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Don't go all cheap backyard redneck on it at this point. Repair the thread, it can be done head still on, fairly easy to do also, just needs a steady hand and some sense. There's less meat in there than you think at this point. Kits are reasonable. Use bee's or cutting wax on the tap to catch the chips then clean thoroughly with acetone or brake cleaner and blow out any left with compressed air. Anything that might be in there is very fine aluminium and will blow the first 3 seconds she's running High heat retaining Loctite #620 on the insert, install and let sit overnight. I've lost track of how many I've done in frame like this.
Ok, I've learned a bit about plugs and more about my bike. I don't know why the previous owner had those stubby plugs in this bike. As stated, the spark was occurring in the threaded channel before the cylinder head since the plug was the wrong one. Totally bizarre.
I bought a new plug, the correct one with the longer threads. Since half or more of the threads were still good was able to just screw in the new plug. Fits nice. The bike is running sweetly again.
Oddly, the bike ran nice even with those stubby spark plugs.
With the gap, I gapped it a .036. I have an S&S carb and the instructions from S&S say the gap should be .021 but Harley says .038 to .042
Speaking of gaps. On my points, it seems people generally like .014 to .018. My moco manual says .006. I just don't know who to believe.
I have my points at .016
Tom
.006 is for the air space on electronic ignition ... Not for a "points and condensor" set up
I’m definitely not going to redneck this bike. I’ve spent months a $$$$ undoing the previous owner(s) redneck modifications.
I do feel pretty confident that the threads are going to work for now. It’s almost July and I would like to get at least a few months of Minnesota riding season in. Plenty to do on it this winter.
I am dumping the Champion brand plugs since most everyone seems to poo poo them. I bought NGK this time.
In the following photo shows the old Chamion plug which is WRONG and the new plug I bought. Much longer threads.
Once again, I have this dorky 79 engine but this was the transition year where everything is a mess in the book. I have points which I think they used until mid 1978 or there abouts. Looking more closely at the book, Uncle Larry is right. The timing of .006 is not for points. I have my points at .016 for now. Plugs are .038
Bit of advice on owning a shovel? They are only as good as their present and past owners. Most shovels suffer from owneritus to some degree, why there so many horror stories about them that will never fade away.
Fix the issues correctly as they come up and you won't be adding to the myth shovels are junk and they'll give you far fewer problems in the long run.
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.
