1977 FX Barn Find Project!
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 37
Likes: 3
From: Tuckerton NJ
Nice find i also have a 77 fxe i just purchased in good shape needs some tlc but was still ridden. when i purchased it he drove it to the title co and was picked by his daughter. i also have leak in primary, all the fuel and oil lines need to be raplced. I am currently replacing rubber seals on gauges and tank plate.
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,131
Likes: 51,464
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Played around with it some today, still learning! I took the primary cover off to get a better look, anyone have an idea as to the manufacture?
There was a small amount of oil in there (feed from oil pump is capped off) so my guess is the crank seal on the motor needs changed. My understanding is that it goes backwards from if it was chain drive?
Main thing I did was drain the oil tank and flush it out, there was some sludge in the bottom. After getting that clean I put a quart of cheapy oil in it just to kick it over and circulate things. I'll drain again and put something better in for when I start it. It must have filled the crankcase with oil while sitting. After kicking it over some it started puking a good amount out the vent and makes a solid wet sucking sound.
There was a small amount of oil in there (feed from oil pump is capped off) so my guess is the crank seal on the motor needs changed. My understanding is that it goes backwards from if it was chain drive?
Main thing I did was drain the oil tank and flush it out, there was some sludge in the bottom. After getting that clean I put a quart of cheapy oil in it just to kick it over and circulate things. I'll drain again and put something better in for when I start it. It must have filled the crankcase with oil while sitting. After kicking it over some it started puking a good amount out the vent and makes a solid wet sucking sound.
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,131
Likes: 51,464
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
OP there's a guy over in the classic parts for sale section who has complete chain primary setup for sale right now , may be your best bet if you want to go to a button start as finding a ring gear for the belt system will be an issue without buying a complete new unit.
Just posted up ,
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/class...ket-parts.html
Just posted up ,
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/class...ket-parts.html
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Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 44
Likes: 5
From: Colorado
Thanks for the heads up on the chain primary! I cleaned out the Bendix on it just enough to make it function and the throttle freed up a bit, enough to try and get it going. Couple kicks and she runs! Let it get good and warm and tweaked the carb a little, it seems to run really nice. I think I'll get a kit coming for the Bendix and try it for now. It has an internal throttle cable with the hard wire, it's pretty stiff and doesn't like to return to idle, I'll get a new cable coming with my kit and hopefully can get all that all working.
What do guys like for foot controls on these era bikes? This seems to have a hodgepodge of parts to make forward controls, t's not very user friendly...
What do guys like for foot controls on these era bikes? This seems to have a hodgepodge of parts to make forward controls, t's not very user friendly...
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,489
Likes: 23
From: East of Tulsa
FX Wiring
Good luck on the project. My first Harley was a '77 Superglide. Bought it in '78 with 4400 miles on it. I rode it from Oklahoma to California that summer. Here's some diagrams that I have looked to over the years. Easy Rider mag used to print simplified diagrams.
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Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 44
Likes: 5
From: Colorado
Thanks for sharing those! I've been studying diagrams and chasing a few gremlins with the wiring on it. The melted stuff I had found in the headlight belonged the the kill switch on the handle bars. Someone had disconnected everything so it wouldn't do more damage, but I need to fix it. Definitely think new wiring is in the near future. Just deciding if I want to go with a reproduction harness, or a universal kit and wire it myself. Outside of that not much has happened. I'm waiting on some parts to come in, new throttle cable, a CV carb and flange adapter, and a set of used forward controls I scored on eBay. They were very well priced and advertised for 4 speed frames. After purchasing I was looking closer at the pictures I believe they may actually be for a 90s Dynaglide (FXR) and I'm not certain the frame tabs are the same... We'll see how it works out once I've got them.
The oil pump needs a little loving, the check ball that keeps the oil in the tank must need replaced and the seat lapped, in a matter of several days it drains a fair amount (1/2 qt or so) into the crankcase.
The oil pump needs a little loving, the check ball that keeps the oil in the tank must need replaced and the seat lapped, in a matter of several days it drains a fair amount (1/2 qt or so) into the crankcase.
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,131
Likes: 51,464
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Thanks for sharing those! I've been studying diagrams and chasing a few gremlins with the wiring on it. The melted stuff I had found in the headlight belonged the the kill switch on the handle bars. Someone had disconnected everything so it wouldn't do more damage, but I need to fix it. Definitely think new wiring is in the near future. Just deciding if I want to go with a reproduction harness, or a universal kit and wire it myself. Outside of that not much has happened. I'm waiting on some parts to come in, new throttle cable, a CV carb and flange adapter, and a set of used forward controls I scored on eBay. They were very well priced and advertised for 4 speed frames. After purchasing I was looking closer at the pictures I believe they may actually be for a 90s Dynaglide (FXR) and I'm not certain the frame tabs are the same... We'll see how it works out once I've got them.
The oil pump needs a little loving, the check ball that keeps the oil in the tank must need replaced and the seat lapped, in a matter of several days it drains a fair amount (1/2 qt or so) into the crankcase.
The oil pump needs a little loving, the check ball that keeps the oil in the tank must need replaced and the seat lapped, in a matter of several days it drains a fair amount (1/2 qt or so) into the crankcase.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/gener...ll-repair.html
As long as your frame has the forward tabs on both sides the controls should fit, those are pretty universal through a lot of later years.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,824
Likes: 603
From: Myrtle Beach SC
I ran a 3" Primo belt primary on my '52 pan for several years and no issues or problems if it's aligned right. I also dumped the Linkert carb for a Bendix and had no issues with that either.
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Joe Kucinski
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,131
Likes: 51,464
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 44
Likes: 5
From: Colorado
Check here, I repair those all the time so I did a little how to with pictures. Fixes about 90% of them.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/gener...ll-repair.html
As long as your frame has the forward tabs on both sides the controls should fit, those are pretty universal through a lot of later years.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/gener...ll-repair.html
As long as your frame has the forward tabs on both sides the controls should fit, those are pretty universal through a lot of later years.
I've seen some conflicting things on the controls, but what I gathered is all the 4 speed stuff was the same (long as the tabs are present), and the Softails used the same design up to '99 or so. Mine has both tabs on the frame, what I'm seeing is mine uses a 3 bolt mount on the shifter side and what I bought is 2 bolt on both sides. Matches what I see when I look at FXR parts. Hopefully it works out! If not I'll pass them on to someone else and try again.