Panhead - getting one running !

I have a 48 Panhead, that hasnt run for at least 15 years though in that time it has been dry stored, and more recently been kept in a bike bubble which seems to be treating it very well.

Apart from some surface corrosion nothing vital seems to be missing though of course its gonna need new consumables, oil, plugs battery and some wiring I would imagine.

Im hoping to take it to a member of the HDRCGB who runs his own workshop to take a look at it, but I dont want to waste his time or mine if its gonna cost hundreds of man hours just to get the thing going.

I realise this is a 'how long is a piece of string' question but can anyone offer advice on just getting the damned thing going ? Are there major documented headaches with long unrun pans ?

Thanks

Pete

[bazereid]

Where are you Pete? Then you may be in a position to get some hands on help.

[the_french_owl]

15 years of dry storage... If the previous owner knew it was to be that long and took steps towards it, like filling the crankcases and gear box full to the brim of oil or/and kick it over every year to slosh it about, fair enough...

If not, you're likely to require at the very least to lift the cylinders and have a look inside... Rings will be gummed, surface rust could be everywhere etc... Whatever quantities of water which were in the oil (there's always some, it gets out when oil's warm and escape as vapour through breathers in normal running) will have done their best to combine with any steel they could find around your engine...

You could also take your chances, drain whatever oil's left in there, fill with a good flushing oil and run it at iddle only, on the side stand, for a while, redrain but as I say, you take your chances, it could do more damage than good...

Patrick

I have a 1948 pan 27 years if i can help get in touch panhead dave

thanks gents, will have a look and see what I can discover.