non-running 1999 Harley Sportster 1200

[RichDesmond]

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.

 

[rphillips]

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.

 

[GS1150Pilot]

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.

 

[GS1150Pilot]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DqEUBS421Y

 

[RogerW]

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

 

[Buffalo Bill]

Do oil change before you startup; bearings.

 

[Maddevill]

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

Mad

 

[RichDesmond]

Thanks everyone for the good tips. I let y'all know the outcome.

 

[Nessism]

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.

 

[RichDesmond]

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.

 

[Nessism]

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

 

[chuck hahn]

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

 

[Buffalo Bill]

Talk about simple newbee F-ups. I got a free non starter bike because, the starter cables were reversed. WOW that was so laughable.

 

[RichDesmond]

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.

 

[chuck hahn]

MUSTANG MOTORCYCLES AND MACHINE. West end of town.

 

[Jhurt]

Dead simple, everyone above except the oil leak comment guy (there?s always one) is correct. Is it by chance the 1200S model? My dad had one back then, dual plug heads, dual front disc and adjustable suspension with small dials on top of the forks. Kinda/sorta been looking for one of those as i get older and seem to be wanting to relive my youth. Raced a 2000 Trans Am WS6 with it and i smoked him....until he shifted into 2nd. I took the motorcycle endorsement test on that bike.....

 

[rphillips]

Just hope the oil leak comment didn't jhurt anyone's feelin's. Most of my lifetime when Harleys were mentioned there was always a smart azz oil leak comment close by. Good luck rich, hope you knew I meant nothing by it.