85 Ironhead
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Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,989
Likes: 11
From: Right Coast
85 Ironhead
Looking for any advise I can get.
My son just purchased an 85 Ironhead (rat bobber) and I don't know much about these old Sporty's. I believe the 85's have an Evo case and I understand a common complaint is that they can run hot but thats about it.
This bikes seems to run very strong with no noises, leaks, etc but it's missing the horn and choke bracket, all the turn signals and a speedo. I have insisted he replace these items before he puts it on the road. It has disc brakes which I believe were new to the later Ironheads.
What can we expect?
What should we know?
I don't want any roadside breakdowns cause I know who he's gonna call 1st.
Thanks
My son just purchased an 85 Ironhead (rat bobber) and I don't know much about these old Sporty's. I believe the 85's have an Evo case and I understand a common complaint is that they can run hot but thats about it.
This bikes seems to run very strong with no noises, leaks, etc but it's missing the horn and choke bracket, all the turn signals and a speedo. I have insisted he replace these items before he puts it on the road. It has disc brakes which I believe were new to the later Ironheads.
What can we expect?
What should we know?
I don't want any roadside breakdowns cause I know who he's gonna call 1st.
Thanks
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,605
Likes: 82
From: nj
I have a 84 which is a early 84 with a gen I have mine for a little then a year. Mine is a bobber and have to put blinkers and horn speedo too. Other then that she runs good dependable bike so for also mine is a rigid so she still is a good runner.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,134
Likes: 146
From: texas
i am no ironhead guru but there will be some to come along soon i am sure....my2 cents is to go over the basics.run it close to home until you trust it.with every "new" bike i get or anything with a petcock period i take it apart and clean it out.it is not specific to ironheads but it seems to me somthing that is always overlooked.....and mostly theyre ok but sometimes not.sometime the reserve is clogged and you never know it until you run low on fuel.--good luck with yalls new toy.
...
1. I believe the 85's have an Evo case and I understand a common complaint is that they can run hot ...
2. This bikes seems to run very strong with no noises, leaks, etc but it's missing the horn and choke bracket, all the turn signals and a speedo.
...
3. It has disc brakes which I believe were new to the later Ironheads.
4. What can we expect?
What should we know?
I don't want any roadside breakdowns cause I know who he's gonna call 1st.
1. I believe the 85's have an Evo case and I understand a common complaint is that they can run hot ...
2. This bikes seems to run very strong with no noises, leaks, etc but it's missing the horn and choke bracket, all the turn signals and a speedo.
...
3. It has disc brakes which I believe were new to the later Ironheads.
4. What can we expect?
What should we know?
I don't want any roadside breakdowns cause I know who he's gonna call 1st.
2. You got a good bike there. The best place for parts, especially if you want original stuff, is eBay. I have made upwards of 70 transactions there in the past 4 years with never a problem.
3. Disc brakes started in 1978 on the front; then 1979 on the rear. They work very well but are not at all like modern sport bike brakes.
4. You can expect breakdowns, especially during the first year or so until this old, used bike is sorted out. After that you can expect to do much much more maintenance than on virtually any other bike. It is an IronHead. We love them and we hate them, but we love them more. It is like having a problem child. You do the best you can.
Buy the factory manual part number 99484-85; and the parts book part number 99451-85A. You need both! It is also useful to have the Haynes [most and best pics] and the Clymer manuals. When i got mine i stayed up all night reading.
All the best! This is an adventure. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, like the look, sound and feel of original Harley Davidson iron.
Last edited by IronMick; Mar 23, 2009 at 06:44 PM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,441
Likes: 789
From: Heart of Dixie
As mentioned earlier, get the H-D service manual and parts book. If it hasn't been changed by the previous owner(s), it will have an electronic ignition - no points. Like other Ironheads, the valves have to be adjusted periodically, along with the primary and drive chains. Other than that, they don't require any special maintenance that isn't common to more modern Sportsters. Don't use anything thinner than 20w50 oil in it, and then only in cold weather. They like 50wt or 60wt oil most of the time (at least mine does...). I've found all sorts of hard-to-find OEM parts on eBay for my '83, so that's a good source. The main difference with the '85 (and late '84) model is the use of an alternator instead of a generator - from '57 thru mid '84, Sportsters used a generator to charge the battery. The alternator design and oil filter placement on yours carried over to the Evo model, so that's probably where the "Evo case" statement came from. If you think it runs too hot, an oil cooler will help.
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 751
Likes: 6
From: 500 miles south from Artic Circle
As PG wrote -73 first disk brake front , and 1977 double disks on front and one on rear ( only XLCR). 1979 all models with disk brakes.
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This kind of info is very easy to look from SPORTSTER website.
As PG wrote -73 first disk brake front , and 1977 double disks on front and one on rear ( only XLCR). 1979 all models with disk brakes.
As PG wrote -73 first disk brake front , and 1977 double disks on front and one on rear ( only XLCR). 1979 all models with disk brakes.
The brain function fades with the passing of time - too much time, some of which was like 60s, eh. Thanx guys for the update.