older dogs

[evomat13]

This forum is a wealth of info. Thx to all for contribute. Been here b4 when looking at a big dog to buy. My buddy had it and sold it b4 I could buy it. So now I'm looking again. Been riding Harleys for years.looking at 2001to 2003 mastiffs. Finding out about the electrics on these got me looking for as much info as possible. Mechanics I'm comfortable with electrics are not my strong point.what am I looking for as I go thru the process of finding a good dog.any and all help is appreciated .thx in advance

 

[evomat13]

Here's another question, why do a lot these have so few miles on em?

 

[heybaylor]

Here's another question, why do a lot these have so few miles on em?

Cant say for others , but my 01 Pitbull had around 2 k on it last year when I bought it .

Previous owner (non mechanical) had spent a lot of money on starters, and batteries.
He said every time he wanted to ride it ,(not very often) It would not start.
He finally got tired of taking it to the shop $$$ every time and parked it.

The problem I found was the SS engine was "wet sumping " every time it sat for over a day or two. He was burning starters up .

Fixed the check valve , cleaned up a few more problems , and have put 2500
miles on it so far with zero issues

 

[evomat13]

Is this common? Or from lack of use? Thx

 

[JR03CHOPPER]

Not that I have evere heard. I have a 2003 Chopper. It was also a low mile bike. I have not had a wet sumping issue...like heybaylor said...it was a part the previous owner didn't know about. My situation was the previous owner (millioniare) had it as a trophy. He was not a "Biker". He had a 5 year old Harley that had even less milage.

 

[heybaylor]

Is this common? Or from lack of use? Thx

No it is not common, however can happen to any "Oil Bag " machine.
Just something to be aware of .

 

[evomat13]

The old pan would do it over winter. Not hard just pain in the a#%.

 

[francoblay1]

Cant say for others , but my 01 Pitbull had around 2 k on it last year when I bought it .

Previous owner (non mechanical) had spent a lot of money on starters, and batteries.
He said every time he wanted to ride it ,(not very often) It would not start.
He finally got tired of taking it to the shop $$$ every time and parked it.

The problem I found was the SS engine was "wet sumping " every time it sat for over a day or two. He was burning starters up .

Fixed the check valve , cleaned up a few more problems , and have put 2500
miles on it so far with zero issues

:2thumbs:

 

[BigDogRick]

The old wiring systems of that era were pretty bullet-proof. I am a fan of the 107 CI S&S but that is because I am the kind of rider the motor was developed for - long, smooth, highway miles. Keeping the breathers open and connected and the oil reservoir NOT over-filled is essential. Excess oil will blow out the breather as a drip or a stream depending on how much you ignore this. These old dogs did not have compression release so a fully charged battery, a good starter, and a little finesse on the start button goes a long way. I have pressure-washed my bike for 15 years and have yet to experience an electrical problem from wetness. I have also ridden my bike through days of rain without issue. I have had nearly every electrical part wear out - mostly while on the road - away from a familiar mechanic - and always found a solution of some kind - wherever. Once, it was a truckers toggle switch in place of my key cylinder somewhere in S. Dakota. It even lit up when on. I liked it so much, I waited all summer to fix the key cylinder.

 

[evomat13]

When your talking long hiway smooth miles just curious what speed are you cruising at? I run my Fatboy (basically stock) at 80 with passing up to 90-95, and no issues .just trying to get a idea of what to expect . I can't say I'm religious about my maintenance but I don't slouch either .

 

[FrankBDPS]

The old wiring systems of that era were pretty bullet-proof. I am a fan of the 107 CI S&S but that is because I am the kind of rider the motor was developed for - long, smooth, highway miles. Keeping the breathers open and connected and the oil reservoir NOT over-filled is essential. Excess oil will blow out the breather as a drip or a stream depending on how much you ignore this. These old dogs did not have compression release so a fully charged battery, a good starter, and a little finesse on the start button goes a long way. I have pressure-washed my bike for 15 years and have yet to experience an electrical problem from wetness. I have also ridden my bike through days of rain without issue. I have had nearly every electrical part wear out - mostly while on the road - away from a familiar mechanic - and always found a solution of some kind - wherever. Once, it was a truckers toggle switch in place of my key cylinder somewhere in S. Dakota. It even lit up when on. I liked it so much, I waited all summer to fix the key cylinder.

Rick I agree 100 percent. Just one question. When my breathers were hooked up to the intake I had motor oil in the oil filter all the time. I redid the breathers and vented them straight down and have no oil now from the breathers. Can this cause other problems?

 

[BigDogRick]

With the 5 speed original Baker the sweet spot was 70 to 90 with plenty of throttle left. With the 6 speed I put on 35k miles ago, she cruises at 75 to 95 comfortably. The difference with the six speed is that at 75 or so, with sixth gear being essentially 1:1, there is a lot of rpm left up to speeds I would not normally cruise at. When I dropped a lifter I was foolishly cruising about 105 across the desert from St. Johns, AZ to Gallup, NM. On the other hand, it is amazing how nice it is from 45 to 65 on a byway. Very versatile cruising motor. I have had Harley mechanics compliment the bike after working on it how quiet and solid motor is mechanically.

 

[BigDogRick]

Rick I agree 100 percent. Just one question. When my breathers were hooked up to the intake I had motor oil in the oil filter all the time. I redid the breathers and vented them straight down and have no oil now from the breathers. Can this cause other problems?

I had a bike builder in Phoenix volunteer to re-route the breather tubes for me once and it seemed to help with the drip...drip.. and minor oil accumulation in the air filter. I do not think it was harmful.

 

[FrankBDPS]

Cool. Thanks Rick.

 

[evomat13]

So your saying they are like Harleys but on steroids?

 

[FrankBDPS]

Not sure steroids is quite strong enough. They are a breed of their own.

 

[heybaylor]

So your saying they are like Harleys but on steroids?

well ,couldn't say that , however my 01 pitbull, pulls away from my 03 Fatboy.
at any speed/any gear( not much , but it does.

the Fatboy has 103,SE heads, cammed, and thunder header pipe, with tune.

disclaimer... my son 170# on the Pitbull, me on the Fatboy (200# lol
:up:

 

[BigDogRick]

I have used this story to explain: A group of us went to Daytona Bike Week one year and one of us had a 88CI Fatboy with a Stage II -and was always popping it and hooting at the girls and being a boy. My best friend had just sold his bike, lived in FL and came over to see us one night. He jumped on the back of the dog as we cruised around. Now the guy with the Fatboy was a 175 lb guy and I am 220 - mu buddy is 250. I made a point all night of leaving that hotshot behind every time he was showboating. It was easy - 470 lbs and all. It was easier before the 103 and 110, though. Not so much difference there.

 

[Shuttlevan1]

Wet Sumping

Cant say for others , but my 01 Pitbull had around 2 k on it last year when I bought it .

Previous owner (non mechanical) had spent a lot of money on starters, and batteries.
He said every time he wanted to ride it ,(not very often) It would not start.
He finally got tired of taking it to the shop $$$ every time and parked it.

The problem I found was the SS engine was "wet sumping " every time it sat for over a day or two. He was burning starters up .

Fixed the check valve , cleaned up a few more problems , and have put 2500
miles on it so far with zero issues

HeyBaylor, can you elaborate a little bit on what is Wetsumping and how can WE fix that? My bike does not start and I hear a lot of gurgling from the overflow hoses? Could my bike be doing that?

 

[BigDogRick]

Wetsumping is when oil is drawn up the vent tubes after shutting the bike down and a pool of oil results under the bike. Mine has never done that but I could imagine it if the oil reservoir was overfilled and gravity was pushing oil up the breather tube as a result of equalization when the bike is tilted onto the kickstand. I do not know how to explain it so far as the specific route that is typical. I would probably understand it better if it had happened to me.