Hi there!

I have a 1983 Ironhead thats been sitting in my garage for tree years since last startup.

I now wanted to fire it up again.
First thing I did was to change all filters, replace old gas with new, oil change and I also changed the old carburetor for a new SS Super E.
Thing is that when I tried to fire it up, it sounded like the starter cranked just a bit before it went completely dead. No dimming in the headlights, nothing.
The battery is new and was fully charged before I tried this.

What could be wrong here? Are the pistons stuck after these three years or something?
Please enlighten me since I have no clue to this.

Thanks!

 

Here goes Bud --- you have a old bike as I do also have a 81 Ironhead and I have found out the hard way just like you will that GROUND is most likely the problem . What I did was to add 3 extra ground 4ga wires running from the battery to the engine and to the frame and 1 to a starter mounting bolt it also has a starter relay under the seat that Auto Zone carries. It sounds like you have lost your ground , with alum , chrome and paper , corrosion and rust you also need to clean as many elect connections that you can , I even ran a 14ga wire from 1 of the mounting bolts of the Ignition pickup to the battery. These old bikes are great but they just need a little extra care for the older they get , I also have a 1980 Tour Glide that has had the same thing done to it , stay with it and you will turn heads