Broke the Sportster

[Jeff Higgins]

Well, it finally happened. 32 years of ownership, over 150,000 miles, three top end and two transmission rebuilds, and the old Ironhead Sporty finally needs major surgery. I managed to spin the sprocket shaft in the left hand flywheel, the shaft that holds the engine sprocket in the primary drive. Time to split the cases and go through the bottom end. Oh well, I guess I can't complain. It's been a good run, and I suppose this one last rebuild will probably see us through to the end of our riding days.

I've already developed a "while I'm in there" list. Mine is a '76, the second year of the federally mandated left hand shift. H-D kind of cobbled together a left hand shift, using the crossover shaft and pedal originally intended as the rear brake. It's a very long lever, with a lot of throw and a lot of slop, so it's going away. It's going back to right hand shift, as God intended all sport bikes to be.

It's also electric start. It was my third Sporty by the time I was 19, having started with a kick only XLCH, then going to a kick and electric XLH, and finally winding up with the electric only. Well, 32 years is long enough in dealing with early H-D electric starters, relays, solenoids, and Bendix drives. I'm converting it to kick start only, shedding about 50 pounds of battery, starter, and other related items. It's now only a very occasional "fun" bike, ridden to vintage events and the like.

Speaking of which, it finally died on the way home form our Isle of Vashon TT (an island in Puget Sound, just southwest of Seattle). This is a yearly vintage rally held by my old bike club, the Vintage Motorcycle Enthusiasts. It sees all manner of vintage iron, living and breathing out on the open road.

Anyway, here she is in happier times:



On the road:

[redstrosekNic]

Great looking bike I like the simple look of the older HD's.

[porsche4life]

You just can't get anything decent these days...

Not a harley fan, but its cool that you've had it so long. Sounds like it'll be more fun and more pure when you get done with it too.

[genrex]

Major coolness points for converting to kick-start, in my opinion.

'Nough said.

_

[porsche4life]

I fought with my electric only bikes way more than I did my kick bike....

[Jeff Higgins]

Old Ironhead Sportsters are kind of an enigma. Back in their day, they were meant to be H-D's answer to the British parallel twins. They were one of the baddest hot-rods of their day, which really just kind of sounds like a bad joke today. Now they are sold as "beginners'" or "entry level" bikes. My how times change. From hairy-chested he-men to neophyte and woman riders. They have somehow managed to become "soft", or "civilized" in a way, and far more accessible through huge strides in reliability and ease of operation. They don't require anywhere near the commitment (or lack of common sense) that they used to.

These things can still be made to go like a sumbeach, at least relative to other bikes of their genre. Mine has Wiseco 10:1 compression forged pistons, Andrews cams (their "R5" grind, for those who might know what that means), ported heads, an S&S Super "E" carb, and now sports straight cut 1 3/4" diameter, 39" long open drag pipes. There isn't a Commando or Bonneville that will hang with it, at least in a straight line. I was able to demonstrate that repeatedly (before it spun the sprocket shaft) to anyone who cared to try last weekend at out Isle of Vashon TT...

I know some will cry "foul" at the straight drag pipes, accusing me of all kinds of anti-social, self-centered dick-headedness. And they would be right... However, contrary to popular belief, the old Ironheads (and Shovels, and Pans) actually do run much better, and make far more power with them over any other exhaust. The mufflers seen in the above pic were on the bike for the video as well; they absolutely kill performance on this machine. It would barely rev to 5,000 rpm with them, under protest, no matter how it was tuned. With the drag pipes it's still pulling hard at 7,000 rpm. They just about double the output on this machine; it really is that stark of a difference. So, with the half dozen times a year I actually ride the darn thing, the hand-wringing ninnies will just have to put up with me. I won't be within earshot for long anyway.

[enzo1]

Bartel's built my 1972 sporty..... got a little over rev and floated the valves. Kick only, black and chrome, 1st harley. She was fast. Put AV gas in her and she would go....

[motion]

Nice old sporty... a little loud, though

[widgeon13]

Good run.

[rattlsnak]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

I've already developed a "while I'm in there" list. Mine is a '76, the second year of the federally mandated left hand shift. H-D kind of cobbled together a left hand shift, using the crossover shaft and pedal originally intended as the rear brake. It's a very long lever, with a lot of throw and a lot of slop, so it's going away. It's going back to right hand shift, as God intended all sport bikes to be.

If youre going to move the shifter to the 'wrong' side, then you should get one of those huge hand gear shift things with the skull head on the top...

[Rot 911]

Jeff, don't those pipes have baffles in them? Look like the standard early HD muffler pipes.

Second question, looks like after market speedo and tach. If you are interested, I believe I have the stock set of gauges for your bike. If you are interested, let me know. You can have them for the price of shipping. I got out of the HD scene about the time HD got "fashionable."

I would stick with the left hand shift if you own more than one bike. While you may do ok under normal conditions, should an emergency arise, instinct will have you grabbing/shifting the wrong levers. Just my opinion.

[Superman]

Yes, they were cool, back in the day. Yours is cool today. Y'know........

I always thought those sportster-based cafe racers were extremely cool. Just sayin'.

[Chocaholic]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

They were one of the baddest hot-rods of their day, which really just kind of sounds like a bad joke today. Now they are sold as "beginners'" or "entry level" bikes. My how times change. From hairy-chested he-men to neophyte and woman riders.

My best friend in college had a 72 XLH that I rode on a few occasions. I can tell you, there's good reason they were the bad-ass bikes of their day. This was no delicate flower to ride for any distance. Profound vibration, lurching, farting and lunging that defined its character. Very cool, but nothing, I mean nothing like the limo-Sportsters being sold to the ladies today.

[Jeff Higgins]

Yup, she's "a little loud". The video doesn't really do her justice. Again, the photo above does show the stock muffled staggered duals, and the video was shot with those stock mufflers in place. Standards were different in the '70's - she is quite loud with the mufflers in place, but "loud" takes on a whole new meaning with the open drag pipes on her, especially as revs approach 7,000. Nothing at all like the slow loping, blatting big twins most folks think of when loud Harleys come to mind.

Good eye, Rot911 - those are indeed aftermarket instruments. I really hated the big plastic stock instruments they had in those days. I do still have them, though. Being only second owner on this bike, and having purchased it when it was relatively new, I have every stock part that came on it, plus boxes of period correct original spares to boot. Boxes and boxes, as a matter of fact. Engine, transmission, clutch, primary, suspension, electrics, seats, bars, lights, electrics - all kinds of spares. I could just as easily put it back to 100% stock as I could continue in my chosen direction of continuing to mildly modify it and strip it down some more.

Maybe someday it will actually be worth something. If that day ever comes, putting it back to stock would take little effort. Of course the only reason to do that would be so I could sell it. After 32 years, though, it would probably be easier for me to sell one of my kids...

[nynor]

cool bike, jeff. i'd ride that.

the only harley i've ridden was a '69 sportster. that was an experience. kickstart only, with a magneto (joe hunt, IIRC) and clear top, so you knew when to apply the kick. it was stripped down and owned by a 1%'er in kansas. the bike was almost as interesting as the owner and his crew. he laughed and laughed as i rode off down the street in my white shirt, tie, loafers and missionary badge. "man, you gotta kick it over like you mean it. it isn't some pussy @$$ japanese piece of $4!7!"

[aigel]

When I read the title, I though you had face planted. When I saw the video, I am surprised you haven't face planted yet.

My bucket list has a dirt bike on it.

G

[Jeff Higgins]

Rats - it's worse than I thought. I've got the motor out of the frame and the top end off of it. Pistons are all scored to hell as well. I thought I had "just" done a top end, a "few" years ago. My wife reminded me the last time I had the Sporty all apart was before I bought my Road King. 12 years ago... Jeezus it sucks getting old. That seems like just yesterday. Oh well, it's getting the full meal deal, I guess. Oh well, like Marty Feldman said, "Could be worse... it could be raining..."

[mossguy]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

.............. I really hated the big plastic stock instruments they had in those days. I do still have them, though. Being only second owner on this bike, and having purchased it when it was relatively new, I have every stock part that came on it, plus boxes of period correct original spares to boot. Boxes and boxes, as a matter of fact. Engine, transmission, clutch, primary, suspension, electrics, seats, bars, lights, electrics - all kinds of spares. I could just as easily put it back to 100% stock as I could continue in my chosen direction of continuing to mildly modify it and strip it down some more.............

Jeff.

Where do you keep all this stuff?