Fuel filter-85 1200 Interstate

[Yosemite Sam]

Hope this question isn't a dumb one....I replaced my fuel filter, I matched it up as close as I could with one I found at the True Value hardware store. The new one is a little bigger than the one I took off.

I'm just getting it running on the road after PO had it sitting about 4 years in garage. I'm running Sea Foam to clean carbs and it seems to be smoothing out, but the throttle response is pretty sluggish.

Would the larger fuel filter impact that at all?

Thanks for any help anyone can give!

[detdrbuzzard]

its more likly that you need a carb rebuild

[bustedwing]

With the bike sitting that long you may not get by with just running Sea Foam, although that is about the best as far as cleaning out the carbs you will do without taking them apart. You can keep trying that for some time as the more you run it the better it will get to a certain point.But there are some parts inside that are delicate and if not only worn but deteriated to the point that it no longer works like it is supposed to, then no matter how much Sea Foam or any cleaner you run thru those carbs will help.The worst thing you can do to a Gold Wing is park it. It is made to run and will give you less problems when you do that just as much as possible.Good luck, ride safe.

[Mooseman]

There are small passages in the carb that get clogged from setting and the carb needs to be taken apart to clean.
Also the Pilot jets can get clogged and also require you take the carbs off to clean.
The seafoam works great if the passage is not completely blocked. But if any of these are blocked, they are not passing fuel or sucking it where it needs to go, so don't get cleaned out.

[Yosemite Sam]

Do you think the fuel filter being slightly larger than the one removed will have any impact on engine performance?

[NKYWinger]

Fuel filter size, all other things being equal, should have no effect, one way or the other. As others have said, a carb rebuild might be on the horizon for you. When I bought mine, it had been sitting for 4 years...I sent the carbs to Pistol Pete's: they use Randakk's carb kits and the results were AMAZING. Can't say enough about the way the bike runs now. I think the bill, including shipping, was about $400 or so, but, BOY, was it worth it!

Something to consider...

[Mooseman]

Do you think the fuel filter being slightly larger than the one removed will have any impact on engine performance?

Nope. The fuel pump sets the pressure and sucks the fuel. A larger filter should not cause a restriction.
I myself use the Napa Gold 3011 filter. Just stay away from the EMGO fuel filter.
A Randakk's carb kit and a little time should have you up and not missing a beat.
My wing sat for years and that's what it took to make mine run like it should. Several tanks of MMO and Seafoam just wouldn't do it.

[zamboni920]

Just an idea.....if the idle itself suffers, remove plugs (to prevent hydrolock) , then remove idle mixture screws (make sure you first screw them in until lightly seated, counting the exact turns. Spray some carb cleaner in the holes and blow some compressed air. Crank engine for a few seconds before replacing plugs.
The inlet needles in the fuelbowls are what meters the fuel entering carbs....fuel lines or filter has no effect, unless too small, restricting flow.
The jets in the carbs are what meters fuel to combustion chambers....different jets for ddifferent throttle positions.
If anything else than only idle is affected.....as the others suggest....carb clean/rebuild.

[Yosemite Sam]

Update....

I've been trying to get this bike to work itself out because my wife gives me VERY limited funds for motorcycles (she hates me riding), so I've been trying to avoid taking the carbs off (like I know I should), I'm a previous Shadow rider and have no experience with the wing and I want to try to salvage some riding in this awesome ridin summer here in NE Ohio.

Anyway, I've been running a heavy dose of seafoam in the tank, and with bike on center stand I revved her up to about 4 grand and used the throttle lock to keep her there, then I removed the gas line to the tank and stuck it directly into a can of seafoam and kept her going until she caughed and chugged up some serious white smoke (got my eyse burning and prob made the neighbors worried). I repeated this about 3 times and after the final treatment I let her sit 2 days.

I repeated this whole scenaro 2 times, she was a bear to get started, after a week of getting her started (needed starter fluid) and getting her to idle at 3-4 grand with throttle lock, I could hear that she was wanting to come to life. After about 8 days of nursing her to run, I decided to give her hell and got her started and really worked her hard, hold the idle to 5-6 grand and revving alot. After about 5 min of doing this, she coughed and burped something up and she started to smooth out a bit. Enough for me to adjust the idle and get her to idle on her own at bout 12-1300 RPM. And I can now get her started on her own (after a few tries).

That's where I am now, as soon as I get the seat back from boat shop I'll get her on the freeway and run her hard, hopefully I'll feel comfortable enough to start riding to work without the stress of getting stranded somewhere.

Thanks for all the help, and I'll continue to keep you updated.

[bustedwing]

I had to go back and review what you started with and what you had done so far, but you have done everything you can to those carbs short of rebuilding them while onboard.The onle thing now is actually riding because you are moving the slides up and down rather than leaving it in one spot.Also the change in fuel flow from low to fast helps to open ports.Keep in mind while you have Sea Foam in the fuel it will run rough, once you get good clean fuel running thru the carbs the better it will run.It will take time and you might luck out, just keep trying.

[WarTurtle]

Mechanic in a bottle is the best stuff to use.. it's amazing. Get it on Ebay. Some NAPA stores carry it also.