Primary Cover!

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May 6, 2008 | 10:55 PM

#11

piniongear

Stellar HDF Member

Joined: Feb 2006

Posts: 3,035

Likes: 17

From: Houston Texas

RE: Primary Cover!

Pretty easy to do. The clutch cable will sit in a clip on the end of the ramp lever. The instruction manual will tell you what you need to do, and any questions you have can be answered by someone here on the forum.
An ironhead is a machine that you will find yourself working on more than you might find yourself working on a modern Sportster. Anybody with the money can buy a modern Sporty though. There are many thousands out there at this minute.
There are many fewer Ironheags out there, and the riders are their own wrenches, because the dealers will not touch them with a 10 ft pole.
Most 'shop mechanics' don't know a thing about an ironhead either, so that's a good thing all the way around.........pg

Relating to the pic:
Items 1 through 10 will come off attached to the primary cover. Item 11 is the end of your clutch cable and it fits into item 10 (the clip)
The adjustment I speak of is done for the items 1 through 10 and is directed to the proper seating of those 3 ball bearings. Do this adjustment before you try to set the proper slack in the clutch cable.
Do not take any of the 1 through 10 items apart until you have the manual in hand and have read and understand the exercise described.

[IMG]local://upfiles/8331/AB8EEB05AF69402DA57A41938EC6EB77.jpg[/IMG]

May 7, 2008 | 12:20 PM

#12

supr2nr

Tourer

Joined: Dec 2007

Posts: 388

Likes: 0

From: West Tennessee

RE: Primary Cover!

Quote:

ORIGINAL: sutphen30

So now what is great about these bikes?? Please do tell! Am i gonna enjoy riding it?? Will I have to worry about breaking down all the time?? LOL....

You won't have to worry about it breaking down all the time. PG and I were just joking around. I would suggest that you take the time before a ride and check the oil, chain lube, and any major bolts to make sure they don't need tightening. 5 minutes before you go on a ride checking this stuff will save you a lot of headaches when your out on the road.

Especially pay close attention to the pushrods and rear chain to make sure they are adjusted correctly about every month. Your shop manual you ordered will give you instructions on that and its really quite simple. The other thing to check out is primary chain when you take the cover off. That will probably need to be adjusted as well. Again not that hard to do. But good thing to keep an eye on.

The good things about these bikes is that there are so many after market parts that you can buy, if you have the money, to make your machine look unique. It might require more keep up than newer bikes, but the ironhead is a great bike. You will end up really loving it and really like getting in there working on it.

Keep us posted on how things go and upload some pictures of it, we would love to see it

May 7, 2008 | 12:42 PM

#13

pitbull1

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Joined: Aug 2006

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RE: Primary Cover!

If you go the heli coil route instead of filling the hole and retapping make sure that you lock the insert in place with something.Don't know what to suggest you lock it with because I tried everything available to lock one in place when I went that route and it failed.If it wasn't moving into the primary when I screwed the cable in it was backing up as I went to make the free play adjustment.The insert always moved when I went to install and adjust the cable.I tried everything from thread locks to spikeing it in place.Matter of fact it was actually much cheaper to have the hole filled and re tap in the end than the other way and I never had any more probs with it.I had them make the fill about a half inch thicker on the inside of the cover so it has about 3/4 in. threads.The only difficulty was finding someone capable of doing the aluminum filling work in an appealing way which I made short work of with the yellow pages.Good luck whichever way you go..If all else fails I havethe 75 primary cover that I had fixed that I will let you get.

May 7, 2008 | 07:43 PM

#14

sutphen30

Thread Starter

Cruiser

Joined: May 2008

Posts: 106

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From: West Hartford, CT. 06119

RE: Primary Cover!

Yeah having fun finding all the glitches!! But love the olds school feeling!! Cheers...

May 7, 2008 | 07:49 PM

#15

sutphen30

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Joined: May 2008

Posts: 106

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From: West Hartford, CT. 06119

RE: Primary Cover!

Hey another issue that I saw tonight on the bike in the primary cover!! The fill hole cap threads are worn to all hell female side of it! I think i may have no other choice but to get a new cover /// what do you think?? The cover that you have whats the deal on it?? Starter button also went on the bike tonight!!! Can I move the starter button some where else on the bike or am i forced to replace the whole control mechanism!! Many thanks John,,,

May 8, 2008 | 12:26 AM

#16

pitbull1

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Joined: Aug 2006

Posts: 99

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RE: Primary Cover!

yes you could move the starter button.I would not if it was me.It's fairly simple to change a button.There is no control mechanism.Just the button and some wires.If it were me and I was having a prob with it I would run new wires for the whole circuit.Take a couple bucks for wires and maybe a couple hours.It's not a big deal.Nice way to spend a Saturday afternoon.Kinda fun actually.Did your manual come yet.Even after you get it you need to keep an eye on ebay and find an official HD repair manual.Sportster 1970-1978 is the one you want.Drop me an email if you are interested in the primary coverI have and we will talk about it.

May 16, 2008 | 05:03 AM

#17

sutphen30

Thread Starter

Cruiser

Joined: May 2008

Posts: 106

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From: West Hartford, CT. 06119

RE: Primary Cover!

Hey question for ya?? What should I tourque the screws at wehen putting the case back on the bike?? If I am reading correctly out of the manual 50-60 lbs??