So, I’ve been eyeballin’ this 1966 Harley for a while now. It’s a real beauty – classic lines, that vintage rumble… you know the type. I finally decided to pull the trigger and get my hands dirty.
Getting Started
First things first, I got the bike up on a lift. Gotta have good access to everything, right? Then, I spent a good hour just looking it over. Checking for obvious leaks, rust spots, anything that looked wonky. This old girl has seen some miles, so I wanted to get a good lay of the land before I started wrenching.
The Deep Dive
Next, I started with the basics. Drained the old oil – looked like tar, I tell ya! – and pulled the spark plugs. They were pretty fouled up, so I knew I’d be replacing those. I moved on to the carburetor. Took that bad boy apart piece by piece, cleaning each jet and passage with carb cleaner and compressed air. Gotta make sure she’s breathing right!
- Checked the fuel lines – some cracks, so those got replaced.
- Inspected the brakes – pads were worn, so new ones went in.
- Lubed up all the cables and linkages.
Putting It Back Together
After all that cleaning and replacing, it was time to put everything back together. New oil, new plugs, fresh gas… I held my breath and hit the starter. It took a few cranks, but then she roared to life! That sound… man, there’s nothing like it.
The Test Ride
I took her for a spin around the block, just to make sure everything was running smooth. A little tweaking here and there – adjusted the idle, fine-tuned the carb – and she was purring like a kitten. A big, powerful, vintage kitten!
It’s a really good feeling get things done by my hand!
