'98 Sportster Cranking Issue After Short Breaks

[wiley77]

I have had my 98 Sportster 3yrs now and have had no issues. Last weekend when I put it in the lake, it fired right up like always. After stopping to change skiers and really short breaks, it would crank right up with no problem. But, if we stopped to let the kids swim a while and listen to the radio, it would take forever to get the engines to run. Both were hard to crank and hard to keep running. Once I got them running long enough to get moving, they would run fine. It sounded as if the engines weren't getting fuel. I am not familiar enough with the fuel delivery system to ask any intelligent questions, but does anyone have any guess as to what may be causing this?

Thanks.

 

[ialonso]

but does anyone have any guess as to what may be causing this?

Thanks.

When the carb seats leak just a little bit, they will flood the engine when you are stopped just the right amount of time.

Next time it does that try starting as if it's flooded. Full throttle, no choke. If it starts way faster, it was flooded, and you are due for a carb rebuild soon to restore that easy start.

 

[Dr Honda]

Yep... what he said.

 

[wiley77]

Thanks for the help. Is there a standard carb kit that comes with common replacement parts, or do you have to buy what you are going to replace individually?