I'm with ya on that pinion! Just adds to the nostalgic factor of havin' an Ironhead. I will say that it had me spooked at first though. goin for the brake and accidentally dropping several gears might be a bit frightening...and costly!

 

So pinion, if this was your project, what area would you start with? I was thinking that making sure the engine, tranny and clutch all work together would prolly be the priority job. You mentioned special tools, is this something that i might be better off pulling the engine and taking it to a mechanic to do those tests for me?

 

Oh, I know how you feel about switching sides. This is easier done than you may think though.
I have been riding right side shift machines since.....well, since I started riding.
Then in 1976, I bought a Bultaco 250 Pursang and a Yamaha YZ 175 that I bought in 1975. Both bikes were/are leftside shifters.
But dirt bikes are no problem to learn on because there are no cars or stop signs to deal with.

But, a different story when I got my Dyna. Took me a while to convert. I still have to stop and think though when I am riding both the Dyna and my old Sporty....... pg

 

So true. I have to remember to flip a mental switch when I get on the bike. The worst of my sudden downshifts came on a steel grate bridge.

I agree wholeheartedly with Pinion, by the way. I don't really think of my chopper as a Sportster (it's a chopper). An early Sportster should have right side shift because that's how they're supposed to be.

 

Well, if it was my project I would undertake it in the following way:
1) First of all, I would get every single part from the lady who said she will give them to you.
Then I would sit down and see what I had and what I still need in the way of parts. Once you know what you still need, you can begin watching out on Ebay, Craigslist, etc.

2) Next I would decide what I wanted to do with the bike.
Do I want to paint it?
Do I want to rebuild the wheels?
Checking out the engine is a given.
There are brake issues, light and wiring issues, exhaust pipes etc, etc.

When I rebuilt my Sporty the last time, it had been sitting for 13 years in a salt water boat shed. Here it is in 1995 when I decided to do some rebuild on the machine. I had removed the carb but then stopped to take this picture in case some day I wanted to look back. I did not realize at that time, what was to happen with this project.............



Ain't that machine a beauty?

My original intent was to rebuild the engine completely because it needed it done. New rod bearings, pistons, valves, head work.......... everything.
That was clearly as far as I was going to go. I did not want to repaint any of it, nor do anything but rebuild the engine.

So I started on the engine. Pulled it out of the frame and went to work. Close to the time that I was about to finish the engine work,



I began to clean up the rest of the bike. Rusted chrome and corroded aluminum was everywhere!

It was the wheels that got to me.
I looked at the rusted spokes and corroded rims and could not bring myself to stick the engine in and be riding a bike with those wheels on it. NO WAY!

So I disassembled both wheels and cleaned up the aluminum rims. Bought Bucanan stainless steel spokes and nipples and rebuilt the wheels. They did look like a million $ I must say.



Well, now there was no way that I could have a new engine, fine looking wheels attached to a rusty frame and tins. Next step was to immerse myself into the world of paint and metal prep.

That is the way my project went.
As I made progress, I wanted to do more than I had originally planned. The project grew. Finally I had worked on it for 4 years off and on and then decided to get serious.
I quit my job after 24 years there which gave my wife the horrors. She asked, 'What are you going to do?' I said...... 'Finish my bike.'
For the next year I must have worked on it 5 days out of every 7. Every bolt and nut came off and was cleaned, or failing that, was replaced with a stainless steel fastener.

I bought myself a welding machine. (Machines actually) before I was through. The trailer build followed the bike rebuild.


I finished the restore in 2000. Here it pictured in 2006 with 4500 miles on it.

So, if this was my project I would first check out the engine to make sure it has good compression. I think I would remove the engine and remove the heads, rocker boxes and cylinders. This is the only way to make sure there are no broken piston rings.
This will allow you to see if the rod bearings turn smooth.
Measure the bores (or have them miked) for excessive wear. If you need new pistons and re-bore this is the time to do it.
If you do not need anything, you are now assured that all is well in the engine and it has new gaskets you installed when you put it back together.

Also, you now have a good idea of how this engine goes together.
You will need to rely on the factory service manual to do this, but it requires no special tools, other than perhaps a cylinder head wrench and a couple of 7/16 thin wrench open ends to adjust the lifter nuts.

If you want/need to remove the clutch, this will require some special tools but most can be made at home if you are handy with tools and light fabrication.
By the time you have the engine back together you will have decided if and what more you want to do with the bike. You have to wire it, so before doing so.......
If you want to paint it now is the time. Start with the frame. That will allow you to install the engine and keep progress going. The tins can always be painted later, but the frame paint has to be done before the engine can go back in.

Hope this helps you some with your decision. You do it like you would eat an elephant....... one small bite at a time. Think out the steps you want to do, and then get started. Never get in a rush. There is always tomorrow and I find rushing can leave you with some dis-satisfaction at the end of the project.............. pg

 

I think for now I'll paint the frame and then concentrate on having a running bike. I've only been without a motorcycle since August but I'd like to have one to ride once my broken arm is healed. Riding a rat bike doesn't bother me.

 

pinion that is kinda funny....i got my bike just to ride and wasnt planning on working on it to much(thats even funnier i realize now) i never thought i could undertake/have the mentality/the desire to put together a bike like yours.i caught myself "qtipping" paint onto bolts...after doing some paint work on bike......i sorta hated and appreciated you guys a little after i realized what i was doing and how far i came over the last year.a couple of projects down the road maybe i will attempt a complete restoration on a pile of bolts.
evilwayz---good luck again on that bike.when i am without a bike for any length of time i swear the bikes for sale at the bike shop starts talking to me....

 

hey bud. just caught this thread.
i have a 75 sporty i sank alot of money into myself. like everyone else hear, i planned on just riding it, but after all was said an done, i spent twice as much money on this bike than what its worth.
but its mine, and i would do it all over again.
i hope i can give you some tips.

my mechanical points blew up every 1-2 years, so i put screamin eagle electronic points in her, no problems since.

my bendix/zenith carb was a pos so i got a c.v.carb off ebay, rejetted it and it fired 1st kick. i can find the needle sizes i used if you go this route.

i rebuilt the motor, top and bottom. since i was having a hard time following traffic between 3 and 4th gear, i put a larger drive sprocket on. because of this i was told i need a stronger crank shaft and connecting rods. so n they went. also had the motor chromed, (chrome r go home), and the jugs painted. bunch of other stuff too.

i must tell you though, i dont cheap out when it comes to my bikes. i spent alot more than i had too.

as for the right hand shifting, i dont see why it would be a big deal to switch to the left side. its only a bracket and an arm that goes behind the tranny and links up to the shifter. its pretty simple, and cant see how it would fail. mines original.
having said that, i rode a 74 xlch and didnt find it too difficult to adjust to the opposite side. if i were you, id ride it the way it is. right side shift. its kinda like youre own anti-theft device.

anyway, this is my first harley, and ive had it tore down right to the frame. i knew absolutely nothing about this bike, but went in head first and eased my way through it, learning as i go. and ill tell you, if you know leftie loosey, righty tighty, youll have no problems. its pretty straight forward and you can figure most of it out by just looking at it and using common sence. its not rocket science.

ill be happy to help ya anyway i can.

youll love it!
Dan.

 

I hadn't even though of the right side shift as a de facto anti theft device.

I rally don't see myself putting as much work in thats strictly cosmetic, I don't care to polish chrome, but I gotta say y'all have done some really nice jobs with your rides.

The box of parts should be here monday, so I'll officially begin work then. I also managed to pick up a mikuni cv carb with an air cleaner for 70 bucks on ebay.

 

I also managed to pick up a mikuni cv carb with an air cleaner for 70 bucks on ebay.

H-mmm, FYI, it is either a Mikuni carb or a CV carb.
They are different carbs, and are much different carbs, so I hope it is a Mikuni for you on that...... pg