Red Belly 2.0

[Easter]

Thanks Wingrider, will keep that in mind. Will probably need them regardless of what happens on this build.

[CYBORG]

I lke what you are doing. (look at my avatar) I have a 77 with a 1200 engine. (single shock in rear, 1000 final drive, 1200 front forks. Not to hard to do, and the package is super fast

[Rednaxs60]

Went back to page 1 and reviewed your thread. These bikes sure clean up nicely. Had breakfast with a long time friend whom I sailed with in our Navy. He retired, took the HD course and rode/worked on them for years. He does the Santa at a local mall and when he walked in for breakfast, I asked for a new 1800, and he asked why. His thoughts are that if the bike is mechanically sound, and well maintained, spending money on new may not be the best way to spend your money. He mentioned that if out and about, VISA and a good tow package is all you need, new or older bike.

Thoroughly enjoying reading and seeing your project come to fruition. Look forward to reading about the engine's first start.

Cheers

[Easter]

Parts have been arriving so I have made some progress in the last few days. As I mentioned earlier, I ordered the Dyna miniature coils and now have them installed. They are not significantly smaller than the old green ones but I do like the way they mount and they seem to be very well made. A bracket had to be fabricated to attach them but fortunately I have been cutting some pieces out of a sheet of 3/16 aluminum and was able to use a scrap for this. I made a template for this and two or three other parts, to be cut from the aluminum with "foam core". It is easy to cut and shape with a razor or exacto and can even be folded if required. When satisfied with the fit, it is easy to transfer the pattern to the material to be used for the final part.

[Easter]

Oh, I almost forgot. Some of you may have noticed the engine now has belt covers. I had planned to leave them off and went so far as to have the pulleys powder coated, but after looking at it with the fairing and racing style tail, it just seemed the open pulleys were not right for this bike. More appropriate for a bobber. Sad part of this story is that while cleaning out the mud dobber goop and excess paint from the mounting holes I managed to break off a tap in the engine block. It is below the surface and there to stay. The cover seems solid with just three bolts so for now that is the way it will stay.

[robin1731]

Oh, I almost forgot. Some of you may have noticed the engine now has belt covers. I had planned to leave them off and went so far as to have the pulleys powder coated, but after looking at it with the fairing and racing style tail, it just seemed the open pulleys were not right for this bike. More appropriate for a bobber. Sad part of this story is that while cleaning out the mud dobber goop and excess paint from the mounting holes I managed to break off a tap in the engine block. It is below the surface and there to stay. The cover seems solid with just three bolts so for now that is the way it will stay.

I use two bolts most of the time. Just the tow outer bolts. Put fake bolts on the inside to cover/seal the holes. Makes it much easier to remove the belt covers that way. And they hold fine.

.

[desertrefugee]

^+1

Been running just the outer two bolts since I've had the '78 on the road. Very handy when the time comes to pop the covers.

[Easter]

Radiator is cleaned up inside and out and ready to install but I decided to try and start it first just for a confidence builder. Well my confidence has taken a plunge. I wasn't sure how well this engine would run especially at first, but I expected it to run. NADA. Cranks, has good spark at the plugs but no ignition. Didn't trust the fuel pump so connected a remote tank right to the carbs. Still nothing. Pulled the belt covers and rechecked (for the third or fourth time) the alignment marks and made sure the crank was on T1 with no tension on #1 valves. Yellow coil lead goes to right coil which fires plugs 1 and 2. Gave it a shot (or two or three) of ether into the plenum--just a bit of ignition but no back fires.
Idle air screws set to two turns. Fuel in bowls (at least enough to dribble when I crack open the drain. Plugs dry and as stated good spark.

Running out of ideas.

[Easter]

After charging the battery, I gave it another try (or several). Still no go. Noticed a kind of liquid girgling sound on left side of engine following a period of cranking. Noticed a significant puddle of frothy oil on the table beneath the left head. Looked serious so off came the head. Didn't find anything out of the ordinary. Turned the head on its back and filled the combustion chambers with water. I don't know if you can make out the photo but the water just sat there. No leak from valves so it is a relief in a way that I don't have a bent valve or cracked head. Put the head back on and tried it again, this time noticed the oil is coming from the chrome cam cover at the back of the head. I installed new cam seals but maybe I didn't put a seal under this chrome cover.

But all that still doesn't explain why it won't start and why it girgles. But tomorrow is another day and "all will be made clear." Hopefully!

In the interim I would appreciate any thoughts.

[Sagebrush]

I've had that seal go bad and there isn't a replacement. I fixed it with silicone and it lasted for years. I sold the bike so it may still be good. You have to religiously clean the seal and the mounting surfaces before applying the sealant.

[Easter]

Thanks Sagebrush, outer gasket did not help but M.R. cycles show an end cap seal for around $7 so it looks like that is the way to go. Got to wondering if maybe I had mismatched cams but the parts list for the 1100 show the same part number for the cams from 80-83 so that isn't a problem.

I guess the carbs will have to come off. Wish I had another known good set (without taking them off Dragon Wing) to substitute before tearing into these again.

[Martiangod]

Lookin good, but i'm partial to red. going to be quite the looker when done

[Wolfie666]

that seal is just a 27 X 43 X 9 oil seal, available almost anywhere. (just in case you wanted to know)

[Easter]

006 (7).jpg (89.74 KiB) Viewed 120 times

Thanks Wolfie,
Pulled the carbs today and opened them all back up. Found the idle jets for 2 and 4 partially and totally plugged. Following instructions from an old post here I managed to extract both pressed in jets. They didn't come out easily but after a couple of tries with each including some PB blaster, I managed to get them out. A bit gunky but the side holes were open, just the tiny hole that goes straight through was plugged tight. Brought them in the house and boiled them for a half hour and then dropped them back in aerosol carb cleaner to soak over night. Hopefully all that will be required will be compressed air.

The accelerator pump seams stiff, although the passages are open, so I plan to look into that. I also am following Mike Nixon's recommendation to plug the passages (one each) of the four air cut offs. The passages were open but the diaphragms were questionable and I don't have replacements. With luck I can put it back together and get it to run now.

[sunnbobb]

Looking good, and keep up the detail work!