The Basket Case Sportster

**Getting Old** · 20th December 2010, 14:47

Hey guys I have been on here a while now but this is my 1st post so not sure if I have landed it in the right place or not.
A mate of mine has kindly given me a 1976 Harley Davidson sportster that belonged to her late husband who unfortunately died during it's rebuild.
The bike to put it bluntly a complete basket case and one hell of a jigsaw puzzle to say the least.
It is in a 1000 pieces and is gunna take some work to get her back together, I feel the biggest problem will be sourcing
the missing bits.
Anyway watch this space guys as I am on a mission to get the old girl on the road as quick as I can.

At this point a big thank you has to go out to Carl (Who is no doubt a member on here) for his help last night in sorting and identifying
parts, I am stoked to have you by my side on this build for without the titivating conversation and your overall mechanical
experience with bikes I am sure this project would take far more time then it is going to.

**admenk** · 20th December 2010, 15:02

Looks like you have quite a job on your hands. Will be interesting to see how it progresses. Good luck with it.

**Getting Old** · 20th December 2010, 15:03

Yeah it will be a bit of a mission to say the least, on the plus side I am on holidays until the 10th of Jan so should make some great progress in that time.

**hayd3n** · 20th December 2010, 15:18

jingle bells jingle bells

**Paul in NZ** · 20th December 2010, 17:05

UM - you appear to have a pre unit BSA timing cover in there as well as a Triumph head and rocker boxes (I'll take that off your hands if ya want....

)

Good luck with the rebuild...

Lots of clever old bike guys up yourway

Should be fun! (I love this stuff)

**Getting Old** · 20th December 2010, 18:22

Well spotted Paul. I had a ball with Carl last night sorting out all the bits trying to work out what we had and what we didn't.
I have no ignition or timing system at all. No pistons, and only half of the oil pump so if anyone has any of these parts they
no longer need please let me know as this build will be done on a very tight budget so 2nd parts will have to suffice.
oh and I managed to find out the rego plate number today.... hmmm lots of years riding with no rego me thinks.

**BIG DOUG** · 20th December 2010, 18:23

Piss of paul I need that single carb head lol,but hey I've seen worst get on to mike at harley speed and custom in pukerua bay they have iron head parts and there are still plenty of bits being made for them.

**Paul in NZ** · 20th December 2010, 20:16

Originally Posted by BIG DOUG

Piss of paul I need that single carb head lol,but hey I've seen worst get on to mike at harley speed and custom in pukerua bay they have iron head parts and there are still plenty of bits being made for them.

Bloody hell Doug - you cant even figure out which way round the head gos on a triumph mate. Single carb would hit your front down tube

I go past pukerau bay most days if it helps?? (and yeah - let me know if you dont want the head - seriously, dont listen to doug, hes evil)

**Paul in NZ** · 20th December 2010, 20:18

Originally Posted by Getting Old

Well spotted Paul. I had a ball with Carl last night sorting out all the bits trying to work out what we had and what we didn't.
I have no ignition or timing system at all. No pistons, and only half of the oil pump so if anyone has any of these parts they
no longer need please let me know as this build will be done on a very tight budget so 2nd parts will have to suffice.
oh and I managed to find out the rego plate number today.... hmmm lots of years riding with no rego me thinks.

Is it an XL or XLCH? I guess by 76 the ignition systems were the same but XLCH used to have magnetos (I think)

I have a mate in the states whos mad on the bloody things (actually hes just mad in general) if you need stuff...

**Getting Old** · 20th December 2010, 20:22

Originally Posted by Paul in NZ

I go past pukerau bay most days if it helps?? (and yeah - let me know if you dont want the head - seriously, dont listen to doug, hes evil)

Thanks bloke I will keep that in mind if I need something checked out. As for the head I am figuring at some point that will be used as a trade off for a part that I need, as I said this is a budget build.
Out of curiosity guys what sort of $$ would the head be worth?

**Getting Old** · 20th December 2010, 20:25

It's a xlch and I think you are right about having a magneto setup. Yet another part that is missing.
It's like I am one box short of the complete bike.....

**Paul in NZ** · 21st December 2010, 11:36

Originally Posted by Getting Old

Thanks bloke I will keep that in mind if I need something checked out. As for the head I am figuring at some point that will be used as a trade off for a part that I need, as I said this is a budget build.
Out of curiosity guys what sort of $$ would the head be worth?

Totally depends on condition. Frankly some are barely worth the scrap value.

Needs to be flat, un machined, sound valve seats and all fins intact. Hopefully good threads as well.

**Paul in NZ** · 21st December 2010, 11:37

Originally Posted by Getting Old

It's a xlch and I think you are right about having a magneto setup. Yet another part that is missing.
It's like I am one box short of the complete bike.....

I know some of the 60's ones did and the magnetos are a bit rare (so I'm told) but by 76 I suspect they were all points and coils?