Bringing a 1973 back to life
#1
10-11-2016, 11:00 AM
Bringing a 1973 back to life
Quick nurse, defibrillator.
Hi All, I'm not sure what we got ourselves into, but my son and I bought an almost basket case 73 Ironhead. We were looking for a project and at the time this seemed like a good starter. It's an electric only, but it's missing the starter. The previous owner said it ran just a few months ago. He lost the starter while trying to find another one.
My plan at the moment is to get it running and see what condition the engine and tranny are in. Then we will tear it down, clean it up and build it back. I've not done a project like this before, so there will be a learning curve.
The bike is like an onion, the more I tear it down, the more I cry. I think the only parts original are the frame, drive train and wheels.
No mods to the frame as for as I can tell.
Cam cover has some damage by the points (mostly cosmetic) that I will have to deal with later.
Almost all the wiring is gone accept for the bare minimum to be street legal (head light, tail light only). I don't even think it has a horn not that I think about it.
There is no key starter, just two buttons taped to the frame for a starter relay. I don't know why he used two. I will post pictures for your entertainment.
I have lots of questions, but right now I just want to find a starter to get it running. What and where should I get a descent starter for a 1973 Ironhead?
Thanks ahead for any help and comforting words.
Beary
Hi All, I'm not sure what we got ourselves into, but my son and I bought an almost basket case 73 Ironhead. We were looking for a project and at the time this seemed like a good starter. It's an electric only, but it's missing the starter. The previous owner said it ran just a few months ago. He lost the starter while trying to find another one.
My plan at the moment is to get it running and see what condition the engine and tranny are in. Then we will tear it down, clean it up and build it back. I've not done a project like this before, so there will be a learning curve.
The bike is like an onion, the more I tear it down, the more I cry. I think the only parts original are the frame, drive train and wheels.
No mods to the frame as for as I can tell.
Cam cover has some damage by the points (mostly cosmetic) that I will have to deal with later.
Almost all the wiring is gone accept for the bare minimum to be street legal (head light, tail light only). I don't even think it has a horn not that I think about it.
There is no key starter, just two buttons taped to the frame for a starter relay. I don't know why he used two. I will post pictures for your entertainment.
I have lots of questions, but right now I just want to find a starter to get it running. What and where should I get a descent starter for a 1973 Ironhead?
Thanks ahead for any help and comforting words.
Beary
#6
10-11-2016, 12:47 PM
Sorry guys, to hard to manage pics from the phone. I will post more when I can get near a computer.
But as you can see from the one pic, the professionalism of the taped mirror and brake lever are beyond compare. Safety always came first with the previous owner.
What you can't really see in that picture is the corrosion around the brake master reservoir, the nylon brake line to the front caliper that was rusted to the disk. As I said, the more I peel the onion, the more I cry.
Oh well, I wanted a project.
Beary
But as you can see from the one pic, the professionalism of the taped mirror and brake lever are beyond compare. Safety always came first with the previous owner.
What you can't really see in that picture is the corrosion around the brake master reservoir, the nylon brake line to the front caliper that was rusted to the disk. As I said, the more I peel the onion, the more I cry.
Oh well, I wanted a project.
Beary
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#8
10-11-2016, 05:18 PM