first ironhead,need help
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first ironhead,need help
I just bought my first ironhead a great 71 ,this bike runs great and rides great ,I freaking love this bike. I would like keep it running great.it was built and treated with great care so any advise about best oil ,things to look for,best manule and tec books ect would be greatly appreiated
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: 500 miles south from Artic Circle
Oil recom depends little about enviroment (how hot there is) 20W-50 usually is good choice.
-71 is tricky, has clutch changed from dry to wet ? If it has changed use Sportster transmission fluid.
Factory service manual OEM#99484-75 ( from 70-75) also parts catalog OEM#99451-78 (57->78) is good to have. These are newest prints.
-71 is tricky, has clutch changed from dry to wet ? If it has changed use Sportster transmission fluid.
Factory service manual OEM#99484-75 ( from 70-75) also parts catalog OEM#99451-78 (57->78) is good to have. These are newest prints.
+1 on getting the two factory manuals. Also the Haynes manual is useful as it has more and better photos, and excellent full color wire diagrams; and the Clymer is another good read.
If you search for oil debate you will find so much info, well, if you read it all it will be interesting, but you will have no time left to ride. Anyway, the two top choices i think are either the 20W50 alrady recommended or the straight 50 [or 60 in very hot places]. Whatever, synth or dino, just change it reasonably often.
Lucky you to have found one that has been treated well.
Welcome to the world of IronHeads!!
If you search for oil debate you will find so much info, well, if you read it all it will be interesting, but you will have no time left to ride. Anyway, the two top choices i think are either the 20W50 alrady recommended or the straight 50 [or 60 in very hot places]. Whatever, synth or dino, just change it reasonably often.
Lucky you to have found one that has been treated well.
Welcome to the world of IronHeads!!
Last edited by IronMick; Aug 20, 2009 at 05:53 AM. Reason: Included oil opinion.
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thanks
thanks for the replys.... Iam sure I will be on here a lot and as far as location,central Texas 100+ day time temps but its great for winter rideing.I was also wondering .this bike is electric start no kick start is that normal for a 71 and can it be converted to electric and kick?thanks again for the time and info,iam handy with a wrench I just dont **** about the ironheads!!
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,035
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From: Houston Texas
I have to differ a little bit with Sepixlh regarding the trans oil issue and the clutch.
In 1971, the first year to use the new wet clutch, and your machine has the wet clutch.
The oil for the primary and trans must be the same as used in the engine.
There is a transfer valve that moves a small amount of oil from the crankcase side over to the primary, and these oils mix.
As for what is the best oil to use in a 1971 engine........Harley Davidson 60wt, if you can get it at your closest HD dealer.
Myself, that is all I use in my 1971 XLCH and I have owned this bike for 36 years .During that time, I have had to repair a few things from time to time, so I can say I know a little bit about these machines.
Central Texas? Definitely use 60wt. Do not use the multiple weight oils for this old Sportster! Newer Sporties can run it but they are much different machines than a 1971.
Also, newer Sporties can and do use automatic transmission fluid, but NOT on your model.
A service manual is going to tell you all of this stuff. Just follow what the manual says.
And last, an XLCH of 1971 always had a kickstatrter. None that I remember came with an electric starter, or offered that as an option.
Back in 1971 if you wanted an electric start, themn you bought an XLH, not an XLCH.
To install an electric starter on a CH is almost an impossibile undertaking if money means anything to you
You would need many, many parts, a new oil tank, a new and larger battery, yada, yada,yada, the list is long.
So this should prompt you to take a good look at your engine serial number.
The number will start with a number, and be followed by a letter.
So, if your engine number starts with...........4A, then you have a CH.
If your number starts with .............................3A then you have an XLH Good luck with your bike............. pg
In 1971, the first year to use the new wet clutch, and your machine has the wet clutch.
The oil for the primary and trans must be the same as used in the engine.
There is a transfer valve that moves a small amount of oil from the crankcase side over to the primary, and these oils mix.
As for what is the best oil to use in a 1971 engine........Harley Davidson 60wt, if you can get it at your closest HD dealer.
Myself, that is all I use in my 1971 XLCH and I have owned this bike for 36 years .During that time, I have had to repair a few things from time to time, so I can say I know a little bit about these machines.
Central Texas? Definitely use 60wt. Do not use the multiple weight oils for this old Sportster! Newer Sporties can run it but they are much different machines than a 1971.
Also, newer Sporties can and do use automatic transmission fluid, but NOT on your model.
A service manual is going to tell you all of this stuff. Just follow what the manual says.
And last, an XLCH of 1971 always had a kickstatrter. None that I remember came with an electric starter, or offered that as an option.
Back in 1971 if you wanted an electric start, themn you bought an XLH, not an XLCH.
To install an electric starter on a CH is almost an impossibile undertaking if money means anything to you
You would need many, many parts, a new oil tank, a new and larger battery, yada, yada,yada, the list is long.
So this should prompt you to take a good look at your engine serial number.
The number will start with a number, and be followed by a letter.
So, if your engine number starts with...........4A, then you have a CH.
If your number starts with .............................3A then you have an XLH Good luck with your bike............. pg
thanks for the replys.... Iam sure I will be on here a lot and as far as location,central Texas 100+ day time temps but its great for winter rideing.I was also wondering .this bike is electric start no kick start is that normal for a 71 and can it be converted to electric and kick?thanks again for the time and info,iam handy with a wrench I just dont **** about the ironheads!!
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4A
its a 4A with an electric start,I guess I better just enjoy it,just always wanted a kick start.you know grass is always greener kind of thing .keep a look out for me Iam sure I will be back with more ????????? thanks
Road Master
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From: 500 miles south from Artic Circle
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,035
Likes: 17
From: Houston Texas
Yes, you have an XLCH that someone has removed the kick start and installed an electrical starter.
I just double checked my 1971 owners manual to make sure I was not telling you something incorrectly.
The wiring diagrams show electrical starter on an XLH and none on the XLCH. So I remember correctly. Been a long time ago.
Here is a diagram of what is involved in kick starter parts, should you decide to take on the installation as a project one day.
You can no longer buy these parts from Harley Davidson, so what is available is made in Asia items. Famous for their poor fit and finish.
Also, there are a few issues with a kick starter that make it somewhat less desirable as you get older. Called Hyper Extended Knee, I believe. I have had this condition more times than I care to remember, and it is not a fun way to spend your idle time!
Additionally, if you want to put the bike back as it came off the showroom floor, you will need:
To remove all of the electric starter, wiring, start button, start relay, solenoid, big battery and mount tray, side mount oil tank and a number of other small items.
Then you will need to find and install:
Small battery mounted on the left side
Center mount oil tank
The mechanical kick start items shown in the diagram
A plate to block off where the starter used to be on the primary backside, and a number of other small items.
My suggestion is to forget this idea and just enjoy riding the machine.
You will not be getting the Hyper Extended Knee with a push button starter either.
The trade off is.......... today it is pretty cool to see a rider who's only way of starting his scooter is a kick lever on the side. When is the last time you saw that?
Enjoy the bike, and post a couple of pics for us to look at............ pg
I just double checked my 1971 owners manual to make sure I was not telling you something incorrectly.
The wiring diagrams show electrical starter on an XLH and none on the XLCH. So I remember correctly. Been a long time ago.
Here is a diagram of what is involved in kick starter parts, should you decide to take on the installation as a project one day.
You can no longer buy these parts from Harley Davidson, so what is available is made in Asia items. Famous for their poor fit and finish.
Also, there are a few issues with a kick starter that make it somewhat less desirable as you get older. Called Hyper Extended Knee, I believe. I have had this condition more times than I care to remember, and it is not a fun way to spend your idle time!
Additionally, if you want to put the bike back as it came off the showroom floor, you will need:
To remove all of the electric starter, wiring, start button, start relay, solenoid, big battery and mount tray, side mount oil tank and a number of other small items.
Then you will need to find and install:
Small battery mounted on the left side
Center mount oil tank
The mechanical kick start items shown in the diagram
A plate to block off where the starter used to be on the primary backside, and a number of other small items.
My suggestion is to forget this idea and just enjoy riding the machine.
You will not be getting the Hyper Extended Knee with a push button starter either.
The trade off is.......... today it is pretty cool to see a rider who's only way of starting his scooter is a kick lever on the side. When is the last time you saw that?
Enjoy the bike, and post a couple of pics for us to look at............ pg
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