Help: Setting cruise speed on Sportster LE

[tawood]

I found the problem!!! But, need the solution....

Hurray!
I found the problem today, and it was what was first suggested: the power valves. I think I had a hard time figuring this out because I was thinking of this as a SPEED problem, and not an RPM problem. But, I took the boat out today and noticed that my boat WILL NOT, under ANY circumstance, run between (indicated) 4200 rpm and 6800 rpm...you can creep the throttle up to 4100 rpm, and then give it a fraction more and bam: 7000 rpm. So, I disconnected the power valve vacuum leads and presto, the engine would run at any rpm I wanted, and could achieve any speed I wanted. I could even reach top speed (it just took about twice as long to get there).

Now I just need to find out how to trouble shoot the valve solinoid...

 

[kustomkarl]

It sounds like you just did a trouble shoot of the RAVE valve Solenoid...replace it. There is no test to check it other than unplug it, that I have seen. Kinda like checking a light bulb.

Karl

 

[tawood]

That's what I was thinking...

Hey Karl,
In the mean time, I'd like to wake board behind the boat tomorrow. Do you think I would hurt anything just "unplugging" those vacuum (actually, I think they are pressure) lines to the rave valves? I'm thinking it wouldn't, because they just allow crankcase pressure to open the valves, ie closed system. Also, running with the valves closed is just an increase in exhaust pressure, so I wouldn't think there would be harm there either, but a second opinion couldn't hurt...
Tim

 

[Gunsrunner]

I don't think that is such a good idea, i brock a rave of inside the motor when the bellows got a hole in it, my raves where very worn though, so it could be fine for yours, is it worth the risk.

 

[tawood]

Update

I bought a new solenoid only to find out there was nothing wrong with the old one. When I was installing the new one I was having a difficult time reconnecting the hoses, and then I noticed: one of the hoses had a serious "kink" in it, that you could tell had been there for a long time. I replaced that hose with a new one, and problem is solved. Boy, that solenoid is in a difficult spot to reach/see!!!
Tim