No power in forward, a little in reverse

sXeMike

I just picked up a 75 Harley, cheap. It runs but hardly any power in forward, and a little more in reverse. I pulled the top end of the motor apart and this is what I found:


Everything else looks ok. They cyliner walls are fine and I don't see any other problems. Do yall think a new piston will fix the low power issue?

BGW

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Craigs carts

A new piston should do it. even if the jug looks good I'd check it to make sure it's not out of round. Thats not a stock piston so it has been rebuilt at least once already.

big mule

Welcome to the forum sXeMike!!

sXeMike

Thanks for the welcome. I'm pretty sure the cylinder is good. I don't have anything to measure it the correct way but, I used a stick. It seems round enough. The top end was redone in 2006.(the PO gave me the receipt) This one

sXeMike

I got it running. It was really easy to get the new piston in. It flies now. A little timing and it will run like new.

It smokes a lot now because I added more oil to the gas.(3oz/gal) I read that you should add more oil to break in new motors. I figured it couldn't hurt much.....I already bought a new spark plug for when this one gets fouled.

Has anyone here used heavy duty springs in the back? I want to add a back seat but I think it would bottom out with two people. While I was waiting on the piston, I jacked it up and pulled a spring out. I'm pretty sure I could get spring from a truck coil-over. Any suggestions on what spring rate I should get? Stock feels really light....maybe 50 lbs/in?

Craigs carts

what are running for plugs?
I just droped off a spring at the local auto salvage, he's going to look around to see what he's got. Coil over might work. let me know how you come out.

sXeMike

standard ngk spark plug. I'm going to measure again before I get the springs....something like this but I think I can find them cheaper.

sXeMike

My 2 ebay springs showed up yesterday. I'm going to try to put them in tonight if I have time. I take a few pictures.

jeggers

Let us kow how it works out I put a seat on the back of mine and it does bottom out

sXeMike

I didn't have a chance to get them on...maybe this weekend. I think they're going to be way too heavy. I couldn't find anything cheap that was light enough so I got a 255 and a 285 pound spring. They're both 12" and 2 5/8 id. I got them both for $30 off ebay. I was looking for 150-200 but they were all around 60 each. These will work but I think the ride will be rough. anyway..I'll have some pictures and a report Sunday.