Working on a 31 year old Harley-Davidson Evo motor. San Diego motorcycle builder talks about what he thought would be a relatively minor motor repair, that turned into a major, expensive (just parts only) repair.
Harley Davidson motor problems
San Diego custom chopper
The facts are that if you own a motorcycle over 10 years old, or build one with the older parts, especially the engine and transmission you should be prepared for a lot of do-it-yourself projects to maintain the bike.
Even if you use an old gas tank, there’s a very high probability that the bottom of the tank has rusted away to such an extent that you should be prepared to reline it with those gas tank coatings that are made for this purpose.
I guess what I’m trying to say here, is just because you finished your bike building project does not mean you ever really be through with it! For those of us who are mechanically inclined, and like to work on our bikes this really is not a problem. The only reason I’m mentioning it here is for a new motorcycle enthusiast who may not actually realize the maintenance necessary to maintain an older motorcycle.
Actually he is lucky in the fact that he can do the motor repair himself . . . could you imagine what a Harley dealer would charge in labor alone?
*A good tip for building a chopper: Used Harley Davidson are reliable! In my opinion, they absolutely are. Most build quality and dependability issues are a thing of the past. I understand that they aren’t for everyone, but modern Harleys (2000+) really are great bikes and motors.
If you are into custom factory choppers or always wanted a cool chopper, check out the2008 Big Dog k9beauty!
