Recently my dad took his sportster out of his living room for the first time in 13 years. After a near death machinery accident he decided to make time to ride,and put different priorities first. My question is, after sitting all those years is it normal for all the oil to have gone into the crank case? Also after started for the first time, it sounds like a lifter sticks sometimes, or an intake valve is open. As soon as it started to happen, we shut it off. Any ideas on the noise in the top end? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

Could be wrong but no where for that much oil to go. Sounds like it was low when stored and who knows how much buildup of sludge my be in motor. I would change oil asap and see how it sounds.

 

Already changed the oil with new, that was the first step. After the oil change it grew maybe quarter of a quart. Before this happened the oil pressure light blipped on for maybe a second and then went out. Shut off immediately and started again, this is when the noise appeared.

 

Just went out and started it. The noise is not there, but it's only running on one cylinder. The back rocker cover gets warm in 20 sec. and the front is cool, same with the exhaust. I'm leaning more towards a stuck valve now. Any ideas, yay or nay? Also, anyone know how the lock cylinder comes off, it appears that the lock cylinder needs to come off to take the coil bolt off to remove the coil? Thanks.

 

Have your checked the front cylinder for spark? If not, please do so before pulling anything apart.

 

Yes, the front cylinder is getting spark, it's bright blue, so it's not weak spark. We put new plugs in to rule out a plug that won't fire under compression. It will idle with the choke pulled out all the way, but idles sky high, then it will run on both for a brief second, the idle goes down, then it goes back to one cylinder. If you crack the throttle it either coughs and dies, or continues to run in one cylinder.

 

spray some wd40 in the chamber... some jerk talking motorcycle stuff

 

If you don't have one, buy yourselves a factory service manual. It has a diagnostic section which may help solve the problem, but will also help you perform any service work or repairs that it needs.

The fact both cylinders fire is promising! I suggest you check simple basic stuff, like main battery and ground connections, disconnect and clean them, along with the LT wiring for the ignition system. There may be a dirty or loose or corroded connector, which isn't functioning properly.