20 Most Recent 1979 Harley Davidson XLH 1000 Sportster Questions & Answers

If the charging light is on in your 1979 Harley Davidson XLH 1000 Sportster, it indicates a potential issue with the charging system. Here are some steps you can take to check for the problem:

1. Battery Check: Begin by checking the battery voltage using a multimeter. Ensure that the battery is fully charged, and its voltage is within the recommended range specified in the owner's manual.
2. Belt Tension: Examine the belt tension of the generator drive belt. If it is loose or worn, it may not be driving the generator properly. Adjust or replace the belt if necessary.
3. Wiring Inspection: Carefully inspect the wiring connections between the generator, voltage regulator, and battery. Look for loose connections, damaged wires, or corroded terminals. Ensure all connections are clean, secure, and properly connected.
4. Voltage Regulator Check: Test the voltage regulator using a multimeter. With the motorcycle running, measure the voltage output at the battery terminals. It should be within the recommended range specified in the owner's manual. If the voltage is too high or too low, it may indicate a faulty voltage regulator.
5. Generator Output Test: To check the generator output, you will need a multimeter capable of measuring AC voltage. Disconnect the generator output wire from the voltage regulator and start the motorcycle. Set the multimeter to measure AC voltage and connect the leads to the generator output wire and a good ground. The reading should be within the specified range mentioned in the owner's manual. If there is no or low voltage output, it may indicate a faulty generator.
6. Fuse Inspection: Check the fuses related to the charging system. Ensure they are not blown or damaged. Replace any faulty fuses with the appropriate rating.

If you are unable to diagnose or resolve the charging system issue using these steps, it is recommended to consult a qualified motorcycle mechanic or contact an authorized Harley-Davidson dealership for further assistance. They will have the expertise and experience to diagnose and repair the specific charging system problem in your 1979 Harley Davidson XLH 1000 Sportster.

the post should be the same as an original. The wires should be green and tan. Green wire goes to the post towards the front wheel and the tan to the post nearest the engine. Don't forget to "polarize" the generator before starting. procedure is in the service manual. Momentarily short between the battery positive post and the field terminal.

To adjust the valves on your Ironhead Sportster, first collapse all the pushrod tubes, remove the spark plugs, and get the rear wheel off the ground. Put the transmission in fourth gear. Now, use the rear wheel to turn the engine.

To adjust the valves, bring the front cylinder to Top Dead Center. Use a common plastic drinking straw down in the spark plug hole to make sure the piston is at Top Center. Make sure both tappets for the front cylinder are all the way down. Now, loosen the lock nut slightly and turn the adjuster to make the tappet longer. You want to make it just long enough so that you can't turn it with your fingers. Gradually back down on the tappet until you can turn the pushrod with your fingers. Lock the locknut down when done. Now do the other tappet.

Once you've done the front cylinder, turn the engine using the rear wheel until the rear piston comes to Top Center. Always turn the engine in the normal direction of rotation. Adjust the two tappet the same way as you did the front cylinder tappets.

When finished, put the transmission in neutral, lower the rear wheel, put the plugs back in, and close up the pushrod tubes.

These tappets set to Zero Backlash, none. Therefore this must be done on a completely cold engine. When the engine starts up and as it warms up, the cylinders and head "grow" due to the heat expansion properties of the metal. As they grow, you pick up valve lash and the valves will clatter a bit. This is where the old saying came from, "You can tell it's a Harley from a mile away by the way the engine sounds. You can tell it's an Ironhead from a half mile away from the valve clatter". If you get the valves too tight, when the weather cools down in the winter, you could wind up with a valve standing open just enough to make the bike impossible to start due to low starting compression. It's better to have the valves a bit loose and have them clatter than have them too tight making the engine difficult to start.

Good Luck,
Steve

If the starter motor is running, the solenoid is working. Is the "over running" spring, cup, and pin in place? Is the shifter fork for the starter shaft positioned correctly in the collar behind the Bendix.

Disconnect the battery, remove the primary cover, and take the solenoid off but leave the plunger for the solenoid in position. Now, with the solenoid off, pull the plunger back in the direction that the solenoid would pull it. Watch the starter shaft and make sure that it moves forward and engages flywheel. Take the starter off and make sure the small gear on the end of it is in good shape as well. Try that Bendix with your hand, It should turn one way but not the other. Even if it does, that doesn't mean it's good. If it turns in both directions, it is bad.

http://www.bikebandit.com/1972-harley-davidson-xlh/o/m1748#sch195980

Good Luck
Steve

Hi ! for a free wiring diagram, please visit the website below. If you need more information about a specific electrical issue you can reach me at [email protected]. http://www.motorpartstore.com. good luck and have a nice day.

Repair Manuals Online The Internet, though, has a large number of web sites where you can buy service manuals and schematics from bookstores, publishers, and other collectors. Here is just a sampling of what sites are out there: http://www.clymer.com/ http://www.haynes.com https://www.howtomotorcyclerepair.com/

See these: www.officialharleyparts.com

If the starter motor is turning but the engine is not, there could be several things wrong. One, the "fork" mechanism that moves the starter drive into contact with the clutch ring gear is not connected correctly. Two, the starter drive or "Bendix" is bad. Three, the ring gear on the outer clutch drum is bad. Or, four, the primary chain or some other primary drive parts are broken or missing. If you've allowed the starter to draw enough current to make the starter terminal turn red, you've probably burned the starter up by now. My suggestion would be to disconnect the battery and start looking for the problem. You've got to do a bit of mechanicing here. You cannot force the starter to work.

Drain the primary and pull the primary cover off. Check the "fork" mechanism at the starter shaft. If it looks like it's assembled correctly check the "bendix". The Bendix should turn in one direction but not in the other. Sometimes you can turn it both ways by hand and other times you can't. Check the ring gear on the clutch drum and all other parts in the primary to make sure everything is correct.

If you want to replace the Bendix, buy a good quality American made unit. The Chinese made units are junk. The "nut' on the end of the shaft has left handed threads in it.

Good Luck
Steve