| Author | Message | ||
     Natexlh1000 |
I am finally putting my semi-basket case 1979 back together. I installed new PB cams and have installed the cover and new lifters. I am stuck now. The new lifters don't go down far enough to allow me to get the pushrods in. Beats me why but the new lifters have a taller "tulip" so I then put the old "tulip" and jamnut in the new lifter. That got me more clearance but I still have 1/8" to go before I can get it in there. I guess the Axtel cams have a taller base circle or something. Do they sell shorter pushrods? (Sorry that this isn't about politics or deities) | ||
| Ducbsa |
Might reach a bigger audience at xlforum.net. | ||
| Fuzzz |
Photos? | ||
| Panhead_dan |
Measure from center to the low point of the cam. Compare this measurement on the old set and the new set. If they are the same,(i bet they are) measure the lifters from the bottom of the roller to the collapsed tulip. If the new lifters are taller, rebuild the old ones. Also, make sure the hydraulic lifters are collapsed fully. | ||
| Brumbear |
I had a 79 the only things I remember in regards to the machine was my buddies called it the net bike. I needed a net to catch all the parts that always fell off it  . I do remember the timing gears never really lined up dead on perhaps there is a problem for you there it drove me nuts. I also remember 79 was the first year for electronic ign it sucked bad so I changed it to 78 point ign. The Z carrier was a piece of shyte and I had to recurve it with a die grinder so I could get 1st gear. The starter relay failed and lit the bike on fire once I SHOULD HAVE LET IT BURN. I did like the SIDE COVERS THOUGH and it was brown with a brown seat which I kinda liked. Either way BEST O LUCK with your endeavor. Dave | ||
| Crusty |
I had a '79 XLCH that I rebuilt and shipped to Australia for my trip there in 1997. I put a few thousand miles on it while I was there. I put an electric starter setup on it, as it came as a kick start only bike. I really liked that bike. My best friend's daughter now owns it, and she refuses to part with it. I gave it to her because both her parents had Big Twins, and she didn't have a bike. Anyway, Ironheads have mechanical lifters, so there are no hydraulics to bleed down. Maybe you have to take the heads off, put the push rods in, then re-install the heads? Or maybe you should give Axtel a call and ask them? I think that's what I would do. Remember, the proper adjustment for the push rods is that there's no discernable up and down movement, but the rods spin freely. (Message edited by Crusty on July 07, 2012) | ||
| Brumbear |
Crusty you know there were only 141 of those made? | ||
| Crusty |
Yes. It was the last year of the XLCH. The only difficulty I had was having the ring gear welded to the clutch basket. Everything else I needed for the conversion (Starter motor, solenoid, relay, etc) was readily available. When I first saw the bike, the carb was disconnected from the manifold, and was hanging from the handlebars by the throttle cable. The guy who owned it sold it to a friend of mine who owns a repair shop for short money. The shop owner sold it to me for the same price. I had to replace the "Custom" gas tank, both fenders and the oil tank. as well as the bars, rear fender struts, Speedo & Tach, and a whole bunch more. It took me well over a year, but when it was done, it looked really good in a functional way. It was not Man Jewelry, it was a beautiful mile eater.I put a lot of time into that Sportster, and it showed. | ||
| Crusty |
Oh; I put a "Chrome Salami" exhaust on it from a '78 Sportster. I wanted a quiet bike not a ticket attractor. It worked. The three of us got stopped at a roadside check, and my bike passed the decibel meter with a ton of room to spare. Melia's Softail, however earned a AUS$375.00 ticket for loud pipes. Quiet Pipes Save Bank Balances | ||
| Brumbear |
Nice!!!! | ||
| Luftkoph |
XL Chick Hard  | ||
| Sifo |
http://www.ironheadcycle.com/pages/howto1.htm This site has TONS of info on building Ironhead Sporties. I have a friend who has built half a dozen at this point and has gotten lots of help from the guy on that site. Shoot him an email. I'll bet he will give you way more information than you need to solve your problems. | ||
| Crusty |
I don't have any pictures of my Iron Motor, but a friend of mine did this to his:  He got the idea, when he was sitting in a coffee shop and overheard a conversation about why someone would rather trailer their bike instead of ride it to an event. He decided that a bike that looks better the dirtier it gets could also be an eye catching custom. Needless to say, he rides the piss out of his Iron Motor and he gets a lot of attention wherever he parks it. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Thanks everyone. Looks like the intakes fit right in with no drama if the old adjusters are used but the exhausts are taller. I don't remember drama when I was taking it apart but that was 6 years ago after all. Perhaps I should fab up a tool to hold the end of the rod so I can lever the spring a bit... | ||
| Ducbsa |
I remember seeing an Army MP XLH with olive drab paint at Fort Lee, VA in 1964. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
OK, got some info from various sources. Shorter pushrods aren't really available. It would seem that it's somewhat common to need to compress the valve springs to get the rod end in the cup. So I guess that means I'm getting an old large screwdriver and I'm grinding a 5/16" fork on the end  I have taken some pictures of it going together and I will post them when it looks like it may actually start to resemble a bike! | ||
| Xl1200r |
Make sure you do a leakdown test when you're all done - I'd hate to see it all put together only to find the exhaust valves aren't closing all the way. BTW - now you have me shopping for another XLCH.. | ||
| Brumbear |
+1 and compression as well couldn't hurt should be 125 or better | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Bumpin' to the top. I finally found a guy that KNOWS stuff. He saw that my new lifters were WRONG. They were for panhead/shovelhead. Diameters are all the same as it turns out. Lengths are longer. Anyways, the same experienced guy took my old original lifters and replaced the rollers for me. BONUS: He took in my four wrong lifters as trade for an hour of work. So just tonight, I installed the rods and covers. added the generator. All that's left now is the oil lines and the wiring nightmare under the tank going to the starter relay. | ||
| Bigblock |
Nice! My first road worthy bike was a 79 I stroked to 1200, while doing a full resto, what a beast! I rode that thing for 10 years and sold it a month after I got my new Cyclone in '00. A lot of good miles and fun, and a lot of parts and maintenance! What a wheelie machine! |
