Help with Getting a 7-year sitting 1996 back on the road

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Nov 30, 2008 | 12:29 AM

bizwizkid

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Help with Getting a 7-year sitting 1996 back on the road

I'm buying a 1996 Road King FLHRI that has been sitting idle for seven years. It has a lot of miles 120k and the top end was rebuilt at 80k. Mostly all highway miles.

Bike ran great when it was parked - due to my friend being unable to ride since then because of a shoulder injury.

My plan is to pickup the bike, photograph very well to document its current condition, take it right to a car wash and clean all the oil/gunk off of it. I understand I should then flush the gas tank, change the gas filter, pull the sparks and add oil, let it sit 15 minutes, turn motor and repeat. I'd like to get her running to heat up the oil/tranny fluid. I'll then drain all oil, tranny fluid, front shocks (not sure if they're oil or air yet

. I'm also putting on new tires and doing a very thorough rust removal and cleaning. I've got the Clymer manual and am getting the HD Service manual.

What I could use is your advice on how to proceed. Any websites or guides on what to do and not do so I don't do any damage to the engine or any other components. i.e. I'm betting calipers are frozen, would I just open them up with cleaner? Cables need oil, switches need to be cleaned etc., new belt, and all related issues worked on.

Any help much appreciated!

Nov 30, 2008 | 07:33 AM

olgoat

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Joined: Nov 2007

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From: Penna. Furnace, PA.

The only other thing I see is the carb will be gummed up and will need to be torn apart and cleaned.Bike probably won't run untill this is done.Looks like you got the right idea though.

Nov 30, 2008 | 12:19 PM

KBFXDLI

Big Kahuna HDF Member

Joined: Feb 2006

Posts: 23,881

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From: USA

Get her running right off the bat:

1. First get a fresh battery
2. Remove the spark plugs and squirt a small amount of marvel mystery oil in the cylinders. (1-2oz each)
3. Rotate the engine with the starter a few times with the plugs out. (cover holes with rags)
4. Drain gas tank and refill with 1 gallon of fresh 93 octane with 1 oz of techron in it.
5. Install new plugs
6. add a few ounces (6) of marvel oil to the oil tank
7. with plug wires off rotate engine with starter about 10 times in short bursts
8. connect plug wires.
9. Start that thing up. If it doesn't start remove the A/C and shoot a shot of starting fluid in there.
10. If it starts DO NOT roll on the throttle. Let it idle for 5 minutes at least. Air up the tires and ride it around the block after a pre-ride check. Do not exceed 35 mph on those tires. They will be flat spotted so this will NOT be a smooth ride.

11. Now change all fluids engine, trans, primary, flush brakes, air filter, clean fuel system with techron in the gas.
12. replace tires, balance
13. do critical fasteners
14. inspect drive belt & tension. Replace if it doesn't look 100%
15. inspect brake system completely.
16. Inspect ALL rubber parts especially brake hoses. Replace if not 100%

You may find you don't have to do much.......

Now ride that biotch......

Last edited by KBFXDLI; Nov 30, 2008 at 12:24 PM.

Nov 30, 2008 | 06:57 PM

bizwizkid

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I'm on it

Thanks guys, I'm on it

Will report back in about 2-3 weeks.

Nov 30, 2008 | 09:35 PM

Hx3

Road Master

Joined: Oct 2008

Posts: 1,008

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From: Jax, FL

You can also use Coca-Cola in the cylinders to help free up the pistons in case you have a hard time finding the Marvel Mystery Oil.

Dec 2, 2008 | 12:18 PM

vetmxer_9

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Joined: Nov 2008

Posts: 23

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From: Riverside So Cal

Quote:

Originally Posted by olgoat

The only other thing I see is the carb will be gummed up and will need to be torn apart and cleaned.Bike probably won't run untill this is done.

+1 get in there and do that carb. little tip for ya. once you get the jets out of the carb, what i like to do is let them set in a small tin can with some acetone and i like to use tip cleaners from the welding supply that are small enough to fit thru the jet holes, then blow them out with compressed air. after 7 yrs that gummed up crap might be a little hard to get out of there.

oh yeah... remember to hold on to the jet tight when useing compressed air. iv lost a jet doing this once in the past