Shovel set-up

[45grum]

Hi all
I have pulled my shovel apart to try and sort out a few of it's many niggly problems.
Firstly here is what I appear to have.
Cone motor 76 shovel fitted with Mikuni carb, Crane HI 4 ignition and Single fire coil, it has both kick and electric start (when it decides to work). it has the standard duplex primary but fitted with a 5 nut clutch hub, big fix rollers and Ram jet retainer (I think, plastic disc with different depth counterbores).

Anyway the plugs (Screamin Eagle splitfires) look pretty shagged what would you recommend? and the leads look old so again any ideas.
Are the Crane HI 4's OK what are all the switches and pots for?
The fuel consumption seems Hi (low 30's I reckon) is this the carb?
Also there is a lot of slop in the crankshaft sprocket cush drive.

That will do for starters, any help would be welcomed.

Cheers Graham.

[kiwidave]

Gidday!

Just niggling little things here and there, or a regular issue? Give us some detail!

Crane Hi4 is great. I am on my second one, but the first one lasted 50,000 miles and I never had do undo the 'points' cover to tweak it. Set and forget! Still on the original single-fire coil. See further down this section for a thread on its merits.

Easy to follow instructions here:

http://www.cranecams.com/pdf/90004000b.pdf


Make sure the kickstart switch is set to KICKSTART if you want to use the pedal (and who doesn't? ).

Are your plug leads compatible with the Crane and its coil? That's kinda important. Crane always state ''spiral core'' leads and i have always followed that advice. They even do their own, but Taylor and others offer them and they are cheap:

Drag Specialties :: Electrical > Spark Plug Wires > FIREWIRE® 8.5MM HI-POWER IGNITION WIRE SETS

Troubleshooting the module:

http://www.harley-davidson-hangout.c...vels-evos.html


Plugs? Hell you choose. All I would say is that i have used Autolites for years, on the recommendatiion of *many* Stateside riders.

Drag Specialties :: Electrical > Spark Plugs > SPARK PLUGS

.... and I have never had any kickstart problems with them. That's the plain ones, platinum ones are available but don't give any gain I could find.

That's pretty poor gas mileage. I seem to be getting 45mpg or so on my Shovel....S&S carb. No experience with the Mikuni, sorry.

Poor connections, perhaps corroded/aged or wrong grade wires, the single biggest cause of poor electric start, it appears. Also check the copper contact plate in the solenoid is not burnt-out and shagged (cheap fix). Original Hitachi starter motor could be on way out... ahhhh don't worry about it. Just use the pedal!

Of course, you know your battery and charging system are tip-top? Check it out....

http://www.harley-davidson-hangout.c...ng-system.html



Re the clutch, yep, you have a retainer. Instructions here:

http://shovelhead.us/pics/sheets/ADJ...h-retainer.jpg

Several firms make them, the principle is the same. The guys on the Shovel site rave about them. Do a search on that site if you have any issues on reassembly, lots of tips there. Use a thin smear of vaseline to keep those bloody 52 bearings in place when you reassemble the clutch...

Keep us posted..

[zipps]

Research as much as you can,there is loads of stuff on the interweb..get a good manual and parts book..This is always a problem with any ''new'' mc. unless you strip the thing down to the last nut you will never really know what is going on..but the best you can do if you just want to run it is...make sure that all the running gear is ok ..brakes, steering.frame, tires,check that all the engine adjustments are ok..and run it...it will reveal itself ..and don't forget the mobile phone.. good luck..

[Kiwi]

mikuni carb should be good for 45- 50 mpg

[nickb]

i also had a nightmare with the electric starter on my 78flh, chill and i tried all sorts then on advice from here, changed the solenoid for another second hand one and changed to an odessey battery and bingo she's a good en!.

as for carb i binned the s&s and installed a CV (all of 20 quid second hand) and she runs smooth as silk and no over fueling.

safe riding.

[45grum]

Cheers Chaps
They are not big issues just niggles really, The starter was working and has slowly got more intermittent but it usually kicks in to life (even with the Crane set on electric start).
I shall have a look in the carb to see if anything is obviously wrong and give it a blow through.
A set of new plugs and leads should sort out the ignition.
As for the primary any tips on locking the front pulley so I can undo the nut on the end of the crank, I tried sticking it in gear and jamming the brake on but the clutch started to slip when I swung on the big lever, would a air nut gun be a better bet?
Cheers again
Graham.

[kiwidave]

yep. DIY or get a mate to make you a jam bar. 8.5 in long of flat stock, maybe an inch thick, with rounded ends to sit in the teeth, high on the comp sprocket, low on the clutch sprocket to remove (or is that the other way round, i can never recall without doing it )

Even some wood will do at a pinch if it is strong.

Doesn't damage a thing.

Front wheel against a brick wall. Should be easy with a breaker bar helping you on the socket.... i have never needed to use impact/air...

[zipps]

If I want to remove front sprocket or clutch basket on mine I put an old towel between the belt and the clutch..this Lock's it up a treat ,do not know if this would work for chain would think so....and I always grease the tapers or splines..makes things easier next time..

[Noddy]

...just as Zipps said... roll up a piece of rag tightly, a couple of inches in diameter three or four inches long and jam it in the teeth/chain.
You can undo both the front sprocket and clutch and then do them up again without a problem and the bonus is ... no damage to anything .

[45grum]

Well I had a go at the rolled up rag to lock the sprocket and it worked but I could still not get the nut undone (I tried a 3/4 drive socket and a big bit of tube) so just tell me it is not a left hand thread before I really start leaning on it (I did try turning it the other way with the same result, zilch).
I will try again when I am certain I am turning it the right way