1978 flh 1200 shovel - worked fine til parked for 2 years - tried to start and no fire even using ether - while turning over it was spewing oil out the breather tube.

 

blowing oil is normal since it's been sitting for so long

 

Throw a drip pan under her next time you try to start, it's common on older bikes with the oil bag above the crankcase. Oil seeps past the check ball in the pump when they sit for long periods.


Check for spark, change the plugs and put in fresh gas.

 

pull the carb, clean it before the fresh gas.