I saw this a few days ago, that's how I know about the Harley engines

http://www.jamesrussellpublishing.biz/beforeyoubuyharley.html

According to him, the only new Harley worth buying is the 1200 Sportster. He might just be right, but then, you can't believe everything you read on the Internet (disclaimer).

justin_o_guy2 wrote on 11/22/15 at 17:39:32:


I didn't even almost suggest that you buy a busted motorcycle.
Start with something that you can afford to sell to the salvage yard.
Start with a worn out lawnmower. Play with it. If it never runs, you will have learned something.
Before  buying anything, check u tube out.




youtube lawn mower repair videos

And it's not necessary to have a special flywheel puller.
If you're careful and have the right pry bars. I also have a ten pound slide hammer for body work, and it's a huge advantage.

Working on busted stuff that Failing to repair has minimal consequences is as safe a way to get experience as there is.

I've started another thread for the topic of becoming a bike mechanic. Lets keep this thread an oil war for now, unless someone feels it appropriate to do otherwise. That way, more people can know what we're talking about. I thought about just changing the name of the subject, but that would just ruin that funny subject heading I made  

By the way, I recently changed my oil. I overfilled it a little more than I would like, so I had a shop I was visiting to suck a little out while I was there. Boy, that stuff was dirty. I told him about changing my neutral switch, and he advised me to just change the stuff if I was going to continue to ride it.

I guess that Rotella I added cleaned the dirt out of the crevices. When I changed it, I looked at it. It could have been worse in my opinion, but with the wear metal in it (probably not an alarming amount), it was a good thing I changed it. To beat all, I had the nerve to take it up the Interstate before I changed it. I just hope it wasn't dirty enough to hurt anything.

Well, my guess is that in 3000 miles, unless the PO lied or something, it'll be just as dirty. This incident, along with the incident with our 83 Shadow (not even talking about that one ) teaches me to always change, or at least thoroughly inspect, the oil immediately upon purchasing a vehicle, regardless of what the PO says.

I can say one thing... When I changed the oil with some fresh Rotella dino oil, it sure made a difference. Made it run better, shift better, the works. I think the clutch gripped a little better. As far as running better or power is concerned, some of the effects seem to have faded upon the trip back home. I don't know, maybe my bike doesn't like chilly evenings .

Of course, it is still possible that there is still some dirt in there that is still being flushed out.

When I changed the filter, I put a K&N in it. I found that the PO had also put a K&N in there. I wanted to save it, but I dropped it and got it dirty .

I replaced the small o-ring with one in my Dad's old o-ring kit, but the big one was the real problem. The little one might have been a little flattened, but it was alright. The big one, though, had a pretty bad spot in it. My Dad found a big o-ring laying around, cut it to size using a slanted cut, had me fill it in with some old clear silicone caulk, and let it set overnight. I was skeptical, but it worked . Perhaps it helps that the seam was on the top side. That o-ring is low pressure, isn't it?