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the old 79 sportster ironhead is is dead again

Discussion in 'Motorcycle Tech Talk' started by stangitmo, Apr 23, 2006.

  1. stangitmo

    stangitmo New Member

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    :( Well I did get to ride her for around 12 hours this weekend and it was great but again death came in to the facter once again. the engine just started locking up than I would restart it and ride her again and did it again. the engine started makeing som bad growling sound (not a knock) so I got her home and located the noise behind the primary cover. pulled the primary cover and found a spring in there so I prceded to pull the chains and found the problem. the crankshaft spocket roller bearings went south. so I pulled her down and split the case. I will be rebuilding he I just hope I can find the parts with ease.
    just for a side note the oil return holes on the head gaskets were in the wrong location they were blocked off on the rear head.. again the guy that had this bike didnt know anythiung about building engines he would of probliy been alot better off in he had a service manual. :eek: :(
    stangitmo, Apr 23, 2006
    #1
  3. chucktx

    chucktx Moderator Staff Member

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    what a bummer!!!!!!! well, with all the problems you have had and repaired, and the impending rebuild, you are going to have one fine running sportster!!! glad you got home safely and with out having to pick parts up off the hiway. good luck and keep us informed.....if ya got questions were only a key board away!!!!!!
    chuck
    chucktx, Apr 24, 2006
    #2
  4. hog tendeer

    hog tendeer New Member

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    hogtender

    where did the spring come from? The only spring I can think of is the spring on the sprocket shaft seal! an that sprocket shaft has a timken bearing.not a roller bearing!:D :cool: :wtf:
    hog tendeer, Aug 19, 2008
    #3
  5. whacker

    whacker Active Member

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    You shouldn't have any trouble finding parts,I can for my 75,The only spring I know of in the primary is the compensator spring and clutch springs...But yours is newer than mine.I know all about how some people put things together,went through all that with my 75...Mans best friend is a manual...Good luck......
    whacker, Aug 19, 2008
    #4
  6. stangitmo

    stangitmo New Member

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    The spring was from the seal
    stangitmo, Aug 20, 2008
    #5
  7. hotroadking

    hotroadking Super Moderator Staff Member

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    I'd be tempted to go to the guy that sold it to you and ask for some assistance
    due to his inept mechanical ways.

    Unless he's bigger and got a bigger gun.. :D

    If it were me I'd have the SM open, and go through it with a fine tooth comb over the winter,

    Might as well have the heads cleaned up and ported/flowed, a little higher comp pistons and some cams will make it really run well. Nothing major just a little clean up, Talk to Bill and Amy at Bishop's Performance - Parts & Service for Harley Davidson, Buell, and other American V-Twins, they are top notch, reasonably priced and honest as the day is long.

    He could also bore the cylinders and hone them for a fresh set of rings, clean it up a bit.
    hotroadking, Aug 20, 2008
    #6
  8. stangitmo

    stangitmo New Member

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    I aculy rebuilt the engine and trans and frontend and so on, tell I finly found someone that was wanting to sell there shuvelhead and took it in on trade. It almost runed me on harley but after having the shuvel for a wile Im back to loving harley again. I did have a wrist pin come loose last fall on the shovel but $1800 later Ive put 7000 miles on it and its running great. I also bought my wife a 85 FXWG it has an evo engine. That one is gard to find parts for becouse only 85 and 86 interchange on it.
    stangitmo, Aug 20, 2008
    #7
  9. ironhorse

    ironhorse Active Member

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    fyi -timken is a brand name making all types tapered roller, radial roller, lateral roller, ball bearing and such, along with friction bearings , bushings and seals.
    ironhorse, Aug 21, 2008
    #8
  10. hotroadking

    hotroadking Super Moderator Staff Member

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    Yeah but the lower bearing conversion on HD's is often referred to as the Timken conversion from INA, the INA bearings don't hold up to the forces of the larger engines in the twins.
    hotroadking, Aug 21, 2008
    #9
  11. ironhorse

    ironhorse Active Member

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    never heard it called that HRK thanks
    i have now been eddamacated:D
    timken= bearing brand name
    timken conversion= bearing conversion upgrade named after a product

    (i gotta push it sometimes:rolleyes: )
    ironhorse, Aug 23, 2008
    #10

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