Starting a 1980 FLH that has sat for a while

[Fugawee]

Yes, I sure did put some smiles on My face with that Bike.  I bought that FLH when I was kicking around Washington State.  Did a lot of travelling on it.  I came back East and sold it in 1994 to buy a 94' FLHTC.  Should have kept the 80'.  That Bike was good to Me.  Live and learn.  Good Luck with Yours.   

[flhs90]

Thank you all. I do not do crosswords
so I picked a shovel to learn about.
Put 2 tablespoons of Marvel in each hole with rear tire off ground I have it in neutral but can not shift into 4th to turn engine over. At swap meet yesterday a kind young Shovel mechanic suggested I use big washer and pull pressure plate to clean disks and reassemble. Will pull primary and see what gives. Good time to grab a new gasket set. Any suggestions all?
Appreciate any help.

[kd]

You don't need a clutch to shift it.  If you take it apart you'll have to reassemble it to rotate the engine.

Rock the rear wheel back and forth and pull up on the shifter lever.  It'll shift.

[flhs90]

Update, no hurry here as advised. With help from my wife she shifted while I rotated tire, plan worked after a bit, it is now in 4th and slowly it turns by hand with tire and Marvel.

[turboprop]

Two table spoons is not enough to raise the oil level to cover the entire piston. I have no idea of what the measurement is, but if you raise a cylinder to TDC and then fill it with oil up t the spark plug hole it will be enough. You cant really have too much and it is all going to seep past the rings anyways. In this case more is better.

As for the transmission and primary drive, consider draining whatever is in there now and filling with ATF. It will act sort of like penetrating oil and get into every little crevice and will also clean out some of the crud. Will also help break free those clutch plates. Drain the primary case before firing the engine but leave the ATF in the trans for the first few rides.

[flhs90]

Thanks Turboprop, going back out to add more of the Marvel.

[flhs90]

Enjoying this cleaning up and prep to run, being patient. S and S E shorty.
Removed seat took out oil filter still some oil in tank. Drained tank, will pull it now that seat out of way. Tour pack still not figured out as it has a quick release set up AFAIK.
Appreciate all the help.
Dave

[kd]

Thanks Turboprop, going back out to add more of the Marvel.

Dave, that's what I meant when I said when you turn it over with the plugs out and if oil comes out of the plug hole, that's enough.  Then let it sit with the occasional rotation over a few days while you are doing the other things like the fuel tank.  The up and down of the piston will exercise the rings in the ring grooves and clean everywhere.   

When you get the oil tank clean and installed, add a couple of quarts of lighter oil with a half quart of Marvel for that first start up.  Shell Rotella T 15-40 or 10-30 is a good choice due to the high zinc additive.   If you can, open the old filter and check to see what it has been catching in the pleats.  With a new filter. start it and bring it up to temperature at a slightly elevated idle and let it sit for a bit  then repeat over the next couple of days or so.  This running the engine stuff will treat the internal oiling system, crank pins, oil pump, lifters etc. and run it all through the new filter.    One caution, this is enough oil for the cycles I describe but not advisable for any prolonged rides.  Add oil to do that.  When you are ready to ride it, do a full service with the oil you intend to use and a new filter.  Cut open the last filter and inspect it for debris.

If you have put fresh fuel into a clean tank with a marine type fuel conditioner to eat away any corn varnish it will also move fresh treated fuel through the jets and pump etc..

[flhs90]

  Shovelers, with help from neighbor the vintage FLH is on the lift to take it easier on my back of 66 years. Amazing to me is how similar it is 2 a 1990 FLHS evo big twin that was mty first hog. U folks are some of the best resources to provide the tech help as I restore this bike that has not been molested. Well if S and S shorty E is molestation then I can handle that. What was the scoop on the original card as I have that as well as 2 boxes of extra shovel porn.

[flhs90]

Original stamped AMF Harley Davidson Carb, made in Japan. How did the bikes run with these?

[kd]

Actually, in my experience they weren't too bad.

[flhs90]

OK good 2 know Kirk. If Shorty E has issues will clean and give it a go.
Shovelhead has stick AMF cam per original owner.
Thank you.

[76shuvlinoff]

 I had a ton of gas on my passenger's right leg when I first got my 76 (in 94). I blamed it on he Keihin carb but in the end it was poor exhaust choices causing it.
 Over the years I've had two E carbs and two CVs on that bike. I think the CV is the best all around carb for shovels but I still have that K9 in the basement.... somewhere.

 The one time my stock clutch plates froze up over a winter the solution was to get it out on the road and bang a few gears. Of course taking off on wet grass without a clutch was interesting. LOL.

[flhs90]

Insulated hot jumper lead from any metal with thick piece of folded foam.
Great news she spins freely gave the thin Marvel 4 days to lube. Have a puke pan under breather. Pullimg tanks, dash and carb to clean. New Gates fuel line and Dot 5 for brake components.
Flushing with alcohol. Not the drinking kind. Best 2 all helping wake this toy up. Thanks to all.

[flhs90]

Added approx. one qt. ATF in trans. To clean and lube. Clutch plates still sticky but can shift from 1st to neutral and back. With helper shifting and me turning rear tire back and 4th it shifts all gears. Having fun.

[kd]

Insulated hot jumper lead from any metal with thick piece of folded foam.
Great news she spins freely gave the thin Marvel 4 days to lube. Have a puke pan under breather. Pullimg tanks, dash and carb to clean. New Gates fuel line and Dot 5 for brake components.
Flushing with alcohol. Not the drinking kind. Best 2 all helping wake this toy up. Thanks to all.

Be careful what type of alcohol or methyl hydrate you use for flushing.  If you are flushing anything with rubber components including many types of hose it can soften / swell the rubber making it sticky and deformed.  It's probably safer to use fresh whatever was last there. 

[Coyote]

I wouldn't use alcohol either for this.

[flhs90]

OK glad KD and Coyote had the sense to chime in. Shop manual was delayed but should b here Monday

[Hossamania]

Also, if those are original brake lines (more than likely), they are over 40 years old, may be due for replacement. And by "may be due", I mean probably should be on the list.

[flhs90]

OK morning update to my support group.
Lucky 4 me 2nd check ball in carb cleaner basket. Heard one item drop but not 2. Crawled around garage shop. Nada. Looked in basket& back to golden.
Washed bags and tour pack. Mapping wires 2 dash and then speedo off. Ign. SW, & Fat bobs to drain upside. Have diesel to clean oil bag. Lots 2 do taking one system at a time when stuck move to next system
Will use jumpers and electric starter 2 spin the Marvel around. WIting to find out how much ATF to put in primary 4 cleaning then drain it back out.
Patience is on my side. Carb was green gum ethanol flavor
Lol.
Thanks all

.

[flhs90]

My grand daughter and gramps my mug.
No Stanger to u now.

[Fugawee]

Is that the Grand-daughter that will be the Proud Owner of a 1980 FLH one day? 

[flhs90]

The assets flow downhill not uphill, Super e all torn down. Soaking.
Draining oil tank now and have lots of diesel to flush. Lots of fun prep.
Patience was the advice from the get go.

[flhs90]

Dot 5 from the Factory. Yay.
No mixing of types. Thanks all.
Amazing what a set of readers can do.

[flhs90]

Update. Diesel. Old clean white t shirt, wooden dowel. Tank looks excellent. Drained primary, oil looked great, added ATF up to clutch plates to soak.Pulled speedo had tape below speed nut to keep from running down the cable to no man's land.Carb almost ready to go back together. Thank u all.
I feel like a Shovel wrench apprentice.
FLHS1990, Cheers.