The frist two Harleys I owned were both fuel injected so I've had no real experience with carbs until I bought the '92 Sporty.  So I thought I would document my process for removing the carb as it was a common question on other sites that I found.  I found it pretty easy with a bit of knowledge.

Process:

• Shut off fuel supply to the carb at the petcock, leave the fuel hose attached for now, (it's handy to use it to hang the carb once it's removed from the manifold so you can remove the throttle cables).
   
• Remove the air filter and backing plate
   
• Loosen the throttle and return cables by slackening off the adjuster nuts below the right hand grip.
   
• On the left side of the bike where the choke knob is, loosen the nut behind the choke knob that holds it to the motor mount.  The choke cable will drop down.  It can later be pulled through between the barrels when the carb is removed.  The choke cable can be left attached to the carb.
   
• Remove the small rubber hose at the top rear of the carb, this just pops out
   
• Leave the fuel drain hose at the bottom of the carb attached, the end of this hose is routed past the oil filter to the bottom of the bike, just free it up and leave it attached. Leaving this hose attached makes draining the remaining fuel into a container easier once the carb is removed.
   
• Leave the throttle and return cables attached to the carb for now.
   
• The carb is attached to the manifold by a rubber ring, it is simply pressed in.  You can now remove the carb by rocking it up and down while pulling out.  Do not rotate it as it will hit the motor.
   
• Once the carb is free of the manifold you can easily pop the throttle and return cables out, they are held in with ferrules at the cable ends on the accellerator spindle on the carb.
   
• Lastly remove the fuel hose at the petcock end, I found this is better for less spillage as the fuel stays in the hose and you can pour it into a container once the carb is freed up.
   
• The carb can now be removed from the bike.
   
• To drain the remaining fuel left in the carb, put the drain hose into a container and un-screw the fuel drain screw which is at the bottom rear of the carb.  Make sure you do  up the drain screw tightly once all the fuel is out.

 

 agreed, and it applies to old school ironheads too. i have just fitted a cv carb to my ironhead chopper. carb removal basicly the same except the manifold bolts to the carb by 2 bolts, this manifold is removed by 2 more bolts which are easier undone by removing the coils and tank. the replacement manifold isnt expensive and it is the push on type mentioned above.

the 42mm cv pushes straight on, and i had to get a 30mm longer inner throttle cable. 

pic shows old original carb which is unwell and not worth repair.

 

new inlet manifold bolted on. shows rubber seat/ seal the carb just presses into

cv pushed firmly into hole. note tapped holes in side of head, i used these for home made supports to the temporary teardrop air cleaner

front side of carb showing throttle mechanisn which was to the rear on the old carb,

guides and cable connections are the same, but inner had to be extended 30mm to give propper opperation

 

Nice, good photo's too.