looking to buy a bigdog chopper and have a few questions

[Texasdogman]

Im looking at buying a 2004 chopper I think its a ridgeback. looks kind of like a ironhorse texas chopper. It has the S&S 107. and baker 6 speed.

Here is the question when I was looking at it I removed the seat and noticed the guy wedged an ink pin over the oil filler cap on the oil tank. I asked why he said the oil cap keeps poping off and he did this to keep it in. I automaticly thought damn maybe it has a lot of blow by if its poping the cap off the oil tank. Is this an issue I should be worried about or is that normal? I really don't know that much about the motor cycle motors like the S&S. I don't want to buy a bike that needs an engine rebuild.
I also noticed the oil pressure guage that was on the crank case was bad looked like it was a vdo gauge and was shaken apart lol. Is that normal?

It also has a bad speed-o works on and off he said it just recently started doing this. What will it cost to fix it?
Im not looking to buy a project but I dont mind doing a few minor repairs. I have a couple of race cars I work on all the time so Im pretty handy with my tools.

FYI speed-o shows 6900 miles and he has ran 4 tanks of fuel thru it since it started acting up so it should have pretty close to 7k miles on the bike.

 

[prizepup]

Welcome to the site. This is also my first Dog and what you're describing definitely doesn't sound "normal" to me as I haven't had any of those problems (K.O.W). Unfortunately, I'm not sure how bad the issues with the scoot you're looking at maybe. I'm far less handy around an engine than you are :bang: However, there are tons of really experienced folks on this forum who will step up and assist you. But if you have any doubts about this scoot, I'm sure you can find another one in a lot better shape. If you don't mind me asking, how much is the seller looking for on this one?

 

[Texasdogman]

Welcome to the site. This is also my first Dog and what you're describing definitely doesn't sound "normal" to me as I haven't had any of those problems (K.O.W). Unfortunately, I'm not sure how bad the issues with the scoot you're looking at maybe. I'm far less handy around an engine than you are :bang: However, there are tons of really experienced folks on this forum who will step up and assist you. But if you have any doubts about this scoot, I'm sure you can find another one in a lot better shape. If you don't mind me asking, how much is the seller looking for on this one?

He's looking for me to pay off whats owed on his loan which is arround $9k not much of a market on these bikes here. But seems like a fair deal on the bike and I have found a few threads on here about othere having the same issue with the oil cap. looks like there is a vent line from the motor to the oil tank that could be the issue or maybe a few other things to check. I dont mind doing a little work but if its an issue with the motor having to much blow by I can wait and find another bike down the road.
But damn I like this bike.

 

[Brew]

Welcome from Washington State, hope you enjoy the site. Do you know if the scoot is a ridged or softtail?

 

[Texasdogman]

Its a soft tail

 

[Texasdogman]

and my bad its a 2003 not a 2004

 

[liferider]

I have the 2003 Chopper. The oil filler cap is just a plug. I actually replaced mile with a 1" oil plug/Manuel temp gauge from J&P cycles for around $30. Ya, ya if you want to see the oil temp you have to stop the bike pop the seat and look. But I actually do it after every ride before I kill the engine and wipe the bike down and park it in the garage. With the new oil cooler I recently installed the oil now stays about 170 degrees

 

[coach]

If I'm clear....the filler cap on my 2003 Chopper, under the seat, was a screw-in with an 0-ring. I kept it pretty tight. I never saw a plug-in cap, and I would expect back pressure as the oil heated up. I would look for a better solution.

 

[T.Byrd]

Ridgeback is a hardtail.

 

[BBChopper]

Does it have the stock air cleaner? If not it may not be vented correctly also look for threads in the filler pipe it may have the wrong cap. If it's a softail with 10 over forks it's a Chopper, as T said Ridgeback is the ridged Chopper..

 

[05 old dog]

how about a picture of the bike.....

 

[BadBrad]

First off, the '03 107ci was one of the better motors made by Big Dog. This was before they started putting on propriatary BDM parts on their bikes. It's a work horse with fewer issues than most of the newer 117ci motors. The oil pressure guage on the crankcase is an aftermarket guage installed by the previous owner. They didn't come with that, but you can either cap it off or buy another guage reasonably priced. Actually, a good item to have. The oil cap is not that major either. 9 years of wear and the rubber doesn't fit as well as it did when new. Still, you may want to check to see that you have a stock breather like BB mentioned above. Take a pic of the dog if you're not sure and post it. Definitely a chopper, not a ridgeback. The speedos have always had issues. It could be as simple as cleaning the sending module or you may need to replace it. There are still parts for that dog around. Do you know if it has the original EHC or the Wire Plus electronic module? The '03 EHC had far less issues than the newer models, so yours is probably original. Welcome to the pound from south Mississippi.

 

[Bmarchant]

Two seasons ago, my oil cap started popping off. I went to the Harley shop and bought a new one. No more issue. The old cap had become too loose. Haven't had an issue since.

 

[liferider]

If I'm clear....the filler cap on my 2003 Chopper, under the seat, was a screw-in with an 0-ring. I kept it pretty tight. I never saw a plug-in cap, and I would expect back pressure as the oil heated up. I would look for a better solution.

Coach, I beg to differ with you on this. On the 2003 BDM chopper, the oil tank is under the seat and has a rubber cork style cap that is held in place by friction. Acts just like a cork on a bottle of Wild Turkey.

 

[prizepup]

I'm not certain about the Choppers but I know my 03 Bulldog has a very secure screw on oil cap. Anyway Tex, some pics of the scoot in question would be real helpful for those trying to assist you.

 

[coach]

Coach, I beg to differ with you on this. On the 2003 BDM chopper, the oil tank is under the seat and has a rubber cork style cap that is held in place by friction. Acts just like a cork on a bottle of Wild Turkey.

Sorry.....but I know my own bike....differ all you want. My 2003 Big Dog Chopper had a screw-in cap to the oil tank. I owned the bike for 9yrs and did many oil changes.

 

[03pitdog]

I got a 2003 pitbull mine has a screw in cap on oil tank under the seat.

 

[Slick-Dog]

Ground wires on the speedo probably loose....happen to me..

 

[liferider]

Sorry.....but I know my own bike....differ all you want. My 2003 Big Dog Chopper had a screw-in cap to the oil tank. I owned the bike for 9yrs and did many oil changes.

Please go to the thread it is in Technical under fluids, 2003 BDM Chopper oil tank plug. see pictures.

 

[Raywood]

Sorry.....but I know my own bike....differ all you want. My 2003 Big Dog Chopper had a screw-in cap to the oil tank. I owned the bike for 9yrs and did many oil changes.

Please go to the thread it is in Technical under fluids, 2003 BDM Chopper oil tank plug. see pictures.

No sense in argueing about this!!!

Our tanks no matter what model or year it is are all vented meaning the tank vents to the motor. So if the original poster of this thread is having issues with his plug then his motor isn't venting and he has other issues.