I remember my Dad's morning start up rituals with "Walter" my mother named Dads bike, many sunrises ago. My siblings and I, learnt every cuss word you could imagined echoing from Dads garage. I wish the RU-vid was available to us back in the day, I had many year's of trial and error before I figured out a startup ritual of my own. My son has revised my startup proceedure with your video, I was amazed at how he can start old "Walter" with confidence and without too much cussing Thank you sir for sharing your experience and knowledge.
Not to sound corny, but you just made my day. I learned as much as I could from my dad. Then, I learned more from other old guys. I'm not an expert on anything, except being an old guy. You just gave me validation. Thank you. Now, I'm going outside to talk to my dad's '40 Ford he left me. It's the first thing with an engine I ever worked on. I was nine. I'm now 70.
MERICA!!!👍👍👍the essence of what Harley was built on and into what we know today. Just bought a '80 Super Glide, 1st year of the 80ci Shovel, nothing even compared to the jewel you have there sir, Keep her rubber down brother, she's a real BEAUTY, ahhh and to hear her run even for a second.
Your channel is hands down the most informative on these great old bikes. You have a lot of channels that just watching someone work on a bike and they don’t explain anything about what is going on or why things are working the way they work. Your teaching style is spot on perfect. I learn so much from the information you teach. A sincere thank you for doing what you do.
Really great to see an old school bike with great attention to detail. I know nothing about the knuckleheads and its a joy to watch you explain the procedure and machine.
Super smart tip on the fire extinguisher. When I was on a military air station crash crew, the tower always sent a crash fire truck when they started any plane that had had an engine change or any real heavy maintenance. I carried this over to all my maintenance stuff. Used to work on air cooled VWs a lot, and saw three separate occasions where they caught fire and people just panicked. If they would have had fire cover like you suggest, it would have been no big deal. If I have a friend or somebody standing there doing nothing, I generally ask them to be at the ready, holding the fire bottle. If I’m watching somebody else doing something that needs cover, I usually ask them if they have an extinguisher, and I’ll man it for them. Great tip. Seeing a knuckle that beautiful on fire would be a tragedy.
Freeman: Bob Ross of choppers!!! OMG I'm laughing for days! Love the Harley and thanks Mike for the simple kick-start procedures. This is a truly lost art since the invent of the magic button. Enjoyed it.
Some people like to kick start. A properly tuned motor should be easy to start. Harley put their first Big Twin electric start on for the '65 model year. But, they installed them on 45 inch trikes in '64. For a lot of people, bikes weighs less without an electric starter and everything it requires to work. Personally, I like both. The "Bob Ross" thing was quite a compliment. Thank you.
I love that you mentioned letting the engine warm up! I let my Evo and Twin Cam both run and get their blood flowing before heading out. My young neighbor fires up his Harley and takes off in 30 seconds. I mumble to myself, “Let her warm up first!” every time I hear it.
Thank You. Good point, especially the Evo, as those cylinders grow and become round and taking off cold blows the base gaskets. It's just good sense to let the oil flow and let everything grow to size with the temperature as it increases. He'll learn. Or, if he's bright, he'll listen to his elders.
This guy is the Man when it comes to these vintage engines. He knows how to properly maintain them in pristine mechanical form. Wish he could tutor me when I'm having issues!!!
Just came across this video and thought you did a great job explaining the start procedure. I've never had the opportunity to ride an older Harley but would like too one day.
Pacific Mike i believe you're correct sir. I'll just keep riding mine until I find one. Fuel injection is nice but can only imagine the feel of an old school ride.
Always wanted.a knuckle.this a perfect example of what I'd like to own from the upsweeps with fish tips to the Springer and the not so tall apes ...I love it man thanks for sharing.✌
Pans and knuckles are my favorite. Recently i made the leap from shovel to injected twin cam. Yes it runs good but it doesnt have that something that my pan and shovels had. My next bike will be a garage built by me, pan very much like this knuckle. What a sweet ride that knuckle is.
Mano MAN that is a gorgeous chopper with the ULTIMATE engine, the 'knuckle! I wanted to hear it run longer and maybe smooth Mike take er for a scoot. BEAUTIFUL bike and incredible knowledge from a lifetime of eating bugs in the wind. Thank You Mike 🤘🤘
Hello Pacific Mike! Just wanted to add a quick " Thank You Sir" for this video. I bought my '69 ElectraGlide 4 years ago and always had a hard time getting her started ( from a cold start") eventually..., even with electric start. Using the kicker was always difficult because I didn't understand the correct procedure. I was always told one had to find the correct "combination" to get her started, what hogwash. I used your method from a cold start and she starts right up using either the kicker or electric starter. It's fun to kick start , it's kinda cool to be engaged with the bike that way. Great advice, thanks again!!
Just curious, does your bike still have the original Tillotson or another like the S&S? If still the Tillotson like I have and kept on my 1967 that I have owned and ridden since I bought it in 1968 and never had a problem with I can give you my suggestions and opinion if interested on starting.adjustments and PM.
I don't know why I got this video suggested to me, but I'm glad I did. I have my '96 Fatboy since new, but man those knuckleheads really set me off. Had a chance to buy one apart , all the machine work was done, but I didn't have the knowledge or time to make it happen.
My dad has hit the age he's given his 47 knucklehead el to me his son. It ran 12 years ago, slowly I'm getting it close to running. New float bowl and needle, now gas doesn't leak thankfully. New battery, tried to start it as it used to be a a 2 kick bike. I only got one pop out of it. Thinking points or condensor which I've ordered. I'll be watching Mike's videos to help for my installation. I'll send a video when I get it running. It's really close to running again, so close....
Sorry "bout that. However, we get new subscriptions every day. Before I asked for them, we didn't get them. So, I ask. And, as corny as it sounds, they keep coming. We're almost up to 45,000 subscribers.
Mike, your hands move across the machine in the same manner that Uli Roth’s moves across a fretboard...instinctively and effortlessly - I’m still in awe and I’ll again admit that your timbre delivers knowledge in a manner meant only to be recorded for a time capsule - fair play to you.
With the 4 1800 Honda VTXs that I owned...it was turn the ignition switch on and thumb the starter button and listen to the engine warm up for a couple minutes and away we go
Nah, just a little understanding of how it works. It's the same as old cars. It's all manual. You do the thinking instead of expecting electronics to do it for you. Thank You.
That 69 CH has gotten to be a "rare bird." I don't have any kind of Iron Head Sportster around here and probably haven't done a clutch on one in over 20 years. I would imagine, going straight by the book would be your best bet.
Thanks again Mike for this excellent vid explaining the works. Can you let me know why you need to crank the throttle just a little bit? Doesn't that mean that the idle plate is closed a bit too much? Just wondering..
By leaving the throttle plate almost close, you create resistance as the pistons are sucking in the fuel. This results in velocity. Now the fuel has entered the cylinder.
I love the way the red fire extinguisher makes that yellow Harley pop. Nice bike. "Iron American Dream" on RU-vid. A motorcycle song, about Harley Davidsons, Brotherhood, and American heritage. Buy a Harley and set your soul free.
Hey a great video. !! When I thumb the starter in my bike it starts every time and goes down the road flawlessly. Who could be bothered with all this old shit. I’m nearly 60, but I’m definitely a new age biker. If it’s older than 10 years I don’t want to know. Abs cornering & linked brakes, adjustable traction control, launch control, PGMI fuel injection. Brembo mono block Calipers. All Music to my ears. While I love many of the old bikes, I wouldn’t have one as a daily anymore. Motorcycling is already risky, life is short (even shorter when your 60 and cv19 floating about). Remember that when these older bikes were built, there was far less traffic, people left stopping distances, roads were not as rundown, and people were not fucking around with satnavs, mobile phones, tablets in car entertainment systems etc etc etc. Back in these days piloting a motor vehicle was actually considered something that demanded your undivided attention and respect.
Well, Son, I see your point. But, although I've got some years on you, I still need thrills. As a mechanic for many years, I've had the privilege of riding so many kinds of motorcycles I couldn't even tell you. Oddly enough, I loved quite a few of them, each designed for its purpose. I always manage to get a ride on the latest and greatest that just came out. I don't put any of them down. For date night and long road trips, I prefer my Shovelhead, with all of its modern conveniences (and I've incorporated a lot of them). She's romantic and super comfortable with her late model suspension, electronics and motor modifications. For daily running around, up the mountains and over a few towns and errands, my Panhead is a real treat. When I need a true "E Ticket Ride," I roll out the Knucklehead. Modern motorcycles are engineering marvels, but, I want more fun.
@John LEON for an antique looking bike I would buy a new 650cc Royal Enfield, like the 650cc Yamaha I rode from 1980 to 1985, but less vibration. I am 60 and ride 2 Japanese motorcycles, a 2002 600cc Honda V-twin that copies a 1936 Knucklehead including the 4 speed transmission, and a Kawasaki 2008 ZZR600 inline 4 with a 150 mph top speed that is smoother and safer at 80 mph.
Thank You. It's just technology from a time when not everything was done for you. This was an "agricultural society" and people had to know how to start their car, their tractor, and their motorcycle. When Harley Davidson introduced their new motorcycle in 1936, it was the Knucklehead. It impressed the whole world and blew everything else off the track. The privilege of starting and riding one today is something truly special. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was built specially for the movie and I believe it was built by The Great Von Dutch. I'll bet you didn't realize how complimentary you really are. Stay well. And again, Thank You.
Pacific Mike I’m currently rebuilding my first M88 and I realize now that I lack considerable knowledge. It’s the little things that you demonstrate that I believe will make a difference in me kicking my leg off due to a leaky carb or having a dependable carb.
Nice bike. I had a 72 shovel set up just like that. I had upsweeps as well and they got pretty hot. I see the leather bags are slung over the pipes. How does that hold up.
Very well, thank you. I never thought to explain it, but, people have asked. I trimmed exhaust heat shields to the proper length. They stand off from the pipes. Not too difficult. And, there's adequate air space between the shields and the pipes. The shields don't get hot and neither do the bags. Not something I wanted to do to the pipes, but I need bags.
this is my frist time to here but have loved you videos for a time now , do you like the 39 to 40 banjo fittings on your over head oil lines? love that XA fork on your bike thank you Bill
Thank you. I love the banjo fittings, but the reproduction oil line is giving me grief. Because of that cool petcock I love so much, I need to stay with the old type line. Now, I'm gonna have to get creative and braze something.
I have to charge the lithium battery on my fuel injected Softail before trying to start it, there's no kicker. That Knuckle started easyer than my 2002 Softail starts. Yeah it needs serviced, I wanted to learn more about them then do it myself. I may just go ahead and take it somewhere. What I really want is to put that paint job on it. Gonna need new tires too .
Hi Mike. I’m wondering if you have or plan to have a video on fine tuning a linkert carb for low speed and high speed. This video covers a lot. It just doesn’t cover how and where to set the needles. I have a 52 Panhead that needs some help.
@@pacificmike9501 Mike; your videos are in my video reference library. I'm debating on buying either a 98 flhr for 5500 w/ 34k or a 84 fxr with 43k for 7k? What should I look out for respectively speaking? Thanks .
There are certain advantages to both. The 84 is an FXR, awesome handling bike. The 98 has a belt primary and splined transmission shaft. They both have their advantages. Which one flips your switch?
