Seeking maintenance advice
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Stage I
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Austin, Tx
Seeking maintenance advice
Hey there folks, I'm just reaching out to get some general advice on maintenance. A buddy of mine has a Sportster 1200 that he hasn't started for literally over a year. He moved to a different town a few hours away but hasn't taken the bike back with him yet. We got it running, but obviously the gas is bad after all that time, so it wasn't running as smoothly as it could. My buddy isn't exactly a pro when it comes to maintenance and the bike has been pretty neglected in general, so we worked out a deal where I'll keep the bike at my place and keep it maintained until he's ready to take it back. In return, I get to use the bike whenever I feel like it, which will be super convenient in downtown Austin where parking is pretty difficult.
Anyways, I'm just looking for some advice on recommended oil types (brand & weight), decent air filters, common issues to look for, a good online company to order from that has good prices, and maybe where to find owners manual access online if possible. I don't necessarily want top of the line everything, but good price to quality ratio type stuff.
Basically just a run down of essential recommended maintenance.
I'm sure I need to give you guys a little more specific info to answer all my questions adequately, but I'm actually away from home right now, so I'll follow up later with that if/when needed.
My immediate maintenance plans include:
Oil change
Air filter change
Drain fuel tank
Clean carb or injectors (haven't even looked into it enough to see if it's carbed or FI)
Thoroughly clean the whole bike
Check for any loose bolts
Small adjustments and fixes to a couple items that got damaged in a minor crash.
Anyways, I'm just looking for some advice on recommended oil types (brand & weight), decent air filters, common issues to look for, a good online company to order from that has good prices, and maybe where to find owners manual access online if possible. I don't necessarily want top of the line everything, but good price to quality ratio type stuff.
Basically just a run down of essential recommended maintenance.
I'm sure I need to give you guys a little more specific info to answer all my questions adequately, but I'm actually away from home right now, so I'll follow up later with that if/when needed.
My immediate maintenance plans include:
Oil change
Air filter change
Drain fuel tank
Clean carb or injectors (haven't even looked into it enough to see if it's carbed or FI)
Thoroughly clean the whole bike
Check for any loose bolts
Small adjustments and fixes to a couple items that got damaged in a minor crash.
Cruiser
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 226
Likes: 37
From: Sault Ste Marie,Mi
Hey there folks, I'm just reaching out to get some general advice on maintenance. A buddy of mine has a Sportster 1200 that he hasn't started for literally over a year. He moved to a different town a few hours away but hasn't taken the bike back with him yet. We got it running, but obviously the gas is bad after all that time, so it wasn't running as smoothly as it could. My buddy isn't exactly a pro when it comes to maintenance and the bike has been pretty neglected in general, so we worked out a deal where I'll keep the bike at my place and keep it maintained until he's ready to take it back. In return, I get to use the bike whenever I feel like it, which will be super convenient in downtown Austin where parking is pretty difficult.
Anyways, I'm just looking for some advice on recommended oil types (brand & weight), decent air filters, common issues to look for, a good online company to order from that has good prices, and maybe where to find owners manual access online if possible. I don't necessarily want top of the line everything, but good price to quality ratio type stuff.
Basically just a run down of essential recommended maintenance.
I'm sure I need to give you guys a little more specific info to answer all my questions adequately, but I'm actually away from home right now, so I'll follow up later with that if/when needed.
My immediate maintenance plans include:
Oil change
Air filter change
Drain fuel tank
Clean carb or injectors (haven't even looked into it enough to see if it's carbed or FI)
Thoroughly clean the whole bike
Check for any loose bolts
Small adjustments and fixes to a couple items that got damaged in a minor crash.
Anyways, I'm just looking for some advice on recommended oil types (brand & weight), decent air filters, common issues to look for, a good online company to order from that has good prices, and maybe where to find owners manual access online if possible. I don't necessarily want top of the line everything, but good price to quality ratio type stuff.
Basically just a run down of essential recommended maintenance.
I'm sure I need to give you guys a little more specific info to answer all my questions adequately, but I'm actually away from home right now, so I'll follow up later with that if/when needed.
My immediate maintenance plans include:
Oil change
Air filter change
Drain fuel tank
Clean carb or injectors (haven't even looked into it enough to see if it's carbed or FI)
Thoroughly clean the whole bike
Check for any loose bolts
Small adjustments and fixes to a couple items that got damaged in a minor crash.
Intermediate
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 35
Likes: 6
From: Rincon, GA
Online owners manual directly from HD along with lots of other useful documents including a full blown illustrated parts catalog can be found here:
https://serviceinfo.harley-davidson.com/sip/index
Just click on Independent operators and setup an account. It's completely free and super helpful. The owners manual will tell you all you need to know about maintenance schedule.
I agree with yooperbigdog, primary and tranny should diffidently get an oil change. I would add to that to check your primary chain tension and belt tension while your at it.
I also agree with yooperbigdog about riding someone else's bike, especially an HD. EXPENSIVE when something goes wrong. As for parts, quality parts can be found on J&P Cycles, DennisKirk.com and I buy alot of my gaskets right off of Amazon from a company called James Gaskets. Quality gaskets for a great price. Used those three resources for years.
https://serviceinfo.harley-davidson.com/sip/index
Just click on Independent operators and setup an account. It's completely free and super helpful. The owners manual will tell you all you need to know about maintenance schedule.
I agree with yooperbigdog, primary and tranny should diffidently get an oil change. I would add to that to check your primary chain tension and belt tension while your at it.
I also agree with yooperbigdog about riding someone else's bike, especially an HD. EXPENSIVE when something goes wrong. As for parts, quality parts can be found on J&P Cycles, DennisKirk.com and I buy alot of my gaskets right off of Amazon from a company called James Gaskets. Quality gaskets for a great price. Used those three resources for years.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
You can see a parts breakdown for 'your' bike on-line here, which can be useful at times, also gives you the correct part number and description. You can get a factory service manual at your local dealer, but be aware that on-line downloads of them are illegal, as they break copywrite laws. The book will give you service schedules, oil quantities, torque data for fasteners and a whole lot more.
Last edited by grbrown; Jun 13, 2017 at 11:08 AM.
Cruiser
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 226
Likes: 37
From: Sault Ste Marie,Mi
You can see a parts breakdown for 'your' bike on-line here, which can be useful at times, also gives you the correct part number and description. You can get a factory service manual at your local dealer, but be aware that on-line downloads of them are illegal, as they break copywrite laws. The book will give you service schedules, oil quantities, torque data for fasteners and a whole lot more.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 762
Likes: 435
From: NE Oklahoma
All as noted above. Critical fasteners, i.e. brake calipers, motor mount bolts, seat bolts, etc. Anything that will cause a catastrophic failure if left unchecked. Also brakes and fluid...fresh fluids are a given.
Be safe and see you on the roads.
Be safe and see you on the roads.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2,400
Likes: 284
From: Fort Worth, TX
what year and Miles, I'd do trans fluid (1qt) and primary fluid (1qt)-been sitting long time (check tires good), alway's scary using someone else's bike--if something breaks or there's a mech prob are you ready to spend a bunch on fixing someone else's bike ?? ain't nothing cheap on a H.D.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 2,530
Likes: 546
From: Wayne County, PA
If it's been sitting a year or longer flush the brake fluid and put in new fork oil. Don't be surprised if you need to put a few hundred in. What's the date code on the tires? Unless you plan on buying the bike from him just bring it to him and let him pay to fix it.
Also what was a minor wreck? What is damaged? Your gonna have some $$ in this bike to get her running.
Also what was a minor wreck? What is damaged? Your gonna have some $$ in this bike to get her running.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 472
Likes: 59
From: farmington ny
you do what you want with someone else's bike and if you can get a season out of her you will be ok.But,ya know whats going to happen?Just about the time you get it road worthy he's going to show up and say"gee i think i'll take my bike now"your looking at some money,time and labor to get it going with possibly very little satisfaction.i know this because the same thing happened to me 35 years ago.my father in law had a 1968 b.s.a. 441 with 3 inches of dust on it.he said he wasn't doing any thing with it.so me being young and stupid dragged it out ,spent money to get her going and low and behold!!!!he decided to sell it.i,m still pissed at that ***hole for doing that.I got some of my money back but thats beside the point.
Last edited by 1340hog; Jun 19, 2017 at 12:08 PM.
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