Hey all,
First post and looking for all constructive input for working on this.
Bought a 1977 XLH1000 at auction from NPA (national powersport auction)
Based off a 100 point scale it fell at 63

Heres directly off the webpage what the status is currently

ENGINE MECHANICAL 7 RUNS/ROUGH - RUNS ON ONE CYLINDER. FLUID LEAKS.
FRAME MOTORCYCLE 7 MODIFIED/CUSTOM - REAR OF FRAME.
*TRANSMISSION M/C 4 INOP/UNABLE TO TEST
*ENGINE COSMETIC 7 EXTERNAL FLUID LEAK - EXTERNAL FLUID LEAK/OIL FILTER HOUSING RELOCATED.
FUEL TANK M/C 6 DENTED - CUSTOM.
FAIRING/UPPER - Not Rated
SUSPENSION/FRONT 7 MODIFIED - SPRINGER FRONT END/ BIG BRAKE KIT
SUSPENSION/REAR 7 MODIFIED - CUT AND WELDED.
LUGGAGE - Not Rated
FENDER/FRONT 7 MODIFIED/CUSTOM
FENDER/REAR 7 MODIFIED/CUSTOM - DRILLED FOR CUSTOM MOUNTS.
FAIRING/LEFT - Not Rated
FAIRING/RIGHT - Not Rated
FINAL DRIVE 4 CANNOT VERIFY
EXHAUST M/C 5 MODIFIED - AFTERMARKET
WHEEL/FRONT MC 7 COSMETIC HEAVY - RUST ON SPOKES
WHEEL/REAR MC 8 COSMETIC LIGHT - RUST ON SPOKES
CONTROLS/HAND 7 COSMETIC HEAVY
FUEL TANK COVER/SHROUDS - Not Rated
CONTROLS/FOOT 7 BRAKE PEDAL BENT - AFTERMARKET SHIFT LEVER/ BRAKE PEDAL GROUNDED
BRAKES/FRONT 5 VISUALLY COMPLETE/CANNOT VERIFY - NO PRESSURE
BRAKES/REAR 5 VISUALLY COMPLETE/CANNOT VERIFY
WINDSHIELD MC - Not Rated
SIDE COVERS M/C 7 MODIFIED/CUSTOM
TIRE/FRONT CRUISER 9 GOOD 4/32 AND UP
TIRE/REAR CRUISER 9 GOOD 5/32 AND UP
ELECTRONICS - Not Rated
GAUGES/OIL/VOLT - Not Rated
LIGHTS M/C 5 INOP
SEAT M/C 7 MODIFIED - HAS MODIFIED SPRINGER SEAT
GAUGES ODO M/C 0 MISSING
FOOT RESTS 8 COSMETIC LIGHT
MIRRORS 7 COSMETIC HEAVY - AFTERMARKET MIRRORS
TURN SIGNALS 0 MISSING ALL
*STAND. 8 COSMETIC LIGHT
IGNITION SWITCH. 7 MODIFIED/RELOCATED
*BATTERY. 9 BATTERY WORKS


http://npauctions.com/ImageCache.asp...loudCheck=True


Curious about shopping online for parts. I work at a dealership so most I can get at cost. There are so many out there and I dont want to get bogged down with abundance of choices.

Also might do a suicide shift/jockey shift after i change out those ape hangers for some beach bars.

Any advice would be awesome, but keep it clean!

 

I am not one to encourage anything to do with suicide shift/jockey shift. That is the most positive thing I can say about that idea.

+1 on on change out those ape hangers.

Start with changing all fluids. Fix whatever you find while doing this.

Do whatever to get the engine running. First work thru the fuel system - clean & inspect the tank, thoroughly clean the petcock and carb, clean or replace the air filter.

What does it have for ignition? points, modern electronic, whatever? Remove the round ignition cover on the right side, take a pic of what is in there, and post the pic. The ignition type will dictate the choice of spark plugs. I always use traditional NGK because no one has ever posted anything negative about them and I have always had good results with them.

These are the suppliers to try for OEM NOS parts that i know of ...

http://www.tomsnosparts.com/
www.OldDude.com
http://www.billscustomcycles.com/store.php
http://www.motomacchi.com/
www.SportySpecialties.com

rdns@geneseo.net <- decals & transfers only

www.NOSParts.nl <- does not ship to North America
www.JWBoon.com <- does not ship to North America
For the latter two use TomsNOSParts, top of this list.

 

Well frame is going out for a powder coat at a local gun shop.
Engine is getting a top end rebuild I believe.

What shopping can I do in the mean time?
Forward controls down low?
Possible suicide shifter?

might need to get a parts manuel, and original parts numbers for bushings and small parts. Im getting stuff from parts unlimited so i need corresponding numbers. how do i get about this in the easiest way possible without the largest headache (beers are on the list of things I need to get too)

 

There are things that were fashionable in some crowds at some time in the past which are very bad or at least bad things, things that do not improve the motorcycle and usually make riding it more risky. Very high handle bars, hard tail frames, suicide shifters, long stretched out front ends, no front fender, no front brake, ... the list goes on.

If you are an artist with an artists perspective you may be able to design a motorcycle that includes something of the like. But most guys completely ruin a near stock Sportster with such things, then either never finish it or discover that they cannot ride it.

Craig's List is stuffed with such abominations.

 

FYI, there's no such thing as a suicide shift. It's a hand shift, and with that, you can have a suicide clutch. A suicide clutch is a foot clutch with the locking mechanism disabled, so you have to keep the pedal down for the clutch to disengage. Pair that with a spool hub up front (no front brake), and you have a problem if you stop on a hill. Left foot on the clutch, right foot on the rear brake, so you can't put either foot down - that's the suicide part...ha ha

That said, I'd concentrate on getting the bike in good working order first, and then ride it a few months before making any radical customizing decisions. You may come up with better ideas for what you want after you become more familiar with the machine.

 

I'm going thru the same thing, I just bought a 1984 Sportster XLX yesterday.

 

Cool. Now show us a pic

 

Everybody likes to try to make their bike there own something different.

 

Everybody likes to do something different with there bike. Enjoy it