82 sportster.

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Apr 8, 2023 | 06:29 AM

#11

Massapequa Mike

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Joined: Aug 2022

Posts: 80

Likes: 50

From: FL

Engine-
After I bought the bike almost 2 years ago I noticed random, intermittent hesitation that got worse. With all other small repairs I had to do I finally got around to checking the ignition. Using a strobe light I realized the front cylinder was igniting only once or twice a minute !!!!! It had the original '82 Ignition module and the wrong coil ( 5 OHM ) for it. After seeing what a lot of the people on the site were saying about it I Installed the entire Ultima ignition with a new set of NGK plugs. Bike runs great!
I don't know why but if you insist on points I have the 5 OHM coil with Electronic Advance that goes with it. I tested it before I decided to replace everything and it showed good.

Last edited by Massapequa Mike; Apr 8, 2023 at 06:30 AM.

Feb 13, 2024 | 11:44 PM

#12

Orng48

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Joined: Feb 2021

Posts: 510

Likes: 376

From: Dixie

I had that bike, but with a Roadster tank. Bought it new in '82. Beautiful machine, but it leaked like a sieve.

Feb 15, 2024 | 08:16 PM

#13

Massapequa Mike

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Joined: Aug 2022

Posts: 80

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From: FL

82' Sportster Leak

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orng48

I had that bike, but with a Roadster tank. Bought it new in '82. Beautiful machine, but it leaked like a sieve.

Sorry I forgot to share this unless I did and I don't remember. Anyway every time I came back from a ride, 2oz or so of oil was under the bike the next morning. Thought it was coming from a bad oil line. Replaced all the lines which needed replacing anyway because they were pretty hard so must have been original. I didn't notice any real holes where some rub marks were. I removed the oil tank to make hose installation easier and took a look for pinholes- Nothing. Spent a day cleaning all the oil from every nook and cranny that had accumulated over 40 years of this leak I suspect. Got up and running with all new marine grade oi lines. Came back from a long ride and I noticed a little fresh oil near the bottom of the oil tank. Son of a @#%$&. Took the oil tank off,,cleaned it spotless and propped it up straight over the next few days with the oil in it. There it was! One of the lower brackets that was welded to it was leaking right at the weld- I suspect from the factory from the amount of oil I spent the day cleaning. Drained the tank, spent an hour sanding and cleaning the area and sealed that sucker with 2 part epoxy. NO MORE LEAK !
The hole was behind the bracket kind of so I don't know if it was caused from vibration over the years or a hole created by the welder at the factory. Hope this helps someone with the same problem.

Feb 15, 2024 | 10:23 PM

#14

Orng48

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Joined: Feb 2021

Posts: 510

Likes: 376

From: Dixie

Glad you sorted it out...and if it took all that, it's no wonder that my dealer couldn't stop the leak...

Since mine was leaking in 1982, I'd put money on it being defective from the get go. More than likely some AMF era workmanship in inventory getting used up by Willie and the boys.

Of the Harleys that I've owned, I miss that '82 and my '99 Sporty the most. After 20 years on a Road King, I was ecstatic when I was able to get my '16 Forty Eight...it's my forever machine...

Last edited by Orng48; Feb 15, 2024 at 10:25 PM.