ensure that you don’t drill excessively into the plug.

Wrap the drill with string or tape to stop you from this excessive drilling so you wouldn’t spoil the screw.

Snoop the plug out using a miniature pick. Drive the idle screw in until it reaches the end. Don’t tighten the idle screw excessively. 

What are the risks of Riding Bikes With A High Idle?

If your bike has a high idle value, it means that it is receiving power from the engine but it is not using utilizing it because of the application of brakes, being neutral, or being in low gear.

That power that keeps increasing may be deployed at the least expected time.

Conclusion

Now that is it! By reading hitherto, you have been acquainted with what you need to know about how to adjust idle on fuel injected Harley Davidson.

This means that you don’t necessarily need to hire the services of a professional mechanic to do this for you.

The instructions contained in this article are direct and very easy to apply even for the worst amateurs.

Also, you may share with your friends who have the same bike as you to learn what you’ve learned.

Although it is highly improbable, you may have some questions. If you, don’t relent in reaching out to us!