Advice needed Please.
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 296
Likes: 0
From: Ontario, Canada
Advice needed Please.
First off I gotta tell ya, I'm just a novice when it comes to wrenching this old girl, but here goes...
Just had new S&S heads, new cam & lifters as well installed on my '81, Shovelhead (80 cu in.) ran fine for about two weeks, now.. can't seem to keep the timing right, and runs too rich. (S&S carb) Installed new points, (gapped @ .018 ) adjusted carb, but still running rough. Black smoke & flames coming out of exhaust. Backfires once in a while like an old powdergun going off. Thinking of going with electronic ignition. Any tips, tricks or direction would be greatly appreciated. Haven't got a whole lot of $$$ left to put into it right now..
Just had new S&S heads, new cam & lifters as well installed on my '81, Shovelhead (80 cu in.) ran fine for about two weeks, now.. can't seem to keep the timing right, and runs too rich. (S&S carb) Installed new points, (gapped @ .018 ) adjusted carb, but still running rough. Black smoke & flames coming out of exhaust. Backfires once in a while like an old powdergun going off. Thinking of going with electronic ignition. Any tips, tricks or direction would be greatly appreciated. Haven't got a whole lot of $$$ left to put into it right now..
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,854
Likes: 20
From: Eagle River WI
First check for carb manifold air leaks Those rubber bands might have gone south Is the air cleaner supported off the front rocker box ( A MUST ) ? Start the bike up if you can get a smooth idle Spray brake clean/carb clean around the carb manifold ( to both heads) and see if the bike idles up or dies
Check the advance weights and see if they are wore out where they slip onto the shaft they sit on. This causes a radical shift in timing. Check the set pin that locks it to the cam. Also, inspect your coil closely to see if it has ANY cracks in the case, especially around the posts or towers.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,078
Likes: 39
From: NW Florida
To set the points after you establish the proper gap is to find the advance mark for the front cylinder in the inspection hole on the left side. For an 81 model the advance mark is a small dot near the edge of the flywheel. On earlier models it is a straight line. On yours the straight line is TDC. In a nutshell when the Front advance mark is in the window you hold the point cam in full advance and adjust the back plate until the points just begin to open on the narrow lobe of the points cam. You can use a meter or a light to determine when they open. There are other threads that give the procedure in greater detail. To hold the points cam in full advance you can do it with your fingers by taking the condensor loose, or buy a little clamp made for this or what I did was modify a pair of pliers. You can also use a timing light but that is a PITA, the clear plastic plug they sell for this is worthless, You can put a paint line on your alternator roter and look through the chain adjusting hole. I just wrap my light in plastic wrap and put on a pair of goggles. The static timing will almost be perfect so there is no need to use the timing light.
Last edited by FilthyLucre; Jul 20, 2009 at 03:09 PM.
Novice
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
any time you mess with your pionts you should reset the timing.Go too S&S site ,read up on tunig your carb.
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Banned
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 481
Likes: 2
From: Bgosh,WI
Check bolt that holds in the points cam while you crank it over. I've seen them wobble causing the cam to run off center causing the point gap to be off one side good on the other. Tap to center as needed. I always use the clear timing plug, turn it in till it just bareley touches the Flywheel, it has to be close to see the marks.
Last edited by 78fxs78; Jul 21, 2009 at 09:53 PM.
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Stage IV
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: hungary
rebuild
Hello everybody,
I'm laci from hungary. 1 month ago my dream was came true, when I managed to buy a '79 FXE. The bike was not in bad condition, it took me home almost 400km, including 250km highway at 65-75mph.
When I arrived home one of the cilinders stoped, and the next day the bike started very hardly and stopped after a few minutes.(I guess something is wrong with the circuit breaker)(I can only kickstart it, becouse the electric starter can't crank the engine, it has wiseco 1608 pistons with 9-1 compression ratio).
After this we take the bike one of my friends, who has more experience with shovels (he has a 78 FLH, he completly rebuilt it, and since than he rides 10.000km a year withot major problems) than I do.
I'm planning to use my shovel from the spring, I want rebuild/restorate it.
I would be pleased if you can give me some practical advice, which parts I should replace into a better more up to date item. I mean I have the circuit breaker type ignition, I want to convert it to a dyna dual fire one. I want to put fuses to the electrical system etc... What else do you suggest? I want to use my shovel a lot, I need a good reliable bike.
I'm laci from hungary. 1 month ago my dream was came true, when I managed to buy a '79 FXE. The bike was not in bad condition, it took me home almost 400km, including 250km highway at 65-75mph.
When I arrived home one of the cilinders stoped, and the next day the bike started very hardly and stopped after a few minutes.(I guess something is wrong with the circuit breaker)(I can only kickstart it, becouse the electric starter can't crank the engine, it has wiseco 1608 pistons with 9-1 compression ratio).
After this we take the bike one of my friends, who has more experience with shovels (he has a 78 FLH, he completly rebuilt it, and since than he rides 10.000km a year withot major problems) than I do.
I'm planning to use my shovel from the spring, I want rebuild/restorate it.
I would be pleased if you can give me some practical advice, which parts I should replace into a better more up to date item. I mean I have the circuit breaker type ignition, I want to convert it to a dyna dual fire one. I want to put fuses to the electrical system etc... What else do you suggest? I want to use my shovel a lot, I need a good reliable bike.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,078
Likes: 39
From: NW Florida
Welcome Laci. You should have started a new thread. The FXE should have come stock with 4 circuit breakers. Three under the seat and one at the positve + post of the battery. They are a better choice than a fuse. The 79 came originally with an electronic ignition. It may have been converted to points. You need to find a Service Manual and a parts book before you tackle any major work.
Last edited by FilthyLucre; Jul 28, 2009 at 03:17 PM.