Is there a way to know if a shovel is 1978 or the 1978 1/2? It has been awhile. Actually, a shameful while, and I need to get my hands on a service manual. They want this info and I don't have a clue. Anyone help? I have a shop built and was needing to know. thank you!

 

Get the VIN# and see if you can come up with a build date.

Joe
[&:]

 

What I know about a 78 HD is that nothing from any other year model will fit a 78. If you haven't already purchased one I would urge caution. If you have purchased one, I would urge you to move forward slowly and shop around for everything to get the best prices.

 

I have the bike. It was built by one of "you" guys andwas awesome. I needed to do some repairs back 12 years ago, but kids and marriage came along so it has been "boxed" for a long time. I want to get it together, but do not have the network and forgot most of what I learned. That is why I am in big trouble. Any links? Basics even will help get my head in gear. thanks, annie

 

If I'm not mistaken, 78 was the year that there was a change in the transmissions and early had a ratchet top trans, late (78 1/2) had the cowpie trans. There may have been a couple of other changes, but they were minor as I recall. I believe that most parts(chassis wise, not motor) will interchange from 1968 to 1984. That is all assuming an FX or FL (your post didn't say). If its a sportster then I don't believe there was an early and a late. In the sportster line, 1979 was a one of a kind bastige child that had quite a few one year only parts. Good luck on the build, you will have lots of fun with it when done, I had a 79 FXS for 12 years, and could kick myself for ever selling that bike. These new bikes are fantastic, hit the button and ride, don't worry about breakdowns, but they just don't have the soul or personality that the older bikes do.

Teu

 

The E78 models had points ignition. Late '78shad the electronic version. Also, the late models had rubber band manifold gaskets instead of the o-ring version. The cow-pie tranny happened in mid '79, not mid '78.

 

78 1/2 had electronic ignition. Earlier model had points and condenser.

 

My bad..........Been a lotta years and a lotta beers, the memory is not what it used to be........................and thinking back on it, I'm remembering that the electronic ignition was the second thing to get jettisoned on my 79 after I bought it, the first being the electric starter.


Teu

 

Oakley, jump over to the Shovelhead section of the forum. Lots of knowledge in there.

 

http://forums.delphiforums.com/*********/messages

Here is a link to a forum with some very sharp folks and many of them are big shovel fans. If they can't help you, nobody can!