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Question Posted By: capnbill on 1-2-2011
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| Make of Bike: |
HD |
| Model of Bike |
shovel |
| Year of Bike |
1980 |
| Engine Size |
80ci |
| Other info on Bike |
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| What's your question? |
It has sat for approx. 8 years. What should I do, initially, to keep from further damaging he engine,as in putting oil in the cylinders, etc.?
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| Details: |
A friend died and I may be getting his bike and want to inspect the engine and don't want to screw it up too bad. |
Answers:
- It really depends on where and how it was stored. I have seen some really worst case scenarios. I have seen cams, and rings rust from condensation getting into the motor. Then again, I've seen bikes that sat, and all they needed was a carb cleaning. I would definitely start by putting oil in the cylinders. Take the spark plugs out and crank the motor over to get the motor oil flowing before you try and start it. Of course the motor is sumped and you'll need a pan under the breather hose. By: Guest on: 1-2-2011
- What I would do is figure on the worst case senario. Pull the plugs and see if you can see any rust in the cyclinder. Note if the plugs come out hard or have rust on the threads, on the base or the gap. If so, then you got rust in the cylinder. You can still be ok if you put in a fine machine oil, (high visocsity)sewing machine oil or a fine gun oil will work. Then very slowly rotate the engine,stop when an increase resistance is felt because you have run a piston ring on to some rust bubbles. If this can’t be overcome with a few (easy/gentle) tries and more oil, then I recommend going no further and not starting the bike until the engine has been torn down. I have found that that rust in the cyclinders indicates rust elsewhere in the engine. Rusted cam lopes will have the case hardening on the face weakened(by the rust)and will wear down quickly causing damage as well as sprinkling the oil system with metal particles. If all is good then I recommend changing the oil (engine, trans & primary) before starting the reason is that oil that has set for seveal years will separate and also the dirt has settled to the botton of the crankcase. I also recommed an quart of oil just poured through the crancase to flush our the dirt at the botton prior to starting. Also a teardown and clean of the carburator should be done prior to starting. When starting be sure to turn the engine over several times by hand with the plugs our to work the oil though the system. Then proceed with starting. Good luck on this. Let us know how this comes out. By: FIXER on: 1-2-2011
- Here's your chance to get your feet wet. Personally, any bike that's set for that long I'd do a complete tear-down, rather I wanted to keep it or not. First, the bike's 31 years old to start with. Second, you have no idea how it was kept nor treated. You can't find that out by dicking around with small shit...you'll have to tear it down and split the cases. All this pussy-footin' around, checking the oil, blowin' the tires back up, changing the plugs...that shit's gonna get you stuck somewhere close to Bumfuck, Idaho wishing you'd checked everything.
If you're just into turning it for a profit...do what the others suggest here. If you're into keeping it, and an 80/80 is a nice ride, tear it down, know what you have to work with and then ride that bitch. Myself, I'd toss the ignition for a HI-4, off that shit Keihin butterfly carburetor for a later model CV or adjustable high-speed Bendix and close off the primary for a wet clutch. FWIW By: 47Knuckle-Dragger on: 1-3-2011
- I appreciate the replies, and I figured on this type of response. You're all probably (!) right, start slinging wrenches and then know for sure!
Oh, it was open primary and Mikuni smooth bore carb, rigid frame, etc., etc. it'll be a nice chopper when finished, ah hope, ah hope, ah hope... By: capnbill on: 1-4-2011
- Hey Capnbill, some great sage advice given here. I'd add, don't forget the tranny, and especially the wiring. A bike that has sat will have corrosion on the wiring connections, expecially if the battery was not pulled. Oh, and also things like neck and wheels bearings... Even if they were well greased, sitting in one spot for a long time can lead to galling in the contact areas. Bottom line: Tear that sucker down, front to rear, and get'er thoroughly checked out!
By: Guest on: 1-5-2011
- A friend of mine was given a 79 shovelhead FX a few years back, it had sat in a barn since 82 open barn door, it was in such bad shape the chrome had fallen off the rims and the exhaust pipes har rusted away from the heads, we took it to the house, squirted wd 40 down the cylinders,and stuck a set of pipes on it, rolled the engine over by hand a few times, put in a new battery and checked the points as we rolled the engine over a few more times, the point sparked, so we put new plugs and wires on it, sprayed the crap out of the carb and hooke a plasric gas container to it, choked the carb jumped the starter and it fired right up and ran until the little bit of gas in the container was gone....then we decided to check the OIL, it had oil in it and was pumping it thru the engine. The we put the wrenches to it and did a ground up restore on it, stock restore and my buddy rides it all the time...free barn bike given to him by a very good friend.....
So I say fire the thing up and then tearit down... By: Guest on: 1-6-2011
- I would run some two-stroke oil with the first fire-up. By: ULTIMA on: 3-31-2011
- I always pull the Plugs and shine a flashlight in there an take a glimpse drain the oil put in fresh then a squirt or two of marvel mystery oil. replace the plugs check the electrical system and try to fire it up By: scottmiller75 on: 4-22-2011
Reads: 1466
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