New Evo for me

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May 27, 2008 | 01:09 PM

MCSarge

Thread Starter

Stellar HDF Member

Joined: Jul 2006

Posts: 3,029

Likes: 449

From: Michigan

New Evo for me

I just picked up a 1987 FXLR. All stock just missing the air cleaner cover and filter. It runs but is leaking oil from all over. The cylinder base gaskets, oil pump, primary, and a few other places. What should I be looking for on this bike.I read a few posts on potential problems but never having owned an Evo bike before I'd like to get a heads up so to speak.

I got this bike real cheap and I plan on going thru the whole thing and making it a nice bar hopper to go with my RK. So any suggestions or help is appriecated. The bike has 54,000 miles on it and only had one owner, but he passed away and I can't get any further information on it.

Thanx in advance for the help.

May 27, 2008 | 09:23 PM

kiwidave2

Cruiser

Joined: Jun 2007

Posts: 130

Likes: 1

From: Whitley Bay, North-East England

RE: New Evo for me

Congrats!

The lifters should be most definitely be replaced immediately. cheap insurance. Usual advice is to do them every 30,000-40,000. H-D upgraded Evo lifters in the 90s. Buy factory ones from the stealer...good value and good design now. and compare with the originals.

Check cylinder studs carefully when doing base gasket job. They will be old-style studs with no shoulder to torque to the cases, and almost certainly male-thread head bolts going into 'female' threads at top of the stud. Again, if there is any doubt on tightness of any....replace the lot. Again, upgraded in the 90s! (You may need a little milling of head bolt holes to accept later style, no big deal)

The Hayden M6 Oil Fix kit is a good cheap addition to beat base gasket leaks,

At that mileage, with barrels off for the gasket job, get them mic-'d to check wear. You **could** be very close to a plus-10 bore. Just a possibility, but foolish not to check when torn down.

People do **** on the stock carb and clutch on 87s but again, i still run both with slight mods on my 1985 and it runs GREAT with no issues. Be precise and careful with the woodruff key whenever replacing the clutch inner hub on the 84-89 tapered mainshaft. You need a puller tool now for the hub.

Again, if the clutch hub is original, it was substantially upgraded by H-D later on. If the keyway is in good shape and no more than one of the stud fingers broken, keep on rolling. but with more than one broke (a weak point, but clutch action is fine even with 3 fingers, but no less), time to invest in the far better OEM replacement inner hub.

May 28, 2008 | 07:22 AM

rivercityslim

Road Master

Joined: Jun 2007

Posts: 842

Likes: 47

From: New Hartford CT

RE: New Evo for me

Quote:

People do **** on the stock carb

When I first got my 89, it still had the stock carb and was pretty much a dog performance-wise. I replaced the stock carb and intake with a later model CV and a free breathing air cleaner and it was a huge improvement that I would highly recommend to anyone with the older stock butterfly carb.

May 28, 2008 | 07:25 AM

Chris76

Cruiser

Joined: Apr 2008

Posts: 227

Likes: 1

From: Rock Falls, IL (born-n-raised San Diego, CA)

RE: New Evo for me

Congrats on the Evo!

May 28, 2008 | 07:49 AM

kiwidave2

Cruiser

Joined: Jun 2007

Posts: 130

Likes: 1

From: Whitley Bay, North-East England

RE: New Evo for me

Quote:

I replaced the stock carb and intake with a later model CV and a free breathing air cleaner and it was a huge improvement

I do hear you Slim, and that is widely held advice.....but i should state i have with the butterfly carb: its SE air kit, ramjett manifold, Andrews float bowl kit for that carb, custom idle mix needle.....and i haven't had to touch it for years. Literally. Accelerates great, runs superb. But then, i am a natural cheapskate!

I always like to point out that the 84-88 carb can work good, and even betterwith those add-ons

May 28, 2008 | 09:16 AM

MCSarge

Thread Starter

Stellar HDF Member

Joined: Jul 2006

Posts: 3,029

Likes: 449

From: Michigan

RE: New Evo for me

Thanks for the tips keep them coming. I'm looking forward to getting started on this, I like to tinker with stuff and since my truck is almost done I need something else to spend my money on.

May 28, 2008 | 04:05 PM

t150vej

HDF Community Team

Joined: Dec 2005

Posts: 5,422

Likes: 2,621

From: NC USA

RE: New Evo for me

I have 84,000 on an '87. (was in prison for 10 years is why the mileage is so low) Don't worry about the head studs if they don't come loose from the block on disassembly. You can probably get by on a .005 oversize for the jugs. If you're gonna "bar hop" I agree, put the nipple kit for the oil drains in the jugs. If you're gonna ride like you have some sense, you only need decent gaskets for the base. You'll find the rods a little loose, but probably be alright, but definitely do the wrist pin bushings. I've never seen an Evo oil pump leak (?) I went from a VERY dependable Kiehin butterfly to a CV and improved my mileage from 37 to 48 mpg and run great, but it's a cold natured witch compared to the butterfly carb. Do a valve job and just keep it near stock - it'll serve you well.