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non-running 1999 Harley Sportster 1200

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    non-running 1999 Harley Sportster 1200

    I know there's a few of you with Harley experience so thought I'd ask here.

    Got a neighbor friend who recently inherited a 1999 1200 Sportster that won't start. It has sat for a number of years. According to him it turns over fine, sounds like it wants to start but never catches. Sounds to me like a classic case of a dirty/plugged up carb. I'm gong to have him wheel it over this weekend and I'll go through it.
    Anything special I should be aware of? I looked at the carb diagram online and it seems like a pretty standard Keihin CV carb. But I have never turned a wrench on a Harley before, so I'm worried about unknown unknowns.
    Any advice appreciated.
    '20 Ducati Multistrada 1260S, '93 Ducati 750SS, '01 SV650S, '07 DL650, '01 DR-Z400S, '80 GS1000S, '85 RZ350

    #2
    Well, with this one, you shouldn't need to watch for oil leaks, If it's been sitting for a number of yrs. it's got to be completely empty......Sorry, I couldn't resist.
    1983 GS1100E, 1983 CB1100F, 1991 GSX1100G, 1996 Kaw. ZL600 Eliminator, 1999 Bandit 1200S, 2005 Bandit 1200S, 2000 Kaw. ZRX 1100

    Comment


      #3
      Zero surprises in that bike. It's an Evo Sportster, almost a decade after that model came out. All the bugs had been worked out. Rock simple, bulletproof, and plain old fun. It's a solid mount, so it'll vibrate like a paintshaker at idle and at certain points in the rev range, but it will appreciate being brought back to life.
      "Thought he, it is a wicked world in all meridians; I'll die a pagan."
      ~Herman Melville

      2016 1200 Superlow
      1982 CB900f

      Comment


        #4
        how to rebuild harley davidson sportster cv carburetor. Video 1 of 2 - Dissassemble and clean the carburetorLink to video 2 of 2https://youtu.be/TeyqMreMHbE
        "Thought he, it is a wicked world in all meridians; I'll die a pagan."
        ~Herman Melville

        2016 1200 Superlow
        1982 CB900f

        Comment


          #5
          Clean carb , get rid of the vacuum petcock and put a regular petcock on.

          Comment


            #6
            Do oil change before you startup; bearings.
            "Only fe' collected the old way, has any value." from His Majesty O'Keefe (1954 film)
            1982 GS1100G- road bike, body, seat and suspension modded
            1990 GSX750F-(1127cc '92 GSXR engine) track bike, much re-engineered
            1987 Honda CBR600F Hurricane; hooligan bike, restored

            Comment


              #7
              I thought all Harleys were " Non-running" ...
              ( sorry. I couldn't resist)

              Mad
              83 GS750E
              2006 ZX14
              2004 KTM 450 EXC
              2001 Yamaha Big Bear

              Comment


                #8
                Thanks everyone for the good tips. I let y'all know the outcome.
                '20 Ducati Multistrada 1260S, '93 Ducati 750SS, '01 SV650S, '07 DL650, '01 DR-Z400S, '80 GS1000S, '85 RZ350

                Comment


                  #9
                  Assuming you don't find a disaster when you pull the float bowl I'd clean out the jets, paying attention to the pilot and any small orifice jets. Spray carb cleaner through all the passages and make sure it's coming out the proper places. It shouldn't be necessary to replace O-rings on a 11 year old carb. Dollars to donuts after doing this the bike will roar to life.
                  Ed

                  To measure is to know.

                  Mikuni O-ring Kits For Sale...https://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...ts#post1703182

                  Top Newbie Mistakes thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...d.php?t=171846

                  Carb rebuild tutorial...https://gsarchive.bwringer.com/mtsac...d_Tutorial.pdf

                  KZ750E Rebuild Thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...0-Resurrection

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by Nessism View Post
                    Assuming you don't find a disaster when you pull the float bowl I'd clean out the jets, paying attention to the pilot and any small orifice jets. Spray carb cleaner through all the passages and make sure it's coming out the proper places. It shouldn't be necessary to replace O-rings on a 11 year old carb. Dollars to donuts after doing this the bike will roar to life.
                    21 year old. I make the same mistake all the time. The '90s just don't seem that long ago.

                    Yeah, that's what I'm thinking, a good carb clean ought to do it. If not, I'll have him take it to a shop, too much "life" stuff going on now to invest a lot of time.
                    '20 Ducati Multistrada 1260S, '93 Ducati 750SS, '01 SV650S, '07 DL650, '01 DR-Z400S, '80 GS1000S, '85 RZ350

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Oh crap, that math thing again? Wow! Time sure flies!
                      Ed

                      To measure is to know.

                      Mikuni O-ring Kits For Sale...https://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...ts#post1703182

                      Top Newbie Mistakes thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...d.php?t=171846

                      Carb rebuild tutorial...https://gsarchive.bwringer.com/mtsac...d_Tutorial.pdf

                      KZ750E Rebuild Thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...0-Resurrection

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Rich, call my buddy david i gave you his number about respoking rims. He IS the harley whisperer extraordinare. His shop is in Mustang...20 minutes from you.
                        405-816-9030
                        MY BIKES..1977 GS 750 B, 1978 GS 1000 C (X2)
                        1978 GS 1000 E, 1979 GS 1000 S, 1973 Yamaha TX 750, 1977 Kawasaki KZ 650B1, 1975 Honda GL1000 Goldwing, 1983 CB 650SC Nighthawk, 1972 Honda CB 350K4, 74 Honda CB550

                        NEVER SNEAK UP ON A SLEEPING DOG..NOT EVEN YOUR OWN.


                        I would rather trust my bike to a "QUACK" that KNOWS how to fix it rather than a book worm that THINKS HE KNOWS how to fix it.

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Talk about simple newbee F-ups. I got a free non starter bike because, the starter cables were reversed. WOW that was so laughable.
                          "Only fe' collected the old way, has any value." from His Majesty O'Keefe (1954 film)
                          1982 GS1100G- road bike, body, seat and suspension modded
                          1990 GSX750F-(1127cc '92 GSXR engine) track bike, much re-engineered
                          1987 Honda CBR600F Hurricane; hooligan bike, restored

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Originally posted by chuck hahn View Post
                            Rich, call my buddy david i gave you his number about respoking rims. He IS the harley whisperer extraordinare. His shop is in Mustang...20 minutes from you.
                            405-816-9030
                            Chuck, thanks for that. If the carb cleaning doesn't cut it I'll have my buddy take it to him.
                            '20 Ducati Multistrada 1260S, '93 Ducati 750SS, '01 SV650S, '07 DL650, '01 DR-Z400S, '80 GS1000S, '85 RZ350

                            Comment


                              #15
                              MUSTANG MOTORCYCLES AND MACHINE. West end of town.
                              MY BIKES..1977 GS 750 B, 1978 GS 1000 C (X2)
                              1978 GS 1000 E, 1979 GS 1000 S, 1973 Yamaha TX 750, 1977 Kawasaki KZ 650B1, 1975 Honda GL1000 Goldwing, 1983 CB 650SC Nighthawk, 1972 Honda CB 350K4, 74 Honda CB550

                              NEVER SNEAK UP ON A SLEEPING DOG..NOT EVEN YOUR OWN.


                              I would rather trust my bike to a "QUACK" that KNOWS how to fix it rather than a book worm that THINKS HE KNOWS how to fix it.

                              Comment

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