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Since the new law eliminating the use of actual inspection stickers in NC (but not inspections) did not go into effect till 08, it would seem the bike was not tagged and registered at least between 04, and 08. And possibly much longer since inspection stickers were no longer required.
A carfax would add some additional clarity to that. Hopefully.
So today was spent cleaning and polishing saddlebags and the fuel tank. Slow, repetitive, tedious work going thru three different polishes. Separated the lids from the bags to make the work easier and more complete.
At the end of the day the finished parts are probably a 7-7.5 on a scale of 10. Some pitting and scratches that will never come out. I do have to say that I do not think I will need to use bungee cords to secure the lids to the bags. They are definitely a step up from the locking mechanism on my 65 FLH.
Not sure how you get these kind of scratches on the side of a fuel tank. I guess/I suppose some type of metal contact, maybe from some type of a zipper?
"Not sure how you get these kind of scratches on the side of a fuel tank. I guess/I suppose some type of metal contact, maybe from some type of a zipper?"
My scratches in that area are from my watch when raising the enrichener on the carb with my left hand. It took me a long time to figure it out.
edit: not in your case though as you have the stock carb
Panz, Annual inspection stickers were required on motor vehicles in NC between 1966 and 2008. Afterwards, annual inspections were (and are) still required prior to renewing vehicle registrations every year. It all became computerized in ’08 so a vehicle owner couldn’t renew the vehicle registration without having successfully completed a state inspection within 90 days prior, but inspection stickers were no longer used.
Now, let me post this here before I get to the TL/DR part of my reply. If it were my bike, I would run the VIN and get a CarFax report for forty bucks. They are often woefully deficient, BUT if nothing else, you should see some annual NC inspection and registration renewal history on the bike that you wouldn't see otherwise.
I should mention that I was off bikes from ’89-’20 so I can’t even recall if bikes were required to display the sticker in that time frame, but I know annual inspections were still required. Maybe someone else in NC can remember @skootchnc@Rob Harper@Cosmic Razorback
Here’s something I don’t get. It doesn’t make sense if your bike is a ’96, why it would, or could have a ’94 inspection sticker. Maybe a late '95 sticker if it was bought right when they came out in fall, but a 94?... or I haven’t had enough coffee.
If there was a plate on your bike when you bought it here is how you might tell. See the sticker in the top right of this plate? It indicates the vehicle registration has not been renewed since ’06. The sticker on the top left indicates May (fifth month)
If the "inspecting date on the tag, is older (by more than 1 year) I'd guess the tag was off another bike.... and would want to see the registration
Brain-fart... (early in the AM).... MY '05 FLTRi has month/year built on the VIN tag.... do you have the same on your '96?
North Carolina is 450 miles east to west, and 250 miles north to south... the bike could have been kept at the beach (salt water and salty air) could have been kept in a dirt floor barn, or any manner of conditions.
You're best hope is getting the VIN checked.... that might tell you the location. It wouldn't be the first bike I saw riding around with expired tags... and there are a few "outlaws" who simply refuse to register their bikes.
I'm not sure there would be any way to tell exactly how long, and when the bike was stored.... but from reading this thread, either the bike's odo has gone round at least twice, or it's sat neglected for MANY years....
Sweet ride, best of luck to ya...
Last edited by skootchnc; Mar 30, 2022 at 07:15 AM.
If the "inspecting date on the tag, is older (by more than 1 year) I'd guess the tag was off another bike.... and would want to see the registration
Brain-fart... (early in the AM).... MY '05 FLTRi has month/year built on the VIN tag.... do you have the same on your '96?
North Carolina is 450 miles east to west, and 250 miles north to south... the bike could have been kept at the beach (salt water and salty air) could have been kept in a dirt floor barn, or any manner of conditions.
You're best hope is getting the VIN checked.... that might tell you the location. It wouldn't be the first bike I saw riding around with expired tags... and there are a few "outlaws" who simply refuse to register their bikes.
I'm not sure there would be any way to tell exactly how long, and when the bike was stored.... but from reading this thread, either the bike's odo has gone round at least twice, or it's sat neglected for MANY years....
Sweet ride, best of luck to ya...
Thanks. VIN tags are on the bike. Sitting & neglected is more likely. Only going to have to go a max of 10 over on the pistons.
Got the rear brake caliper back together (new seals & pads), along with the rear brake master cylinder. The piston assembly was pristine. Only other parts needed were the rubberized star washers and master cylinder rubber cover gasket for the lid. I opted to use "Speed Bleeders". Have to say they work very nicely. Fresh DOT 5 thru the lines and I now have good rear brakes.
Also added the Baker shift lever. Not a cheap item but well worth the scratch.
Got the jiffey stand back on after some serious cleaning. Needed a new spring. Have to say that looking at the old one I seriously wonder how the old one got so 'fd up.
Hard to think one could spend just about entire day making rocker box covers presentable. Started with wet sanding 400 grit, then 600, then 800, then 1500, then a buffing wheel to a final hand polish using Mothers Aluminum Polish.
Not sure what everyone uses to remove rust on parts, but I have been using this stuff for years. Not cheap but definitely does the job. Non toxic and boidegradeable as well
Before and after (about 8 hours) on left footboard.
Definitely going to need new spacers and springs on pushrod tubes, in addition to new rubber. Just do not want to take the chance that the rust on the springs could weaken them, causing them to fail and I end up with leaky pushrods at the base. (Pic actually makes them look better than they are.)
Last edited by panz4ever; Apr 4, 2022 at 12:28 AM.
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