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New project.....75 FXE

Started by thumpr54, November 15, 2019, 04:56:20 PM

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thumpr54

Thought you guys might be interested in following this and offering advice ?  :wink:   ....tho I'll mainly be getting it running only......the story is that Cliff.....one of my VFW Honor Guard brothers, bought it new and is donating it to our charity auction that's going to take place late in March, I believe. It's been sitting at least 6 years and I'm suspecting longer. I told him quite a few years ago, before we had any of the auctions, that I'd help him get it running when he was ready. Cap'n Tim brought his trailer and we picked it up Wed and hauled it the 5-6 blocks to my place. It's pretty unmolested, I think....he says he has the original seat and air cleaner. Just a while ago I pushed it out in what was left of our sunshine today and went after it with some engine degreaser, carb cleaner and a brush. The gas tank was pretty rancid.....I took the fuel line off the carb and poured a little gas in it.....when I opened the petcock it was leaking out around the fuel filter below the petcock faster than it was coming out at the carb....so it gets a new fuel line before I try to start it. Pulled the plugs...they look fairly new and like it was running fairly well. Pulled the battery off my 80 Sportster to check out the electrics...all the lights...the horn, turn signals work. With the plugs out it cranks over all right....gets oil pressure...it's showing 959/738 miles( not sure which is odometer/trip but he said he replaced the speedo and it probably has about 20K on it.
growing old is mandatory-growing up is optional
355 AMS(TAC)DMAFB 73-76 VFW6774

hattitude

Nice.......!

I frequently wish I still had, or could find and purchase, my old '78 FXS......

Just something about an old shovel head that still makes me want one.....

guido4198

Quote from: hattitude on November 15, 2019, 09:29:54 PM
Nice.......!

I frequently wish I still had, or could find and purchase, my old '78 FXS......

Just something about an old shovel head that still makes me want one.....
I know that feeling....REAL well.  :emoGroan: Back in the day, I traded in my '78 LowRider for the '85 FXRS that I'm STILL riding. Got as much in the trade as I had paid for the LowRider in the first place so it seemed like a great deal.  :baby:Wish I had put that old Shovel away and just found the extra money to buy the FXRS outright.  :up:

jmorton10

I sold my last hot-rod Shovel to a local club member almost 20 years ago & he's still got it.  It is a kick start rigid & my back couldn't take the rigid anymore.

Now, the dude has 4 other bikes & has decided to sell my old one & I am sorely tempted to buy it back (he will sell it to me pretty cheap just to make some room in his garage) just to have another toy to play with HaHa.

~John
HC 124", Dragula, Pingel air shift W/Dyna Shift Minder & onboard compressor, NOS

calif phil

JMorton  you should buy it.  You don't always get a second chance. 

Thumpr  Good on you guys for helping with that project.   If you lose the windshield and the chrome luggage rack sissy bar thing it will look a lot better. 

Leed

Quote from: dirty jim on November 16, 2019, 05:13:01 AM
Please post when and how much tickets are.

Yes please do. I'd love to take a chance on it too.

Hossamania

Quote from: Leed on November 16, 2019, 03:02:05 PM
Quote from: dirty jim on November 16, 2019, 05:13:01 AM
Please post when and how much tickets are.

Yes please do. I'd love to take a chance on it too.

While it is for a good cause, posting of charity events is not allowed on HTT.
If the government gives you everything you want,
it can take everything you have.

kd

Quote from: Hossamania on November 16, 2019, 05:38:56 PM
Quote from: Leed on November 16, 2019, 03:02:05 PM
Quote from: dirty jim on November 16, 2019, 05:13:01 AM
Please post when and how much tickets are.

Yes please do. I'd love to take a chance on it too.

While it is for a good cause, posting of charity events is not allowed on HTT.


:scratch:   How about this .... Thumpr, PM me with info when you can please.   :nix:  Will that work?
KD

thumpr54

Thanx for your interest Gents....but there are no tickets....it'll be a live auction...I don't know the exact date but they tell me late in March....at a VFW in Montana. I just agreed to get it so it'd run....If it's not against the rules anyone that is interested PM me and I'll pass on whatever info I have....we have a guy that makes decorative outhouses for our auctions also...not my cup of tea... but the one or 2 he makes for each auction do well.... :scratch:
growing old is mandatory-growing up is optional
355 AMS(TAC)DMAFB 73-76 VFW6774

Hossamania

You know that if you have any questions about getting that bike running, people here will be more than glad to help. Good luck, it's a pretty sweet machine. Hopefully just basic fuel system maintenance to get it running. A good carb cleaning won't hurt, I'm sure.
If the government gives you everything you want,
it can take everything you have.

IronButt70

Quote from: thumpr54 on November 16, 2019, 07:28:08 PM
...we have a guy that makes decorative outhouses for our auctions also...not my cup of tea... but the one or 2 he makes for each auction do well.... :scratch:
Think what it would fetch if it had a genuine Preachers Son autograph.  :hyst:
No one else put you on the road you're on. It's your own asphalt.

thumpr54

Thanx, Hoss..... I was thinking there'd be plenty of knowledge/advice here and probably a few that'd be interested in following along. The front brake master cylinder was dry as a bone....with a lot of 'gumish'? looking stuff in it. Cleaned it the best I could...I suppose the brake line and caliper are the same inside but if I can get some pressure to operate the brake and hold fluid that's probably as far as I'll go on it and let the new owner do whatever they want with it. If it was mine I'd go further on it. Overall the bike is real similar to my 1980 FXE that has dual discs...this one is a single. Haven't looked at the rear brake yet. I'm thinking this probably has the primary lubed by recirculating engine oil...haven't looked for the return hose under the primary yet. The kicker don't engage but as long as the electric start works to get it running they're not gonna wanna fix the kicker. With any luck today I'll get a new fuel line on it and see if it'll fire up. I'm sure Hoss is right that the carb is pretty scuzzy inside but we'll see how it runs first. I'm making a list of parts to order and I'll see where we're at before adding a carb kit. I'd like to get it running ....and see where the oil is leaking....something Cliff said he didn't like about it.....but that was pretty much the nature of the AMF models. I had my 80 pretty tight....as long as I rode it regular it almost  never marked it's spot.....of course it sits a lot these days and doesn't have the same manners it once had.
growing old is mandatory-growing up is optional
355 AMS(TAC)DMAFB 73-76 VFW6774

76shuvlinoff

The older I get the more I like unmolested bikes, cars, trucks. 

I have Frankensteined and bastardized my 76 FLH over the last 25 years to suit whatever voice was in my head at the time. Fun to ride, faster, safer and less of a leaker than factory but not even close to original.
Critics are men who watch a battle from a high place, then come down and shoot the survivors.
 - Ernest Hemingway

PoorUB

Quote from: 76shuvlinoff on November 17, 2019, 06:48:11 AM
The older I get the more I like unmolested bikes, cars, trucks.

I am with you there!
I know of older "Harley" that other than the VIN on the frame, there is not much original, even the engine has been swapped out to an after market replacement. It was a a motorcycle show a few years ago stating it was a what ever year Harley. Looking it over there was not much "Harley" left.
I am an adult?? When did that happen, and how do I make it stop?!

76shuvlinoff

QuoteLooking it over there was not much "Harley" left.

I think mine still has the rear hinged fender, the frame, maybe the oil pressure switch.  Just about everything I ever took off it is on shelves in the basement,
Critics are men who watch a battle from a high place, then come down and shoot the survivors.
 - Ernest Hemingway

thumpr54

Got it running today.....it has a 1/4" fuel line ? ....same on petcock and carb ends...... my 1980 FX and XL are 5/16   ....got 3 good heat cycles on it....not running great but better after a couple cycles....acted like my 80 shovel after it's sat for a while and puked oil out at first startup that had seeped into the cases. Tach not working....but after warmup would idle down reasonably well....wasn't squirting gas out of the accelerator pump....yet...hopefully a few more good heat cycles will loosen that up...progress ! :up: :SM:
growing old is mandatory-growing up is optional
355 AMS(TAC)DMAFB 73-76 VFW6774

koko3052

Since it's running not bad, mix some Seafoam in with the gas & that may be all it takes to clear up.

thumpr54

 :up:   was planning to put some techron or something in it....shoulda done it before I ran it the last time so it would sit a day or so til I get back to it....messed with the front brake some more this evening...I think it's plugged up or the master cyl is bad....no pressure at the caliper or the lever.... left the bleeder open....maybe gravity will assist......got the Road Glide back together so I can hopefully go for a ride after my funeral tomorrow....sposed to be 57........don't wanna ride the Road King again til I get the oil transfer thing fixed....I'm betting my primary is pretty full.................shuffle em around.... :smilep
growing old is mandatory-growing up is optional
355 AMS(TAC)DMAFB 73-76 VFW6774

bump

Quote from: 76shuvlinoff on November 17, 2019, 06:48:11 AM
The older I get the more I like unmolested bikes, cars, trucks. 

I have Frankensteined and bastardized my 76 FLH over the last 25 years to suit whatever voice was in my head at the time. Fun to ride, faster, safer and less of a leaker than factory but not even close to original.


I have kept my 78 FXS real close to stock. Changed pipes and added S&S B carb about 35 years ago. I added windshield and saddlebags.

Inda Win

Quote from: bump on November 18, 2019, 02:57:22 AM
Quote from: 76shuvlinoff on November 17, 2019, 06:48:11 AM
The older I get the more I like unmolested bikes, cars, trucks. 

I have Frankensteined and bastardized my 76 FLH over the last 25 years to suit whatever voice was in my head at the time. Fun to ride, faster, safer and less of a leaker than factory but not even close to original.


I have kept my 78 FXS real close to stock. Changed pipes and added S&S B carb about 35 years ago. I added windshield and saddlebags.

Do you still have the stove pipe exhaust?


hattitude

Quote from: bump on November 18, 2019, 02:57:22 AM
Quote from: 76shuvlinoff on November 17, 2019, 06:48:11 AM
The older I get the more I like unmolested bikes, cars, trucks. 

I have Frankensteined and bastardized my 76 FLH over the last 25 years to suit whatever voice was in my head at the time. Fun to ride, faster, safer and less of a leaker than factory but not even close to original.


I have kept my 78 FXS real close to stock. Changed pipes and added S&S B carb about 35 years ago. I added windshield and saddlebags.


Nice....!!!!!!

I wish I still had mine...

I bought it in May '78... rode it from upstate NY to SoCal in Sept '78... and it was stolen in Sept '79....!!!!

I replaced it with an '80 FXS that I had until '89 when I got my first Heritage...


sharkoilfield

I recently acquired a 1974 XLCH with 3900 miles on it; engine is pure stock.  The accelerator pump on my Bendix wasn't working, necessitating a primer shot with a syringe. I removed the air cleaner and backing plate to change out the brittle fuel line and used a pair of needle nose pliers to move the accelerator pump rod fully up and down a few times and surprise; now it works! Whatever was stuck in there must have been forced through. I had also drained the tank and the carb, then ran lots of fresh fuel through both, out the carb bowl drain.  Starts and runs quite nice now (which is good; at 65 I don't have many start cycles in my kicker leg)

thumpr54

suggestions for what to do with this battery acid leak ?....don't wanna start painting on it.....leave it ?...maybe spray with some Fluid Film ?  non petroleum based...   
it probably needs new brake lines but I'm just getting it running for the auction so I'm not going there....the back brake still has fluid and looks like it's working.....the front described in previous post. I got new brake fluid all the way thru the front line but can only get very minimal pressure from the master cyl so I'm gonna order a kit for the front m/c

They're telling me the auction is March 28
growing old is mandatory-growing up is optional
355 AMS(TAC)DMAFB 73-76 VFW6774

Hossamania

I'd be tempted to spray a solution of baking soda and water onto the acid and spray it off with a hose. Or possibly try some battery post cleaner as out of site as possible to see how it works (very well on batteries, fwi) and doesn't damage the paint.
If the government gives you everything you want,
it can take everything you have.

kd

It's pretty difficult to spray baking soda and water because it stays as a solid and plugs the nozzle.  It can however be applied with a medium soft bristle brush as a loose watery paste then rinsed and reapplied.  You can actually get into the nooks and crannies better with a brush and as it foams you are refreshing it with new.  Wearing safety glasses, rubber gloves and clothing protection is mandatory. Use a large pan and some plastic (large garbage bags work) to contain the runoff and splash.  It can be rinsed easily with fresh water in an old spray bottle.
KD

truck

From the picture it looks like the corrosion is gone and you have rusty metal now.
Listen to the jingle the rumble and the roar.

JW113

Brush some Loctite Extend or POR-15 on it. It will stop the rust and turn it black.

-JW
2004 FLHRS   1977 FLH Shovelhead  1992 FLSTC
1945 Indian Chief   1978 XL Bobber

Ohio HD


hattitude

Quote from: thumpr54 on November 29, 2019, 02:34:52 PM

suggestions for what to do with this battery acid leak ?....don't wanna start painting on it.....leave it ?...maybe spray with some Fluid Film ?  non petroleum based...   

They're telling me the auction is March 28

I had that happen to my '80 FXS.... not quite as bad as yours, but obvious battery fluid dripping...

I removed the battery and I cleaned up the area with a paint brush & baking soda solution. I then hit it with a degreaser (simple green) and thoroughly rinsed the area. After it dried, I used aluminum foil to wrap the stuff I wanted to protect from overspray, and then touched up the area with a black spray paint... It was cheap, easy, and took a couple hours max....

It cleaned up nice and looked pretty good afterwards....

I eventually switched to using exclusively AGM batteries on my bikes to avoid the issue...

Hard to see in this pic, but there was corrosion/rust aft and below the battery pan.... this was about 6 months after the "repair"... It wasn't a perfect fix, but you had to look real close to notice it.. and it looked tons better than the corrosion/rust..



Ohio HD

It looks much like my 1977 FXE that I bought in 1979. Mine was grey metallic. First thing you did back then was get rid of the "turtle" tank and put five gallon fat bobs on. I do wish I had that bike back as it was when I bought it. Fix her up clean, she deserves it. Great project.

thumpr54

December 03, 2019, 03:50:39 PM #30 Last Edit: December 25, 2019, 05:40:39 PM by FSG
got this today...couldn't figure out how to rotate it.....I think all the pages are there....the back flap/cover is missing.....
growing old is mandatory-growing up is optional
355 AMS(TAC)DMAFB 73-76 VFW6774

thumpr54

Xmas day wrenching.....it sat for several weeks...last time I tried to start it... it's not passing any gas...have never had it squirt from the accelerator pump since I've had it(not long)...fires right up with a little starting fluid. Got it moved onto the lift today..removed the air cleaner backing plate...loosened the float bowl but it don't wanna come all the way off....the bowl is mounted with a center bolt/screw that I've loosened many turns...the bowl will drop down almost a half inch and is loose but the center screw won't come all the way out.....this pix is from the 75 owners manual. I have the FSM for my 80 FXE but carb on those was a Keihen and had smaller screws around the edge of the float bowl for mounting...different carb....somewhere I saw earlier carbs referred to as Zenith Bendix carbs....any suggestions on removing the float bowl mounting screw before employing the more armstrong methods ?
growing old is mandatory-growing up is optional
355 AMS(TAC)DMAFB 73-76 VFW6774

Ohio HD

December 25, 2019, 03:52:39 PM #32 Last Edit: December 25, 2019, 05:50:21 PM by Ohio HD
The main jet is what screws through the bowl and also holds it onto the carburetor body. Is it possible the accelerator pump is stuck, and not letting the bowl drop down?



[attach=0,msg1327810]

FSG

Quote..couldn't figure out how to rotate it....


Ohio HD

I just realized you said the center screw (main jet) won't come out all the way. I bet there's some fuel / gelled gunk holding it in the carburetor body. You may need to pull the carburetor and soak it in cleaner before the jet will loosen up.

thumpr54

Thanx, FSG...I'll try to remember next time....at first I thought the 'turn left 90' was instructions to remove the float bowl.... :banghead: duhhh.... :SM:    You're probably right Ohio...I was hoping to avoid removing the carb completely but if I do...it won't be the first time.....the accelerator pump shaft is sliding in and out of the rubber boot OK so I don't think that's the problem.....
growing old is mandatory-growing up is optional
355 AMS(TAC)DMAFB 73-76 VFW6774

Admiral Akbar

Quote from: thumpr54 on December 25, 2019, 02:26:53 PM
Xmas day wrenching.....it sat for several weeks...last time I tried to start it... it's not passing any gas...have never had it squirt from the accelerator pump since I've had it(not long)...fires right up with a little starting fluid. Got it moved onto the lift today..removed the air cleaner backing plate...loosened the float bowl but it don't wanna come all the way off....the bowl is mounted with a center bolt/screw that I've loosened many turns...the bowl will drop down almost a half inch and is loose but the center screw won't come all the way out.....this pix is from the 75 owners manual. I have the FSM for my 80 FXE but carb on those was a Keihen and had smaller screws around the edge of the float bowl for mounting...different carb....somewhere I saw earlier carbs referred to as Zenith Bendix carbs....any suggestions on removing the float bowl mounting screw before employing the more armstrong methods ?

Push the float bowl all the way up and pull the center bolt out. The bolt might be hanging up on the float.

Ohio HD

Come to think of it, I've seen a few extreme cases where the fuel was gelled and formed around the float, jet tube, etc. It felt stretchy though when moving the parts, not a firm stop when trying to move them.

jamnut

There is an O ring around the end of the main jet that usually gets stuck in the threads that the main jet screws into when removing the jet. Try getting some WD-40 on that O ring through the discharge hole in the bottom of throat then turn and pull the jet at the same time. That O ring is probably hard as a rock.
Slim. - one owner '73 FX
2001 FLHTCUI converted to carb

thumpr54

Success !....I had been thinking along what Jamnut was suggesting....I have a little bottle that I mainly used to replace clouded coolant on CRT faces on projection TVs over the years....also handy to top off battery cells with distilled water...among other things......a little Seafoam dribbled down the hole in the throat where the main jet enters...wait a bit...dribble a little more and a deep 9/16 with finger torque....it spun a little and came right out.....the Oring is orange....and fills the grove it's in...and still somewhat elastic... but flat as can be......Thanx Ohio for the carb exploded view......don't suppose there's any chance of coming up with an oring part number for number 8 in that diagram ?.....guess we could spring for a kit for it....
growing old is mandatory-growing up is optional
355 AMS(TAC)DMAFB 73-76 VFW6774

Ohio HD

Sure, but this image shows it as #15: 27326-71


[attach=0]

[attach=1]

thumpr54

Thanx, Ohio....I found 2 different lists too....while waiting for the oring I'll get back to the front brake master cyl.....
growing old is mandatory-growing up is optional
355 AMS(TAC)DMAFB 73-76 VFW6774

Ohio HD

I know this says FL models, but the master cylinder is the same as FX.


[attach=0]

[attach=1]

thumpr54

Thanx again, Ohio...for the front brake diagram...I was a little surprised it was the same m/c as my 1980 FXE with dual discs...suspected a single disc would be different....anyways...picked up the extra stuff Cliff had for it...original air cleaner....and...a surprise.....gotta be a security alarm.....I'm imagine some of you older? guys maybe seen these...I don't remember ever seeing one....uses 2 9V batteries...this copper top Duracell says Mallory on it....I'm guessing pretty old....I'm gonna ask him if maybe he might have the key for it.....I know we all like pix....so I complied...got the front m/c back together but not bled yet....
growing old is mandatory-growing up is optional
355 AMS(TAC)DMAFB 73-76 VFW6774

FSG


Ohio HD

My '77 FXE came with one of the license plate alarms. It was first thing I took off of it I think. You sure don't see those anymore.
That air breather cover I believe is stainless, they're getting rare too.

I used to throw those types of parts away left and right....     :doh:     :emsad:

Beave

My cousin bought this 75 FX no E in 1982. I scored the Turtle tank for my 65 XLCH when he put fat bobs on it.  In 1990 we took a trip to Canada and he snapped the pinion shaft on way back in Alzeda Montana. He was always complaining about a vibration over 60!  When we got it back home he stroked it (4 1/2" S&S) and it ran twice as smooth. He still has it today.  It still runs strong.
With speed comes stability.

thumpr54

Ahhhhh...Alzada, Montana...get thru there several times a year usually....helluva place to break down.....but not extremely far from Rapid and the Black Hills...     LKFLWK  Little Known Facts....Little Worth Knowing... Alzada, Montana...extreme southeast Montana.. to Yaak, Montana...extreme northwest Montana....is 835 miles.(Mapquest)    Chicago to Washington, DC is 702 miles...5 states. Yup, Montana is a big place. According to Capn Tim's calculations we rode thru 2 dozen mountain ranges last year...not all in Montana.....Yessir we are blessed....Got the oring for the main jet n put carb back together....getting a squirt from the accelerator pump now !  :up:   still working on the front brake....and got the tach off.....this is getting long so I'll do another post with that but I think it was hooked up wrong....oh....and happy new year gents.... :SM:
growing old is mandatory-growing up is optional
355 AMS(TAC)DMAFB 73-76 VFW6774

JW113

Yeah, pretty big. I'll see your 835 and raise you 168. Smith River to Araz Junction, 1003 miles. Boom!

Happy new year all'a y'alls!

-JW
2004 FLHRS   1977 FLH Shovelhead  1992 FLSTC
1945 Indian Chief   1978 XL Bobber

thumpr54

January 01, 2020, 09:11:07 AM #49 Last Edit: January 01, 2020, 09:34:09 AM by thumpr54
:up: :SM:       I'm suspecting the tach was hooked up wrong by whoever worked on it last....maybe whoever replaced the speedometer.... probably a decade or more ago.....    according to the skiz….and some posts here...there should be connections for 12+, the signal wire from the coil(pink)....and a ground. The pink wire was hooked to the terminal on the right...and the left terminal was tied by the short jumper to ground...which I believe is wrong. The terminal at bottom center is ground/case but nothing connected there....I believe this is where the ground jumper to the mounting post goes, instead of the left terminal.....and the 12+ to the left terminal ? There was no + to the tach dial light or the tach itself.   Anyone know for sure before I start experimenting ?

[attach=0,msg1328484]

growing old is mandatory-growing up is optional
355 AMS(TAC)DMAFB 73-76 VFW6774

IronButt70

Key West to Pensacola Fl. is 890 IIRC
No one else put you on the road you're on. It's your own asphalt.

thumpr54

January 01, 2020, 09:24:34 AM #51 Last Edit: January 01, 2020, 09:29:28 AM by thumpr54
I'm trying to rotate the tach pix 180 but when I go to the 'attachments and other options' I only have the 'more attachments' choice....no option to rotate.....not sure what I'm doing wrong....

got it....had to hit the other...upper modify button...to the right of the subject line...not the lower one below the text...
growing old is mandatory-growing up is optional
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klammer76

Quote from: thumpr54 on December 31, 2019, 08:21:41 PM
Ahhhhh...Alzada, Montana...get thru there several times a year usually....helluva place to break down.....but not extremely far from Rapid and the Black Hills...     LKFLWK  Little Known Facts....Little Worth Knowing... Alzada, Montana...extreme southeast Montana.. to Yaak, Montana...extreme northwest Montana....is 835 miles.(Mapquest)    Chicago to Washington, DC is 702 miles...5 states. Yup, Montana is a big place. According to Capn Tim's calculations we rode thru 2 dozen mountain ranges last year...not all in Montana.....Yessir we are blessed....Got the oring for the main jet n put carb back together....getting a squirt from the accelerator pump now !  :up:   still working on the front brake....and got the tach off.....this is getting long so I'll do another post with that but I think it was hooked up wrong....oh....and happy new year gents.... :SM:
Yup, Alzada, MT. Great place to be on Tuesday of rally week. Stone House Saloon for topless Tuesday. At least that is what I have been told  :wink:


thumpr54

I haven't been there for that event but have stopped many times and vistied with Diane, the owner. My friend Megan went to Topless Tuesday a couple years ago...good reports....except it was a hot day and they got torched outside standing in the sun....but Megan was a spectator...and not a contestant….I couldn't convince her.... :SM:
Looky what I found.....I hadn't mentioned recently that this FXE is a 1975....mine is an 1980....I have the 80 FSM and assume they're pretty similar electrically...as well as most other ways. In looking for something else I found the tach from my 80....if I remember correctly when  put the Fat Bobs on I rigged the tach mount to use it temporarily….the 75 and 80 tachs are pretty similar but the 80 says Nippon on it so a different supplier, I imagine...no info on the 75......and the 80 has IGN and TRIGGER stamped into the bottom of the case to identify the terminals. The 75 has ACY(?) and GRB, I think it is, painted in black near the 2 terminals. I'm gonna suspect the ACY is for accessory....that's be the 12V+ for power and dial lights...the top of both pix is the top of the tach where the dial lights attach...
growing old is mandatory-growing up is optional
355 AMS(TAC)DMAFB 73-76 VFW6774

klammer76

January 01, 2020, 02:23:01 PM #54 Last Edit: January 01, 2020, 02:29:11 PM by klammer76
Quote from: thumpr54 on January 01, 2020, 12:53:32 PM
I haven't been there for that event but have stopped many times and vistied with Diane, the owner. My friend Megan went to Topless Tuesday a couple years ago...good reports....except it was a hot day and they got torched outside standing in the sun....but Megan was a spectator...and not a contestant....I couldn't convince her.... :SM:
Looky what I found.....I hadn't mentioned recently that this FXE is a 1975....mine is an 1980....I have the 80 FSM and assume they're pretty similar electrically...as well as most other ways. In looking for something else I found the tach from my 80....if I remember correctly when  put the Fat Bobs on I rigged the tach mount to use it temporarily....the 75 and 80 tachs are pretty similar but the 80 says Nippon on it so a different supplier, I imagine...no info on the 75......and the 80 has IGN and TRIGGER stamped into the bottom of the case to identify the terminals. The 75 has ACY(?) and GRB, I think it is, painted in black near the 2 terminals. I'm gonna suspect the ACY is for accessory....that's be the 12V+ for power and dial lights...the top of both pix is the top of the tach where the dial lights attach...
My first Harley at 18 years old was a used 1975 FX. Great bike, wish I still had it. Cut my teeth on that bike, had it apart several times. I still have my SM & Parts manual for it, however it is in storage. I'll see if I can dig it out when I'm up there again. If have a question I'll look it up etc if you need once I find the right box.

[attach=0,msg1328512]  [attach=1,msg1328512]

jamnut

January 01, 2020, 04:46:08 PM #55 Last Edit: January 01, 2020, 05:09:50 PM by jamnut
Quote from: thumpr54 on January 01, 2020, 09:11:07 AM
:up: :SM:       I'm suspecting the tach was hooked up wrong by whoever worked on it last....maybe whoever replaced the speedometer.... probably a decade or more ago.....    according to the skiz....and some posts here...there should be connections for 12+, the signal wire from the coil(pink)....and a ground. The pink wire was hooked to the terminal on the right...and the left terminal was tied by the short jumper to ground...which I believe is wrong. The terminal at bottom center is ground/case but nothing connected there....I believe this is where the ground jumper to the mounting post goes, instead of the left terminal.....and the 12+ to the left terminal ? There was no + to the tach dial light or the tach itself.   Anyone know for sure before I start experimenting ?

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That tach is Harleys first attempt at a tach. I know because i bought one back in '74 or '75 for $100. Back then HD still meant hundred dollars. It's a weird hook up. It hooks to the charging system. It only works with the stator that has 4 wires. The regulator with 6 wires came on bikes with a tach. 4 wires in 2 wires out. The black wire went to the batt pos,the pink wire went to the "alt" teminal on the tach. The other terminal on the tach is ground. Bikes without a tach had a 5 wire regulator.

Edit-- I should have said first attempt at an electronic tach. They had cable driven tachs for years ahead of this one.
Slim. - one owner '73 FX
2001 FLHTCUI converted to carb

thumpr54

Spent quite a while on it today....there is no orange wire coming from the headlight like my 80 diagram shows....orange being the ignition ckt...and the 80 diagram looks like the headlights are on for both ignition switch positions.    ...this 75 has 2 blacks coming from the headlight that are only hot when the ign switch has the lights on...one of those is hooked directly to the speedo dial lamp...the other was hanging loose...weird for both to be hot with the lights....I'd think one ignition and the other lights ? If the tach needs 12V it should be there in the ign/run position...otherwise the tach would only come on when you turned the lights on......... I suppose there's a decent chance it's not exactly factory stock wiring....  :crook:  and I'm not too excited to open up the headlight bucket...did my Sporty last year....I'll pass unless it's really necessary....and this isn't even mine....just get it running decent before the auction....
growing old is mandatory-growing up is optional
355 AMS(TAC)DMAFB 73-76 VFW6774

Ohio HD

Number 36 is the tachometer.

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thumpr54

Thanx, Ohio....someone here just hooked me up to the complete correct FSM....I'm gonna study a bit....this site is tits !    but then we already knew that......that's why we're here....  :up:
growing old is mandatory-growing up is optional
355 AMS(TAC)DMAFB 73-76 VFW6774

thumpr54

January 11, 2020, 01:04:19 PM #59 Last Edit: January 11, 2020, 01:18:53 PM by thumpr54
OK....had some time to study this.....I see the difference between the 3 and 6 wire regulator systems...and I think this 75 has been modified....maybe someone here can say whether this is/was a common 'update'....as a 75 it should have the 6 wire setup....but this one has only 3 wires.....the 75 skiz shows 4 wires coming from the stator and the 80 has only 2.....this 75 has only 2 wires coming out of the case from the stator. The 75 skiz shows a pink wire going from the regulator to the tach....I got the pink wire from the tach going into the headlight bucket but not a clue from there...except it doesn't go to the regulator like the 75 diagram shows...  Oh...also got it where I can run it again and have a couple heat cycles on it....running much better after diddling with the carb. Still no luck with the front brake....yet....
growing old is mandatory-growing up is optional
355 AMS(TAC)DMAFB 73-76 VFW6774

thumpr54

January 27, 2020, 03:46:54 PM #60 Last Edit: January 27, 2020, 05:42:22 PM by thumpr54
no comments on the prev post so I'm just gonna assume it's been upgraded to a later style charging system....stator and regulator. Now something else I noticed....on the primary cover...near the starter solenoid...there's a threaded hole. My 1980 primary doesn't have this hole, I'm pretty sure. I looked in the parts list and don't see anything related. I know these early primarys oiled the front chain with engine oil and sucked the excess back to the oiling system. They're supposed to be sealed but I figure as long as there's enuf oil to cover the return hole in the bottom of the primary it should suck the oil back ok. Any ideas on what this hole is for ?....other than attaching a vacuum gage... :scratch:
Went back and looked at the parts diagram again....there's #56...switch, hole cover...that might be related but not a clue what it's for....some use on earlier models maybe....
growing old is mandatory-growing up is optional
355 AMS(TAC)DMAFB 73-76 VFW6774

jamnut

FLH exhaust crossover pipe mounts to that hole. Must be an FLH outer cover.
Slim. - one owner '73 FX
2001 FLHTCUI converted to carb

thumpr54

I suppose I should Loctite a bolt in that hole to plug.....and probably look at the FL parts diagram to just familiarize myself with it....this'd be my second FX to wrench on....no FL experience.....yet....
growing old is mandatory-growing up is optional
355 AMS(TAC)DMAFB 73-76 VFW6774