Yes please, let me know if you don't still have my email address.

Thanks K.Dave.

Page 1: Use gaffa tape
Page 2: Loctite is a wonderful product
Page 3: How to take your shovelhead engine and transplant it into something that is more reliable (and younger).

Great idea, Dave, and good on you for sharing. Its amazing how many tight sea-hunts get around these days!

Send a copy to Mapleleaf, he is obviously a big fan of the shovelhead

i wont get one now of ya dave.... but theres time yet....lol.

gota find a prevenative maintance list, coz im getting slack with the old girl.

Hi Dave,
I had the same trouble trying to send Troy a big file, he suggested I put it in drop.io.
So that's what I did, It's a file sharing service (free). Then anyone can download the info,
they just have to know the file address. (in my case drop.io/1979FXS ).
After a while, they put everything in a .zip file and you have to download the lot instead
of just the file you want.
Regards,
Cris

Sorry to give you issue kiwidave, try troy@dangerfieldonline.com if not I can setup the drop.io (its free). Looks like bigpond has a limit.

Thanks again,

Troy

Hijacking slightly here.
Hi Troy,
Post some pics of what your bike looks like now.
You said you were trying to get back to a stock situation.
Have you strayed from the path? Apes, Rigid rear? Sore Kidneys?
Just kidding mate,
hope she's running well.
Regards,
Cris

Sad fact is not much.... Still having issues with rust in the tank, after 2 inline filters and a number of brake downs (longest ride I have had is 5 km's) I am going to take the tanks to a company to acid dip them. Yes very drastic given the paint job is very good. But I have tried a number of things with no luck.

I still have not replaced the oil cover you sent me last year (very embarrassing!)

However I am still hopeful I can get the bike going and at least do a 50km round trip one day. I have the wife trained now on how to hook up the trailer

Once I have the tank fixed, I have to fix a ticking sound I hear, could be tappets, not sure as I have not been able to have the bike going long enough to work that one out.

Not to worry, I have a good feeling that the tank dip will work

Thanks for asking.

I love this group, have have a good time reading all the posts, nice to know I am not alone when it comes to issues....

Regards,
Troy.

 Hi Troy,

Holy Guacamole Batman, you must have the patience of a Saint !!!!

I thought by now you would have racked up a few thou's, my comment to Dave about Shovel owners having that delicious anticipation of "what will go south this trip" is haunting you for real.

Tanks, if you can afford to, get a set off ebay secondhand. Once you start playing with acid dipping and re-sealing and re-painting, you could be off the road for months. Get a set of tanks that don't need anything done to, take yours off and get them fixed while you use the ones you bought. Then you can either sell them, and you'll probably get your money back, or keep them for that radical one off paint job you have always dreamed of.

Ticking sound, probably front pushrod side of the front rocker cover. Wrong? Let me know once you identify the source, I'm only guessing from experience. Sometimes sound travels from one area to another, get a long screwdriver and with the handle to your ear touch the area you are checking with the point. You can usually hear it clearly then.

You must have a very understanding wife, mine would have told me to stick it by now. (What's your secret?)

Take care mate, 

Cris.

Well, took the tanks to a paint dipping shop $80, (minis paint) and he socked the tanks and put in a solution to kill the rust. Only ended up with on scratch which was good considering I was looking at a new paint job.

Now tanks back on, new fuel filter, cleaned the carbs again.... still no go, after 2 days I was able to get the bike going (new plugs too) but will not run with out back firing via the carb and pipes....

Yes the wife has told me a number of times it's time to sell it but I just know I can get this boy going. But I think I may give my self a xmas gift and take it to the shop (any suggestions for a good one around Adelaide?)

I have been looking on ebay for a better carby but just do not have the knowledge at this point to pick a good one.

Thanks every one here for your help, it is great to know there is help.

Kiwidave, did you have any luck in sending the catalog to the new address? I can setup the drop.io account if that helps.

All the best, sorry for the delay, had to do some jobs around the house (one way to keep the wife happy)

Regards,
Troy

Hi Troy,
All good advice from Kiwidave. Don't despair mate, it's got to be a simple thing.
If it feels like it's fuel related, if you're sure it's fuel related and if everybody tells you
it's fuel related it's most probably electrical. Check ignition wiring, coil and battery as Dave suggested
as he said the coil may not be the right type for your ignition system (are you running pints or electronic?).
Ignition timing may be off. Check it and re-set it. The only other thing that I could think of
would be a sicking exhaust valve ( due to carbon deposits or crook springs.) The ticking sound you are hearing could be related to this. What do you know of the motor's condition, recently rebuilt? many k's and in need of a rebuild?, seldom used? etc. All possible info will help to find the problem as most of us are too far to actually get our hands
on the bike.
Regards,
Cris

There are some CV carbs for sale on ebay, you may be able to score one for a good price if your lucky, say $100. If you suspect your ign is causing you grief i have a compu fire ign you can borrow, with coil, its single fire electric start only, if you want to try it let me know i`ll post it, and you can mail it back . You may also like to check inlet manifold for leaks.

All great advise, I will check the coil out and report back.

I do not know the bikes condition, I picked the bike up not going with no history. Have added a new battery and started from that point. I guess that is why I am thinking that after a year I should maybe get a person that understands this kind of bike to give me a report.

However I am going to look at the coils as I was following the info on a thread about adding a electronic system. I was told that this bike should have one but when I looked it has a single fire points system. So it could well be a coil problem.

Will report back once I have news.

Thanks.

Single fire points ign? is that a stinger ignition, i had one about 15 yrs ago ok when it worked, a bitch when it played up. post a pic?. tappping sound is probably solid lifters.

Hi Troy,
Houli might have hit your problem on the head, I also ran a stinger single fire
distributor system on the Shovel for a couple of years. At first it ran well, but the
construction of it was not good, and after experiencing trouble I changed to a Dyna S.
I'd get rid of it and go to points or electronic single fire.
Regards,
Cris

Something to report back.

Resistance on the pos and neg is 4.1 ohms  I could not get a reading from the 2 plug leads, took them off still no reading, could this be my problem? 

I have no idea what kind of ignition system I have as I could not find any names.  Any suggestions?

I have also just removed and checked the starter motor, as it was turning over very slowly but that seems okay, also checked all battery connections and they are now good. (one was loose  on the solenoid  )

Images:

Where is your condensor ? the points plate does not appear to have a hole for one. that is not a single fire ignition. It is best you wait till you have a manual.What gap do you have on your points? It  does not look right. What have you changed since the bike ran?

Yes I was wondering about the condensor, I do have a manual (just not the parts listing) and could not find this layout in it. 

Just my 2 cents i`d buy a new coil, leads, points plate, advance mechanism, points and condensor from M&M cycles in the states, Kiwidave will be able to get you part no`s as he`s up what fits what etc. with the dollar being what it is there is no point messing around with unknown stuff, if that don`t work then move onto carb knowing ign is good. Do not give up or take it to a shop, it will teach you nothing, you chose a shovel now live with it we all been through this without a forum.

Hi Troy,
That's definately not a stinger. You are running a points set-up.
The condensor is the little blue chip on the points set . Accel sold a kit
that had this electronic condensor and a backing plate with no provision for
a stock one. ( no biggy, if you wanted to you could drill and tap a hole for a stock one).
The yellow coil makes me think Accel, from probably many moons ago.
Houli 's suggestion to get new gear makes sense, stuff gets old, wears out and
starts driving you nuts.
Sorry for the brief and staggered replies, it's a crazy time of the year for me,
until after Jan I'm working 14 hr days, the perils of being self employed.
regards,
Cris