Well, now I went and did it. No more silly things like fuel injection, windshield, cruise control or suspension, I traded the Road King for a rigid Shovel.
All I have done for the last 5 years is press the start button and ride so I am glad I found this forum for advice when working on the new bike, starting with the problem of detonation. So far I have tried premium fuel with no ethanol, checked for air leaks on the intake manifold and now need advice on spark plugs, plug gap and timing. Current plugs are Autolite 86 set at .25, haven't checked the timing yet. The motor is far from stock, 104 inch with 10:1 compression, Delkron case, S&S 5.0 inch stroke flywheels, Crane 320B cams, solid lifters and roller rockers,titanium valves, S&S bored super G and single Thunder Jet. I cant quite make out the casting numbers on the dual plug heads, looks like GME 7468 and 74HF/74HR. It has Dyna 2000 single fire ignition and coils.
Any advice is greatly appreciated!

 

Congratulations on your find. It sounds like an impressive bike but for a first shovelhead you would have been better off with a stocker. There is a learning curve to figuring out these old beasts and the closer to stock the better. The manuals, service and parts, will give the average owner every thing they need on keeping it running. With all the modifications on your motor you will have to keep a log book on what you have what the manufacturer recommends on settings for carb, ignition, plugs etc.

 

Wow, you jumped in with both feet. Post some pics. Congrats, I think.

 

timing is the thing you need to walk it back as the compression is very high and the static number is maybe 200 or more on a compression gage - soo 36 degreese is not going to cut it - set the LED light on your electronic ignition at the TDC mark at the front of the timing hole not the center of it and see if that helps - if it does and its not gone roll the settings to the next slowest settings in the curv adjustments -- see if any of that helps

 

Yes, I definitely jumped in with both feet but I have always wanted a shovel with a shitload of power. Mid life crisis kicked in.

 

you do not have enough in the way of brakes for a motor like that -

 

nor suspension ... those hard-tails turn young men into old men in a hurry

 

I'll go with not enough suspension...but...the Brakes seem at least adequate.
I'd take 'er to the Track with those Brakes....

 

Absolutely! I've been thinking about chopping my ol Shovel, I don't think anything looks or sounds better than a properly tuned big inch Shovel. roll on!