I’ve got a 1975 FXE cold start procedure. Fuel off 3 roll through kicks “not start kicks” turn on fuel, put on ignition, 3 raps on the throttle and kick it.. mine usually start first kick. Your rear spark plug should look a little bit darker (coffee brown) than your front. Your front plug is gonna run hotter than the rear.
I bought my 81 Wide Glide new in 82, I still have it and will never part with it! It’s still all stock except for pipes and air cleaner bars , only problems it’s ever had is of course the transmission seal and a voltage regulator! And you’d have to see for yourself….’No Leaks!!! ‘ no bullshit! I also bought my 92 Softail Custom new and still have and a 03 Buell XB9R ! Love them all but if it came down to it The old Shovel is the keeper! Shovelhead till I’m dead!! Bye the way , that’s a tuff looking ride you have there! Really what it’s about!!
I had a '74, freshly fully rebuilt & restored, in theory, it was a brand new bike, but I still couldn't keep it fixed...every time I got it past the end of the driveway, something else either broke or fell off...no matter how many times I fixed it, it refused to stay fixed...I never could make it stop leaking oil either...fix one leak, & it would start leaking somewhere else...just the nature of the beast when dealing with troubleheads...only motorcycle I ever owned that I absolutely hated...best of luck with it, but from the issues I had with mine, I'd say fix the current issues & sell it & buy an Evo...you'll still have issues, but they'll be fewer & further in between...
I've fixed all the issues other than the trans leak and it is up for sale but I'm not replacing it anytime soon. Need to get going on some other projects first.
I'm building a 1983 FXWG, due to the troublesome nature of Shovelhead tanks, I put Softail tanks on instead, bit of modification on the back mount required, but never have seen a cracked Softail tank in all the years I have been working on HDs. They do make them in 3.5 gallon as well. Nice bike!
Ride, work on it, repeat. Custom 83 low rider from frame up. Still has issues. I have never truly Hated something that I Love soooo much! A dying breed.
Bike looks good. The trans will leak through the final drive gear unless you seal it. The best way I know to seal it is what I did to mine. Pull the clutch and sprocket, clean everything with Brakeclean, your new James seal should be fine if you oriented the seal lips towards the trans. Get and install the metal clip that locks the bearing plate to the shaft, then fill all the openings with silly seal. Use more silly seal on the sprocket where it contacts the shaft and nut, that will seal the oil in. Harley didn't seal that area, just machined a reverse thread arrangement that is supposed to push the oil back in when running but when parked on the side stand it will weep out, the silly seal will stop that. Good luck.
+1 on this, been making leak free 4 speeds since the 70s that way, pump silicone into the splines on spacer, install sprocket, more silicone around spline, install sprocket nut keeper and nut, torque nut to 150 # fold over ear on keeper, no more puddles.
The larger tank is a good idea. The bike would look better if it had chrome shovel covers. And youre the first that is doing the right thing and running a 50 weight on the transmission, evn the harley up to your M8 models need at least a 50 weight in the transmissions and primarys
With the difference in plug color it might indicate an intake leak to the front cylinder. I'd also check the compression to see if it is even. Unless these things are good all the rejetting in the world won't improve performance.
Ive had several shovelheads in my almost 70 years and seems that most of my fuel problems came from a vapor lock in the hose running between the jugs. Just an idea, hope it helps.
I’ve got a 1975 FXE cold start procedure. Fuel off 3 roll through kicks “not start kicks” turn on fuel, put on ignition, 3 raps on the throttle and kick it.. mine usually start first kick. Your rear spark plug should look a little bit darker (coffee brown) than your front. Your front plug is gonna run hotter than the rear.
I bought my 81 Wide Glide new in 82, I still have it and will never part with it! It’s still all stock except for pipes and air cleaner bars , only problems it’s ever had is of course the transmission seal and a voltage regulator! And you’d have to see for yourself….’No Leaks!!! ‘ no bullshit! I also bought my 92 Softail Custom new and still have and a 03 Buell XB9R ! Love them all but if it came down to it The old Shovel is the keeper! Shovelhead till I’m dead!!
Bye the way , that’s a tuff looking ride you have there! Really what it’s about!!
I had a '74, freshly fully rebuilt & restored, in theory, it was a brand new bike, but I still couldn't keep it fixed...every time I got it past the end of the driveway, something else either broke or fell off...no matter how many times I fixed it, it refused to stay fixed...I never could make it stop leaking oil either...fix one leak, & it would start leaking somewhere else...just the nature of the beast when dealing with troubleheads...only motorcycle I ever owned that I absolutely hated...best of luck with it, but from the issues I had with mine, I'd say fix the current issues & sell it & buy an Evo...you'll still have issues, but they'll be fewer & further in between...
I've fixed all the issues other than the trans leak and it is up for sale but I'm not replacing it anytime soon. Need to get going on some other projects first.
I'm building a 1983 FXWG, due to the troublesome nature of Shovelhead tanks, I put Softail tanks on instead, bit of modification on the back mount required, but never have seen a cracked Softail tank in all the years I have been working on HDs. They do make them in 3.5 gallon as well. Nice bike!
Appreciate it
Ride, work on it, repeat. Custom 83 low rider from frame up. Still has issues. I have never truly Hated something that I Love soooo much! A dying breed.
Bike looks good. The trans will leak through the final drive gear unless you seal it. The best way I know to seal it is what I did to mine. Pull the clutch and sprocket, clean everything with Brakeclean, your new James seal should be fine if you oriented the seal lips towards the trans. Get and install the metal clip that locks the bearing plate to the shaft, then fill all the openings with silly seal. Use more silly seal on the sprocket where it contacts the shaft and nut, that will seal the oil in. Harley didn't seal that area, just machined a reverse thread arrangement that is supposed to push the oil back in when running but when parked on the side stand it will weep out, the silly seal will stop that. Good luck.
I'll check that stuff out. Appreciate it.
+1 on this, been making leak free 4 speeds since the 70s that way, pump silicone into the splines on spacer, install sprocket, more silicone around spline, install sprocket nut keeper and nut, torque nut to 150 # fold over ear on keeper, no more puddles.
The alternator shroud is slick.
Beautiful build. Brake/clutch needs some anti-skid tape. Gonna be slick if caught in rain.
The pedals have pretty heavy knurling on them.
Sick shovel bro. Dialing it in can sometimes be frustrating, but worth it in the end. Bitchin bike man
Appreciate it. Definitely took a while to get it to where it is now.
Nice clean scooter man..oil leaks aside.
The larger tank is a good idea. The bike would look better if it had chrome shovel covers. And youre the first that is doing the right thing and running a 50 weight on the transmission, evn the harley up to your M8 models need at least a 50 weight in the transmissions and primarys
If you get the tanks & successfully mount them there’s a guy on eBay in Nebraska that sells a beautiful rubber fill strip to fill the tank gap!
Shovelheads rock!
Nice bike I like the foot controls who make them is that Juniors work
Thanks. I made the foot controls.
what front brake master cylinder model in your bike? thank you
Had a Kraft tech on it. Now it has a grimeca.
With the difference in plug color it might indicate an intake leak to the front cylinder. I'd also check the compression to see if it is even. Unless these things are good all the rejetting in the world won't improve performance.
All has been checked previously and good to go.
FOOT CABLE GONNA KEEP STRETCHING ? NICE SKULL HEAD ALWAYS LOOKS GOOD as HAND SHIFTER KNOB. FRONT PLUG ALWAYS RUNNING COOLER , of COURSE.
It's a pretty beefy cable and it's not a real hard pull on it so we will see how it wears.
Copper tubing on that engine ? See how long that goes .
Been doing good so far. About 300 miles or so on it. I have some stainless tubing to swap it out with.
He shouldn't have any problems with those lines. That's better than rubber
Um um um, great video
Rap the side of your tank with your knuckles and you'll learn to know exactly how much fuel you have. 58 years of riding experience.
😎👍😎
U selling that 2 into 1 pipe?
I could. Shoot me an email. zippyindustries22@gmail.com
bike is rad
Appreciate it. Should be back on it here soon.
Ive had several shovelheads in my almost 70 years and seems that most of my fuel problems came from a vapor lock in the hose running between the jugs. Just an idea, hope it helps.
At the time I thought that was what it was so I put heatshield on the line running between the jugs, Turns out it was a weak coil.
@@zippyindustries thanks for the update..coils can be tricky to trouble shoot too.