Motorcycles: Harley Davidson Question, 1990 Sportster 1200?

bike helmet zip ties image

Q. Ok, I wrote an introduction to this quesiton that was longer than some books, so I just started over because otherwise I'd never get any answers 'cause the intro was longer than the freaking question itself. I'll try to keep it "to the point", but I have always had trouble with that. I ramble. I'm a rambler and I rant. I'm a ranter, putting in millions of details that have nothing to due with the topic. OK - my dad buys his second motorcycle as he is wanting to get into riding. I have been riding every year weather permitting for 13 year and I know my way around a bike pretty good. I have never owned a harley davidson, only Yamaha's and kawasaki's. The first bike my dad bought was a Kawasaki. He's been taking riding lessons from me for free, and he also signed up for a course at our local community college that is taught by guys who've been riding for centuries, and they'll teach him things that even I don't know. So one day we are driving and there's a sparkling clean sportster (1200 XLH) sitting on the side of the road ("for sale sign clearly visible"). I call the number and offer the guy $3000 as it's a 1990 and has 15,000 miles on it, although the bike is FLAWLESS and loaded with aftermarket shiny things, although all moving parts are stock. He accepts. I tell him that it's actually my dad who is interested and I'll have him call back later. He does, and sets up a test ride (to be performed by me) the next day. We go, I ride (I ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS wear a helmet), but I didn't on this test ride because I had to be able to hear EVERYTHING IN THE ENGINE, ETC. So I ride for about 10 minutes and the bike is in such incredible condition I just can't believe it. I report back and dad agrees to buy it on the spot. The next day he pays the guy and get's the temp tag and insures it. Tonight I went down and picked it up. While we were in the guys large and spotless garage, fully equipped with about 10 motorcycles, 3 cars, and 4 toolbenches, I didn't see the expected accompanyment of tool kits. So I figure he outsources his maintainence. Ok. I turn the fuel switch to "on" from "off", and all of a sudden the bike is literally purging the entire tank of gas out of what appears to be a 1/4 inch rubber hose that someone had threaded between those iconic thin metal bars that run vertically from the crankcase up each side of the cylinders. The hose STARTS at the bottom of the air filter, although I don't thing it has anything to do with it and runs up direcly to the "OFF/ON/RESERVE" switch. So I quickly switch it off, and it stops leaking. The seller is horrified because he's already been paid and we haven't even taken possession yet, 2. The bike didn't do this when I rode it the day before, and 3. his dog bit my dad in the ass when he went over to pay him (and my dad is a lawyer, "bad combination of events"). So we spend 40 minutes trying to figure out first of all what the hell that hose is anyway.... Why is it now leaking fuel copiously, and was it originally connected to something else? did it become disconnected? Next I decide "ok, let's take it just outside of the garage, fire it up with the switch on "off", then turn it "on", which we did, and it still pissed fuel all over the ground. By this time I'd removed it from it's previous position up against the base of the outside of the lower part of the block (too hot for rubber hose, obviously), and I'd zip-tied it so it wouldn't touch the exhaust either. Ok, WTF!!!!???? So, in a last ditch attempt to just GET IT HOME, I decided to clamp it off. Between the 2 of us we decided to use a paper clamp (not clip, CLAMP), those black things with the little silver handles to open and close them that can be used to pinch other people for fun at the office. We also screwed a screw of slightly larger diameter than the inside of the hose into the end of it, and...... drumroll... IT STILL LEAKED, SOMEHOW, but to a lesser degree. He followed me home and the performance of the bike was severely compromised. I had to keep it revved at stop signs and it felt like it was missing on one of the cylinders occasionally. SO: WHAT IS THIS HOSE, WHAT IS IT'S PURPOSE, AND WHAT'S IT SUPPOSED TO DO? IS IT SUPPOSED TO BE HOOKED TO SOMETHING? IF SO, WHAT? PLEASE. I WILL RECANT ALL MY YEARS OF RIDING JAP BIKES IF SOMEONE WILL PLEASE TELL ME HOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. Otherwise, I'm going to have to pay someone to do it and they might die of laughter from how stupid I am that I couldn't figure it out on my own. This bike is beautiful and I'm really hoping that it doesn't reinforce the rumor that Harley's are hanger queens (which is the only reason I hadn't bought one myself prior to this bike). I know that there is someone out there who can answer this in the blink of an eye. Also the oil/filter and plugs haven't been changed in friggin' trillions of years so I'm going to do that as soon as I can get the right plugs for it. I bought a case of 4 cycle bike oil about 3 years ago and I still haven't
used it all, so this oil change should finish it off. That maintainence I can do myself, but if I end up having to take the bike to my mechanic to have this hose thing figured out, I'll just have them change the plugs/oil/filter. Well, that about does it. If I remember anything else I'll post an update. Thank you all in advance for your help. I'm sorry I'm such a dumb-ass but this is my first Harley and I'm still basically a Harley virgin so I haven't found the g-spot on them yet. Thx, john in Iowa

Answer
The hose is the carb overflow drain. Being 19 years old with only 15000 miles I'm sure the bike sat parked a lot. Gas usually dumps out the overflow tube because of a stuck carb float. Probably because some old gas dried up in the bowl. It's a very simple fix, Turn the petcock to off. Take the fuel hose off the carb and run it into a bucket or gas can. Turn the petcock to reserve and totally drain the tank. Remove the float bowl and clean it with some carb cleaner, also the float and linkage. Re assemble and put in fresh gas. That oil you say you have, what weight is it? The Sportster needs 20/50. Also you need to change the primary and transmission oil. get yourself a factory manual. This is the only item you should ever purchase from a Harley dealer. For anything else find a good independant shop.

What are those things?

ArcticMonk

What are those spikey plastic things people have on their helmets when they ride bikes??
I've seen them so much, but can't think of what it does!
They stick up out of nowhere and are all spikey and ... plastic-y...
Someone please explain? :)

Answer
See You Tube video link below. "Magpie Attacks foiled by cable ties" They are nothing but plastic zip ties attached to a helmet pointing up. When a bird (Magpie) swoops down, they are thwarted by the zip ties poking them.

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Title Post: Motorcycles: Harley Davidson Question, 1990 Sportster 1200?
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