Need help please!!!!!!
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Pinellas Park FL
Need help please!!!!!!
Hey guys and Gals!
I'm chris and just bought my 3rd bike it's a 1977 Sportster xlch and its a "Basket" case literally it ran before the previous owner took it apart to convert into a bobber.....before it was stored (in 2002) the engine was just completely rebuilt so my question here is where do I start to bring her back to life! do I remove the top end and inspect? the carbs and everything were covered so all should be ok....i posted pics of the bike currently.....any help would be great......And no buy a new bike rags ok lol ty
Keep in mind not everything for the bike has been delivered yet.....
ok let the ragging begin lol
First pic is what it looked like before the teardown...it won a top runner up trophy! why he took her apart is beyond me Been stored since 2002 in dismantled condition
I'm chris and just bought my 3rd bike it's a 1977 Sportster xlch and its a "Basket" case literally it ran before the previous owner took it apart to convert into a bobber.....before it was stored (in 2002) the engine was just completely rebuilt so my question here is where do I start to bring her back to life! do I remove the top end and inspect? the carbs and everything were covered so all should be ok....i posted pics of the bike currently.....any help would be great......And no buy a new bike rags ok lol ty
Keep in mind not everything for the bike has been delivered yet.....ok let the ragging begin lol
First pic is what it looked like before the teardown...it won a top runner up trophy! why he took her apart is beyond me Been stored since 2002 in dismantled condition
Last edited by vyper73; Nov 14, 2011 at 01:15 PM. Reason: left a little detail out sorry!
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: Florida
Did the prev owner know what type of bore work was done on the rebuild if any?
First change out all the fluids with cheap dino oil.
I would pour about 1/2 cup of oil down each plug hole and kick it through a few times with no plugs in (I think it has a kicker), pull a rocker cover and make sure oil is flowing. After that change out all the fluids again. Start her up and run her a few minutes and change em all out again. After that do an old school break-in with dino oil as you want to seat the rings to the bore etc. If something does not work tackle the issues as you go.
First change out all the fluids with cheap dino oil.
I would pour about 1/2 cup of oil down each plug hole and kick it through a few times with no plugs in (I think it has a kicker), pull a rocker cover and make sure oil is flowing. After that change out all the fluids again. Start her up and run her a few minutes and change em all out again. After that do an old school break-in with dino oil as you want to seat the rings to the bore etc. If something does not work tackle the issues as you go.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 494
Likes: 1
From: Kadena AB Japan
yup I agree i did almost the same thing when i got mine since it sat for a year. Slightly different. changed the oils and the sprayed a bunch of wd-40 down the cylinders and cranked it over for about 30 secs. made sure it sounded normal. if you have the ability to do a compression check do it..
after that see if she will start up with some fuel. chances are if there was fuel in the carb while it was stored then that gas is junk and gummed up. if thats the case pull the carb and clean it. if it is dry then try to give it a start.
after that see if she will start up with some fuel. chances are if there was fuel in the carb while it was stored then that gas is junk and gummed up. if thats the case pull the carb and clean it. if it is dry then try to give it a start.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,413
Likes: 17
From: eastern oklahoma
remember you gotta have three things for a motor to run. compression, spark, fuel, and timing. so i can't count, okay? i wouldn't put half a cup of oil in the cylinders though. just a bit of wd-40 will be plenty of lube to crank it over, or a tablespoon or two of motor oil. if it cranks, or if it's got a kick start, ground one plug to the head to see if you got spark. place a thumb over a spark plug hole to see if you got compression. if you have spark and compression all you have left to check is timing and fuel delivery. drain the carb and clean it out. use fresh fuel in the tank. it's really pretty simple. hopefully they didn't monkey around with the cams. remember, sportsters got four of them. i have a great friend who just got a 79 iron head. the ironheads are way too cool by the way. they stand out in a sea of evo sportsters.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
WD40 is not a lubricant, so I would suggest using a little engine oil in the cylinders to turn the motor over. It looks as if it has a starter, so after a few checks and with fresh oils throughout, crank over without spark plugs and verify the oil is circulating and that compression is present. If all looks fine, fit spark plugs and see if she runs!
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,372
Likes: 250
From: NW Kentucky
A 77 should have both electric and kick. The WD40 can be used to break rings loose but don't run bike on it. Clean carb ...fresh gas ...if all else looks good try it and change fluids a lot. Good luck.
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 22
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From: Pinellas Park FL
TY
hey all the advice is great!
how do I feed her fuel there is no tank yet and im not sure if harnesses are there..... and no battery so i may have to use vice grips on kick start to try and fire it up.....
how do I feed her fuel there is no tank yet and im not sure if harnesses are there..... and no battery so i may have to use vice grips on kick start to try and fire it up.....
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Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: Florida
Yikes... No don't use vice grips. The kicker and spline are designed where the lever will strip before the spline. You could strip it with vice grips and then you have to tear into the gearbox..
I would think you need a battery of some sort to get it running. Even if just a small UPS 12 volt job or jumper cables from a non running car.
For fuel you can buy a small squeeze bottle (like an old catchup bottle) with a cone type top and plug your fuel line onto it. You might be able to get one at the Dollar Store or some such.
I would think you need a battery of some sort to get it running. Even if just a small UPS 12 volt job or jumper cables from a non running car.
For fuel you can buy a small squeeze bottle (like an old catchup bottle) with a cone type top and plug your fuel line onto it. You might be able to get one at the Dollar Store or some such.
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Joined: Mar 2010
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From: Honah Lee
Might want to jack rear wheel, remove plugs put it in upper gear and turn wheel to make sure engine has not frozen up. Make sure the oil looks OK, battery is charged good, new gas and a good choke. See if it will fire up and see what it sounds like. Waste of time to do anything else since who know what you will need to do. Go from there.