73 Ironhead
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Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 195
Likes: 161
From: Montgomery NY
73 Ironhead
Hi All
Going to see a 73 Ironhead this weekend and need some information on what to look for. The owner told me that its a fresh rebuild on motor bottom and top end. New pistons, rings, oil bag, starter, bendix gear, starter solenoid, new wiring, new voltage regulator, blue streak points breaker. Work was not done by him but at a Indie shop. I was looking at picture he sent me and saw that the drag pipes are blue a quarter of the way down. Is this normal for ironheads. Im not new to bike but I am new to Ironheads and that why I need some advice. I do work on my other bike so will be wrenching on this too. Thanks for all the help.
Going to see a 73 Ironhead this weekend and need some information on what to look for. The owner told me that its a fresh rebuild on motor bottom and top end. New pistons, rings, oil bag, starter, bendix gear, starter solenoid, new wiring, new voltage regulator, blue streak points breaker. Work was not done by him but at a Indie shop. I was looking at picture he sent me and saw that the drag pipes are blue a quarter of the way down. Is this normal for ironheads. Im not new to bike but I am new to Ironheads and that why I need some advice. I do work on my other bike so will be wrenching on this too. Thanks for all the help.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,497
Likes: 30,783
From: Pennsylvania
See if the frame has struts welded in front of the shocks, there was a recall back then to reinforce the frame. See the paperwork for work accomplished by indie. Centrifical advance would freeze in the advanced position (in back of points plate) and cause kickback causing the bendix gear to fail (clean hardened grease and use a high temp lube).
Drag pipes will be loud and provide no back pressure unless some sort of baffle was installed, carb needs to run richer to compensate. Go over to the following link for additional history and info on Ironheads http://sportsterpedia.com/doku.php/t...cal_categories
Drag pipes will be loud and provide no back pressure unless some sort of baffle was installed, carb needs to run richer to compensate. Go over to the following link for additional history and info on Ironheads http://sportsterpedia.com/doku.php/t...cal_categories
Here's a couple more links to check out...
what to look for when buying an ironhead
http://xlforum.net/forums/showthread.php?t=559987
Tips For De-hibernating Your IronHead
http://xlforum.net/forums/showthread.php?t=69876
what to look for when buying an ironhead
http://xlforum.net/forums/showthread.php?t=559987
Tips For De-hibernating Your IronHead
http://xlforum.net/forums/showthread.php?t=69876
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 8,852
Likes: 2,493
From: Decatur, Alabama
I'm always leery of someone selling a bike right after a fresh rebuild. Why pour all that money into it only to turn around and sell?
As far as blue pipes are concerned, there is an exhaust leak at the headers which makes the pipes too hot. The fix is pull the pipes off and put a nice thick bead of high temp silicone sealant around the exhaust flange then fit the pipes over them. Let cure for a couple days then ride. You should be able to tell a difference in how it runs. There's no telling if the top end has been burned from running too hot unless you tear into it.
Best thing is to run mufllers.
carl
As far as blue pipes are concerned, there is an exhaust leak at the headers which makes the pipes too hot. The fix is pull the pipes off and put a nice thick bead of high temp silicone sealant around the exhaust flange then fit the pipes over them. Let cure for a couple days then ride. You should be able to tell a difference in how it runs. There's no telling if the top end has been burned from running too hot unless you tear into it.
Best thing is to run mufllers.
carl
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 195
Likes: 161
From: Montgomery NY
Hi Guys
Thanks for all the great info and advice. Went to see the bike this evening and cosmetic wise looks good, engine sound good and shifted nicely. It has an electic and kick start. One thing I saw and I'm concered by is that when he was starting it (electric start) he had a plastic water bottle under it and oil was comming out of this 1/4 inc plastic pipe on the right hand side of bike while the engine was turning. It took awhile to start cause he said he hasn't started it in about a month. Is this normal for Ironheads or should I stay away from this bike. When I asked him why oil is coming out he told me this is normal. Oil was green in color and I never saw green oil. Again this is my first Ironhead.
Thanks
Thanks for all the great info and advice. Went to see the bike this evening and cosmetic wise looks good, engine sound good and shifted nicely. It has an electic and kick start. One thing I saw and I'm concered by is that when he was starting it (electric start) he had a plastic water bottle under it and oil was comming out of this 1/4 inc plastic pipe on the right hand side of bike while the engine was turning. It took awhile to start cause he said he hasn't started it in about a month. Is this normal for Ironheads or should I stay away from this bike. When I asked him why oil is coming out he told me this is normal. Oil was green in color and I never saw green oil. Again this is my first Ironhead.
Thanks
I expect that the oil was coming out of a tube on the lower right side, opposite the generator. Yes it is normal. It is called "wet sumping". Oil leaks past the seal in the oil pump, gathers in the lower part of the engine, and is pumped out while starting. Avoid this by running the bike regularly. It is not a reason to not buy an IronHead Sportster. Some IronHeads do it, some do not...
While waiting on the paint to dry-and we thought it was the ballcheck Some Important Ideas About Wet Sumping
http://xlforum.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1347614
While waiting on the paint to dry-and we thought it was the ballcheck Some Important Ideas About Wet Sumping
http://xlforum.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1347614
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