HELP the ignoramus!

[Bugs]

First time Harley owner and I want to do things right. Bought a 76 Sportster that I was told was bored and stroked to 1250. I have no idea what it used to be but am assuming it is the original motor. I want to service it before I put any time on it since the last guy said he never did(?) Anyhow, bear with the ignorance but are the tranny and engine sharing the lube? I see what appear to be two plugs. Also, being an Amsoil fan already, is that OK to use for lube? Anything you could tell me about general maintenance would be much appreciated. Happy hookers and cold brew.

[bplinson]

Don't know about 76ers since I have an 02 but I am pretty sure they are like the 02 and do not share the same oil. The tranny oil plug should be right under the tranny (under the derby cover) and the plug may be magnetic.

And WELCOME TO THE XL FORUM!!!

[IronMick]

Sportsters from 1957 to 1985 are IronHeads. They are 1000 cc for most. There were some early 900s which were actually 883. I do not have any direct knowledge or experience with boring and stroking these engines, but i thought that it was not possible to go to 1250 with them. Someone else will chime in here on that, and i will be happy to hear the correct info whatever it is.

Anyway, welcome to the select group of IronHead owners. We have a special section of the gallery here. Please post some pics. Check out all the threads in the IronHead section. The other ironboys will welcome you warmly as well.

Any modern 20W50 oil is superior to what was available in 1976. Use 10W40 in cold weather. Many people are going with either Amsoil or Mobil 1 15W50.

I have the factory manual for mine. It cost a little more than $100.00 [Canada] and was worth every cent. If you are in the USA you can probably get one for half that amount. I have also recently ordered the Clymer manual. I believe Haynes has one also. If so i will be getting it as well. Each manual has something it does best. I am in the process of completely stripping mine down [except the engine] for detailing, etc. I just bought it and it was not recently well taken care of. So i want all the info i can get.

Anyway, you should get at least one of these manuals.

You see two spark plugs. It is a V-Twin engine, two cylinders at a 45` angle. You might start by pulling the plugs, and reporting back here with what they look like. Some of us will then offer opinions on how your engine is running.

Then change all the fluids: engine oil, trans oil, fork oil, brake fluid [if it has hydraulic brakes]. For these you should have a manual. Let us know how gross the old flkuids look. many owners never change these.

Welcome again; all the best.

[flathead45]

they do not share oil , they don't even use the same type of oil

being a 76 its 1000cc standard or 61ci at 1250cc it would be about 75-76ci (I don't know the math to figger that stuff out) a good freind of mine had a stroker that was 77ci so he said , so I'm asuming that you have a similar setup as his and that bike had sh!t loads of power . this was in the early 80s and not to many jappers at that time could touch his sporty(just the topend bikes)

I have heard that the motors don't like being that big and have a short life span but all we did to it for 4 years is a new topend every winter and never had any lowerend problems

[Bugs]

Thanks for the quick reply. I will get the books but I'll also be back for the stuff you can't put in em. Incidently, I just had a guy come by the shop that took one look at it and said, 'your ass is going to be so sore you'll wish you'd bought a twin jap!' I says, 'but will I be smilin?' He didn't say, so I carry on.

[flathead45]

if it was stroked out to 1250 they might have done a dual plug convertion , do you see two plugs per cylinder or just two plugs total ?

[Bugs]

I see only one. It has what looks to be a twin tubular cooler in the front but i can find no oil filter. Is it internal?

[flathead45]

there is no filter on ironheads and the oil cooler that you mention is after market but its a good thing to have , some oil tanks have a filter in the tank (option) to find out if you have one take the cap off ind look inside it will be obvious if you do or don't

[Bugs]

It has a chrome tank with a born to ride emblem, battery inset in it, with a small fill. Cap is a oil temp gauge. I can't see anything inside it but the side of the battery box part. They made these with no filter? That seems a little weird for a big fire breather.

[flathead45]

ok you have an after market oil tank too , this bike of your must be sort of a chopp or a custom built bike

I never did learn why h.d. didn't put a filter in but there must have been some reason