Hi,
My dad is giving me his HD that he bought in 1980.
It need lot of work to get her running.The bike has around 50,000 mile and was running 5 years ago.
I have a new wiring harness on order and looking to replace alot of the cable and hoses.

What should I do to the bike?

Here are some picture of the bike.




You can see my sexy car. [sm=loveeyes.gif]


More Picture Here:
http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y14...0%20HD%20FXEF/

 

R&R 155" motorshould do the job...

 

Nice blue color on the bike...just kidding

Looks like you got alot of work ahead of you

 

I have a 1981 FXE. I love it, would not trade it for anything. However, the one you show in the picture is in very poor shape. 50,000 miles on a shovel is a lot.Do you think you could put $5000 into it? It would really be sweet. You have two choices. I love the shovels, but you can get one in much better shape very cheap.

Rebuild:
-Pull the motor, get it all redone. Heads, pistons, crank, carb, all new gaskets.
-All new wireing
-Repaintthe frame
-All new rubber
-Transmission may need rebuilt.

Or
-Part it out. People will pay good money for what is left. What you cant sell, take to the scrape yard.

 

Just start researching. The more you get familiar with your bike, a great gift from your dad, the more ideas will start to form. Go to the rallys, even if you have to drive your vehicle. Heck, trailer your bike. It'll draw lots of discussions. Paint, chrome, and lots of goodies awaits your efforts. Do you want it stock, customized, chromed, etc. If you disassemble, be sure to bag and tag where the parts came from. Get you a place in which to work, clean it for that purpose, buy a lift. Tires, rims, handlebars, lights, on and on it goes. Don't forget to get a manual, will become your best friend. Good luck!!

 

Cool bike to start a project from.
Take your time when tearing things apart, take photos before and during the tear down then bag and tag parts. Should make reassembly much easier.

How good did the motor run 5 years ago?

 

I think a perfect orginal FXEF would be worth about $8K-$10K. However, that is a perfect rebuild, ready to ride. So you can start plowing money into it and it should be worth more then what you put into it. Make sure it has a clean HD title also.

 

Clean and polish! you have winter coming and all the time in the world.... if the motor runs just rebuild it... get a HD service manual and it will walk you through everything. the peopl on the forum are just amazing not only have great ideas but many of them have done what you are thinking of and can give you step by step. you have a open slate right now with that bike! decide on a style and go with it! I am a bob fan and that old school motor is just awesome!!! if you need any parts i have a ton of take offs from a sporty, softtail, and street bob... let me know what you are looking for and i willsee if i have it! enjoy! what a great project i am a little jelous!

 

I was looking to drop $5,000 on the bike.
Does anyone know the best place in Houston TX to repair the motor.
>How good did the motor run 5 years ago?

The motor was doing alot of backfire but did run.

 

Stone,You are going to want to post to the "Classic" section of this site. This is for the new Dynas (twin cam). There are a bunch ofpeople that can help you.If it was backfiring you are going to want to get the carb cleaned/rebuilt.Timereally hurts these old girls. You might be able just to get the carbstraight and ride it (one you get it road worthy).But, you will most likely find more and more problems over time just because it is old.However, if it was me, I would pull the motor and get it rebuilt.I have a local bike builder her in north Dallas that works on Shovels/rebuilds and so on. You could also buya newS&S Shovel motor..they are real sweet(not cheap).All new wiring, paint, tiresand so on. Really do it right the first time. Looks like you are missing some parts. Check J&P cycles online for parts for Shovels. They have a ton of stuff.
BTW, welcome to the world of Shovels and AMF!