lone star rescue

[techson]

howdy all! still somewhat warm here in deep east Texas but I'm sure it won't last I'm the proud new owner of a 2005 XL1200r that has less than 3k miles but has been totally neglected. I'm not trying to customize much just getting the old girl back in shape. the previous owner (I'm 3rd) had her for a little over 1 year. I inherited a pair of SE slip ons of which only 1 was installed. So far I've replaced battery cables (it wouldn't crank even though previous owner bought a new AGM battery (thanks to this forum for the relocation of ground to primary case!!!) replaced tires (factory dunlap) the petcock (nos HD) the vac hose for the petcock (also nos and a total rip off but iiwis lol) changed both oils adjust the idle up a bit. all the lights seem to work so I'm ready for the state inspecting and title transfer. I'll be installing the SE slip ons a k&n stock replacement a/c and the slow jet #45 looking forward to the hilly twisty back roads here!

[shanneba]

welcome to the forums from Indiana!

[rokytnji]

Howdy and Welcome.

[sportsterpaul]

Merry Christmas and welcome to the forum family from a swamp in Michigan.

[wedge]

Happy holidays

This is your first post but it sounds like you have been reading the forum for a while. The 05 Roadster is the best bike Harley ever made in my opinion. I have one, and I also have an 05 Custom that I am constantly altering, it is looking (and more importantly), feeling more like a Roadster every day.

It took a very long time of repeatedly having the lights go out and the engine quit dead at night going roughly 80 on the freeway then pop back in before the car behind was able to take me out. I thought I had checked everything twice or more when the ground rolled around in my head again. After all, when strange things happen in a circuit, the ground is always the prime suspect. I cleaned the ground once again, then cut the insulation off of the ends to take a good look at the crimps. I found a bunch of green corrosion inside the strands going into the crimp, so I soaked it in baking soda and water until it quit reacting and used my vise grips (the cutter inside the jaws) to crimp it harder. Then following the same thought process I looked at the ground location and realized it was designed by a nutjob. The ground should be as close as possible to the thing that draws the most current on the bike, the starter. Thats when I moved it to the other case half and right next to the starter on an existing stud that already had the rest of the grounds. Too perfect right?

So then I have to admit, I rode the bike that way for a few months until I had time to make new cables but that two months is proof that it cured the problem. I use 4GA welding cable with fine strands. I use copper lugs and fill them with solder. I only use insulation on the positive cable. The ground doesn't need insulation at the ends, and heat shrink only traps moisture to ensure that the cable will corrode at the joint.

That all happened around 2008 or 2009 and I haven't had to touch it since, so you are way ahead of the game on this one.

What elevation are you riding in? It's best to read the plugs a lot as you work on the carb. Most likely the 45 is the correct thing to do, but best to verify and see what else the plugs tell you.

Welcome from Ontario California.

[IXL2Relax]

This is THE BEST Sportster Resource!

Take a minute and please put at least your state/country in the LOCATION FIELD of your profile so we can better help you when you need it - Your climate, temps & altitude can make a difference to suggested fixes... (the STATE FIELD does not show on posts so you need to use the LOCATION FIELD)...

CLICK HERE - then scroll down to 'Additional Information' and look for the field labeled 'LOCATION' - put your information in there - It will then show on each post you make... Look for this:


Post a PICTURE of your ride - whether building, modding or totally stock... Host the image on a photo website (but not photobucket.com), get the link with the "[IMG][/IMG] tags" included & paste that directly into your posting (If you don't have the "[IMG][/IMG] tags" included, then use the Image Insert icon along with the web address of the image)...

There are various sections to the XLForum - You can pick a section that is related to your problem/info, open that section and read the sticky threads on the first page - Then post your comment in an existing thread or create a new one to get information for your specific question... For new threads, make the title specific to your problem or info...

This is the index of sections: http://xlforum.net/forums/index.php
Be sure to read some/many of the FAQ/HowTo threads (including how-to post pictures) here:
http://xlforum.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=16

The XLForum Sportsterpedia has a lot of technical info to review:
http://sportsterpedia.com

Once you look around and see the value of this place, consider becoming a paying member:
http://xlforum.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1595401
http://xlforum.net/forums/payments.php

IXL _______ >>>> My Motorcycle Chronicles Are Here <<<<

[techson]

Originally Posted by IXL2Relax

This is THE BEST Sportster Resource!

Take a minute and please put at least your state/country in the LOCATION FIELD of your profile so we can better help you when you need it - Your climate, temps & altitude can make a difference to suggested fixes... (the STATE FIELD does not show on posts so you need to use the LOCATION FIELD)...

CLICK HERE - then scroll down to 'Additional Information' and look for the field labeled 'LOCATION' - put your information in there - It will then show on each post you make... Look for this:


Post a PICTURE of your ride - whether building, modding or totally stock... Host the image on a photo website (but not photobucket.com), get the link with the "[IMG][/IMG] tags" included & paste that directly into your posting (If you don't have the "[IMG][/IMG] tags" included, then use the Image Insert icon along with the web address of the image)...

There are various sections to the XLForum - You can pick a section that is related to your problem/info, open that section and read the sticky threads on the first page - Then post your comment in an existing thread or create a new one to get information for your specific question... For new threads, make the title specific to your problem or info...

This is the index of sections: http://xlforum.net/forums/index.php
Be sure to read some/many of the FAQ/HowTo threads (including how-to post pictures) here:
http://xlforum.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=16

The XLForum Sportsterpedia has a lot of technical info to review:
http://sportsterpedia.com

Once you look around and see the value of this place, consider becoming a paying member:
http://xlforum.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1595401
http://xlforum.net/forums/payments.php

IXL _______ >>>> My Motorcycle Chronicles Are Here <<<<

got it thanks!

[techson]

Originally Posted by wedge

Happy holidays

This is your first post but it sounds like you have been reading the forum for a while. The 05 Roadster is the best bike Harley ever made in my opinion. I have one, and I also have an 05 Custom that I am constantly altering, it is looking (and more importantly), feeling more like a Roadster every day.

It took a very long time of repeatedly having the lights go out and the engine quit dead at night going roughly 80 on the freeway then pop back in before the car behind was able to take me out. I thought I had checked everything twice or more when the ground rolled around in my head again. After all, when strange things happen in a circuit, the ground is always the prime suspect. I cleaned the ground once again, then cut the insulation off of the ends to take a good look at the crimps. I found a bunch of green corrosion inside the strands going into the crimp, so I soaked it in baking soda and water until it quit reacting and used my vise grips (the cutter inside the jaws) to crimp it harder. Then following the same thought process I looked at the ground location and realized it was designed by a nutjob. The ground should be as close as possible to the thing that draws the most current on the bike, the starter. Thats when I moved it to the other case half and right next to the starter on an existing stud that already had the rest of the grounds. Too perfect right?

So then I have to admit, I rode the bike that way for a few months until I had time to make new cables but that two months is proof that it cured the problem. I use 4GA welding cable with fine strands. I use copper lugs and fill them with solder. I only use insulation on the positive cable. The ground doesn't need insulation at the ends, and heat shrink only traps moisture to ensure that the cable will corrode at the joint.

That all happened around 2008 or 2009 and I haven't had to touch it since, so you are way ahead of the game on this one.

What elevation are you riding in? It's best to read the plugs a lot as you work on the carb. Most likely the 45 is the correct thing to do, but best to verify and see what else the plugs tell you.

Welcome from Ontario California.

ya, I've been lurking for a couple weeks. we don't have elevation. this is texas
the poor bikes old enough to vote so I figure I'll replace all the rubber stuff that's easily replaceable. so probably not the motor mounts till I have to lube cables is on the agenda for tomorrow. hoping to get it inspected next wee and get the license plate

[brucstoudt]

your replacement of the oem vacuum petcock has me curious.my '03 still uses that.

[backintoxls]

Replaced mine on my 2002C with a Golan. You can't use the stock petcock (Vaccuum) to drain the tank. No vacuum no flow. That sucks, because I do want to drain my tank without any more hassle than a hose on the petcock. Also, with the Golan, or Pingel, If you have a fuel issue, you don't have to wonder if the damn petcock is working.