Potential buy, need help!
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Stage IV
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 4
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Potential buy, need help!
This bike last ran 2 yrs ago. The ad said that the oil and gas were drained for storage. Why would someone drain oil? The guy says it turns over. Is there anything in the pic I should be worried about? Can the rust around the kicker be removed? If I bought this bike what should be done first? I want to bring it back to life and turn it into a daily rider.
Last edited by vinsanity; Nov 10, 2012 at 03:27 PM.
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 41
Likes: 1
From: Iowa
Engine oil can break down over time. Especially if it has run in the engine and is contaminated. For storing for years, yes, drain the oil. The rust is probably from the kicker shaft, it should clean off, but will come back. If the lever is rusted, they don't cost much.
I'd be more interested in the price.
I'd be more interested in the price.
Not sure what mechanical skills you may have, but you Probably will have more issues to worry about than some rust around the kicker. The tranny seals,and other gaskets leak oil,just a fact of life.If you want it to be reliable you will need to go through the entire bike that way you know what you have..Around here in Tennessee that bike the way it sits would go between 3-4 grand.
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 313
Likes: 2
From: somewhere in "The Peoples' Republic of Illinois
Sitting for a couple years shouldn't hurt it. Unless it was outside all that time. It don't look it was out side.
You can expect to sink some $'s into it. The rear brake disc should be cleaned or replaced. Maybe whole brake system.
Old oil has acids and crap in it and can cause pitting. Oil drained should have been replaced new oil. Reason it wasn't could be because of "by-pass". Oil seeps by the check valve and collects in the lower end. Not harmful in itself. Looks bad if ya fire up in front of potential buyer and puking occures.
I'd want to hear it run before buying. Not knowing why it sat. Could be it needs high $'s and owner didn't want to spend them.
You can expect to sink some $'s into it. The rear brake disc should be cleaned or replaced. Maybe whole brake system.
Old oil has acids and crap in it and can cause pitting. Oil drained should have been replaced new oil. Reason it wasn't could be because of "by-pass". Oil seeps by the check valve and collects in the lower end. Not harmful in itself. Looks bad if ya fire up in front of potential buyer and puking occures.
I'd want to hear it run before buying. Not knowing why it sat. Could be it needs high $'s and owner didn't want to spend them.
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 72
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From: Moose jaw
Thanks guys, The seller mentioned that the bike had brake problems and that he has all the parts. He's asking $3500 and I have a 6 hour drive to pick it up. I've been looking for awhile and there isn't many shovelheads in my area (Saskatchewan). When it comes to doing the maintenance on the bike I'm not worried, I'm worried about the $$$. I'm a military aircraft technician and I've cleaned up one Twin cam Dyna already. I just haven't done enough research yet. I watched 6Over a couple weeks ago and it got me pumped up about shovelheads.
That old scoot is gonna have to be gone through completely, meaning everything out of the frame, frame blasted and checked for cracks, engine and trans rebuilt, all seals and bearings replaced in the wheels and swingarm, brakes rebuilt and probably a rewiring.
That may sound difficult, but if you have the time and money, you'll get a good result. I would probably take 30 hundred dollar bills with me and flash 20 of them after talking about the down side of the bike for a while. Work up the price at 250 dollar increments and stop at 3 grand. I wouldn't pay more than that.
That may sound difficult, but if you have the time and money, you'll get a good result. I would probably take 30 hundred dollar bills with me and flash 20 of them after talking about the down side of the bike for a while. Work up the price at 250 dollar increments and stop at 3 grand. I wouldn't pay more than that.
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Stage IV
Joined: Nov 2010
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Thanks AlCherry, I was pricing parts out last night and I was hoping someone would tell me it's worth less then 3 grand.
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Stage IV
Joined: Nov 2010
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So I talked the guy down over the phone and he said he'd take $2800. But, I asked again how long was the bike sitting and he said 7 years this time. And apparently a harley tech was the one who prepped it for storage.
If there's nothing seized and I put new plugs in, oil and fuel and try to turn it over with the electric starter. Whats the worst that can happen? Oil pissing out fire?
Is there anything else I should check?
If there's nothing seized and I put new plugs in, oil and fuel and try to turn it over with the electric starter. Whats the worst that can happen? Oil pissing out fire?
Is there anything else I should check?
So I talked the guy down over the phone and he said he'd take $2800. But, I asked again how long was the bike sitting and he said 7 years this time. And apparently a harley tech was the one who prepped it for storage.
If there's nothing seized and I put new plugs in, oil and fuel and try to turn it over with the electric starter. Whats the worst that can happen? Oil pissing out fire?
Is there anything else I should check?
If there's nothing seized and I put new plugs in, oil and fuel and try to turn it over with the electric starter. Whats the worst that can happen? Oil pissing out fire?
Is there anything else I should check?
