Ok, I’m a complete n00b when it comes to HD so please take it easy on me!
I was at a picnic with friends on Monday, and the subject of motorcycles came up. The hosts were in their mid 70s, and he mentioned “her old Harley out in the barn” which she hadn’t ridden since her late 50s, over 15 years prior. He said it was a “1972 Harley,” had “training wheels” on it, and a side car not currently attached, neither of which ever worked out for her.
I was intrigued so I asked him if he could show me. He said they were going to take it to the junkyard because the clutch wouldn’t engage after sitting so long and it needed a “new” carb, petcock, battery, tires, probably a new tank, etc.
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Years ago they got it started but couldn’t get it into gear from neutral due to the clutch failing to engage.
Obviously it’s not a 1972. Once we got inside, she said he was wrong, it’s actually a 1991 Sportster 1200, and showed me the title.
First I said that if they were just taking it to the junkyard I’d like to have it, to try to get it running. She hemmed and hawed and said they tried to sell it but nobody ever offered them anything reasonable for it.
I asked them if they’d take $500 for everything, they agreed, and I’ll be picking it up soon.
I’ve always owned metric bikes, mostly Hondas, never a Harley.
Any pointers on getting the clutch operating? I suspect it’s something relatively simple.
Anything else besides changing to new tires, battery, motor and trans oil, and brake fluid I should be looking at with such a “barn find”?
The side car is a Velorex Model 562. I’ll probably sell it to finance getting this back on the road.Any idea of it’s worth?
I’ll be selling the “training wheels” style trike kit too, but I don’t yet know what brand and model it is.
I was at a picnic with friends on Monday, and the subject of motorcycles came up. The hosts were in their mid 70s, and he mentioned “her old Harley out in the barn” which she hadn’t ridden since her late 50s, over 15 years prior. He said it was a “1972 Harley,” had “training wheels” on it, and a side car not currently attached, neither of which ever worked out for her.
I was intrigued so I asked him if he could show me. He said they were going to take it to the junkyard because the clutch wouldn’t engage after sitting so long and it needed a “new” carb, petcock, battery, tires, probably a new tank, etc.
Years ago they got it started but couldn’t get it into gear from neutral due to the clutch failing to engage.
Obviously it’s not a 1972. Once we got inside, she said he was wrong, it’s actually a 1991 Sportster 1200, and showed me the title.
First I said that if they were just taking it to the junkyard I’d like to have it, to try to get it running. She hemmed and hawed and said they tried to sell it but nobody ever offered them anything reasonable for it.
I asked them if they’d take $500 for everything, they agreed, and I’ll be picking it up soon.
I’ve always owned metric bikes, mostly Hondas, never a Harley.
Any pointers on getting the clutch operating? I suspect it’s something relatively simple.
Anything else besides changing to new tires, battery, motor and trans oil, and brake fluid I should be looking at with such a “barn find”?
The side car is a Velorex Model 562. I’ll probably sell it to finance getting this back on the road.Any idea of it’s worth?
I’ll be selling the “training wheels” style trike kit too, but I don’t yet know what brand and model it is.
