Sportster wont run with choke on - 2004 Harley Davidson XL 883 Sportster

if it runs only with the choke out then you need to drop the bowl of the carb and clean and clear the pilot jet

No, nothing else to check. You need to completely disassemble the carb and clean it out. When gasoline left in the float bowl evaporated, it left behind the gummy additives that the refinery puts in the gasoline. This mess has clogged the jets and small passageways in the carb. The reason it runs with the "choke" out is that it is not a real "choke" but rather an "enricher circuit". It has it's own air passageway and fuel metering "jet" in the float bowl.

Good Luck
steve

You are running lean my man, get your jets fixed.

remove and clean the carb. you could have a plugged jet or sticky float valve

the carbereter jets are blocked up,, strip it out and clean them out
but dont go pokeing a bit of wire into any jets or you will distroy them
if jets are blocked the bike will normaly only run with full choke on

you need to take your carb off give it as good cleaning. also check your intake gaskets where the manifold joins the jugs and the black rubber one where the carb joins the manifold. You def have air/fuel problem going on. also check your vscume hose to the carb but im thinking that is not it.

could be clogged fuel filter - could be carb needs cleaned -try running gumout in it

sounds like faulty choke. if it is electronic choke, this may have failed.

It sounds like the idle jet is clogged, if the choke is on it will continue to run however (very rich).black unspent fuel which will blacken the spark plugs and eventually foul out...take the carburator off and take it apart....there is an idle jet, blow thru it,or run a very fine wire thru it, you should be able to hold it up to the light and see the light.....same thing for the main jet...make sure the float bowl is cleaned out and install a new fuel filter.....check the gas tank for any rust..........if there is rust in the tank.....it must be cleaned and a tank sealer must be applied......there are several kits available..