High Idle when engine gets hot.... 1400-1500 rpms. - Victory Forums

Marius · 10-11-2012, 10:21 AM

When my bike warms up the idle begins to reach 1400-1500rpms. I noticed this happens sooner on hotter days. So I'm guessing the engine is idling higher to keep itself cool(most internal combustion engines are designed this way).

Something seems wrong, just not queit sure where to start looking. Vacuum leak maybe?

I'm gonna dig into the shop manual when I get home, but curious if anyone else experienced this? Especially those who live i Florida or TX. (Deep south)

Kuchera89 · 10-11-2012, 10:56 AM

you could check for vacuum leaks by spraying a little aerosol(wd-40 is safer than carbclean, but not as responsive) around the throttle bodies while at idle and see if anything changes. i doubt it will, but u wouldn't be the first case.

where does the bike idle cold? after i cleaned the throttle bodies on the kp, it could climb up to 1400 rpms once warm, someone had been messing with the adjustment screw to keep it idleing with dirty TBs. once clean, i had to drop the idle back down, now it will idle at 850-900 if i dont let it warm up with the enrichener and will climb to alittle over 1000 once warm, right after cleaning it was 1150 ish, but after a few 1000 miles it has begun to slow again. i've cleaned them twice now and its easy enough to just do every oil change.

also check for cable tension in case a previous owner has messed with anything, mostly just check for proper throttle play.

Marius · 10-11-2012, 11:24 AM

Very useful info, I appreciate it! The previous owner said the dealership did an injector fush/cleaning because the bike had sat up a while with old gas. I'm thinking when they put everything back together they might have left some hose loose or something else not quiet tight that is leaking air.

When I start the engine cold it idles right around 1000, meybe 900 its it's cooler outside. I noticed its hard to get going, especially on colder days (50f and below). On a cold start, if i give it throttle it bucks and studders and if I let go, it dies. Just seems like it likes to warm up before it runs right.

To me everything points to a vacuum leak, hard cold starts mean extra air and too lean of a mixture, and high idle when hot might mean that a vacuum leak keeps it lean and running hotter then normal, so the engine idles up to stay cool.

I will tear into it this weekend. See what I find. Your notes will be very useful.

Marius · 10-11-2012, 04:41 PM

So no one else in the south experiencing idling at 1500rpms?

If that's the case, then something really is wrong with my bike.

Blah... I was looking forward to wrenching this weeknd anyway...

EPinNC · 10-11-2012, 04:55 PM

As mentioned above, it is mostly likely an air leak. I have a 2007 and had a similar issue, found that the rubber throttle body gasket was leaking. Replacing it solved the problem...

woodrow731 · 10-11-2012, 06:54 PM

i have not had any high idle issues here. i also think it sounds like a vacuum leak. as the motor warms up the hole gets bigger so the idle goes up.

Marius · 10-11-2012, 11:24 PM

Good stuff guys! I appreciate all the ideas. Got my tank on empty this evering, will start to take her appart Saturday morning. Hope the fix is something silly.

woodrow731 · 10-12-2012, 12:00 AM

good luck.

signals_91 · 10-12-2012, 12:14 AM

If you do not find any leaks, I would then check your battery and battery connections. My '08 Hammer had issues with high idle after it would warm up. Sometimes shutting the bike off than on, the condition would often go away, then come back again. Since I replaced the battery this past spring, I had no issues with idle problems.

Mags · 10-12-2012, 01:22 AM

Once warm I've never heard anyone mention a Victory motor idles up to keep cool?

I've never seen it in my cars either... turbo diesels, turbo gas as well as normally aspirated EFI engine???

Our summers get pretty hot...

Mags