My $500 Harley

[joe fxs fxr]

My brother and I were talking a few months ago about Then Came Bronson and the bikes they used in the show. I had sent him this picture and it got me thinking (uh oh).


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I will be doing a Bronson Sportster tribute bike, but it would be fun to also have a Bronson Sprint. On a whim I looked at Facebook Marketplace and found this 1971 SS350 not to far from me. I contacted them but wasn't willing to spend the $1200 he wanted (down from $2500!). He had this bike for 20 years and rode it all over. Then it was in storage for the last 10 years. We kept in touch as the price came down until it was only $700 and I went to look yesterday. It was just like the ad said, but the motor wouldn't budge with the kickstarter. It might free up with Marvel Mystery Oil or something, so I offered him $500 and he was happy. He did take some pictures of it on my trailer so there was still some attachment.


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Looking at the bike, it is so original and complete that I can't cut it up for something that won't get ridden much. I decided to just free up the motor and clean the bike up but not restore it. New tires, chain and battery will make it a runner that I can have fun with. I love the groovy letters on the badges too.

We were having a celebratory beer and lunch at a local tavern and a guy comes up to me guessing it was my bike on the trailer. He has had five sprints over the years and still has contact info for parts, etc. We exchanged numbers and he'll get me in touch with people. He was also enthused about the originality of mine, with things like hand grips and seat trim being impossible to find. He offered me $505 but I declined, lol.



There are a couple other projects ahead of this one, but I will be working on it little by little. What advice can you give for preserving this time capsule? Thanks

[JoJo357]

That's Great Joe! That Sprint was still a fantastic deal at $500. The rings are probably moisture rusted. I always used the cheapest ATF i could find. Do the same, pour a wad in, and let it sit for a few days~gently rock the motorcycle in gear. Of course you'll have to upright the laydown Spring to get 100% saturation, kinda like bleeding the old AMF brakes~haha. Good luck with the build & tribute Joe.

*M.A.D.*

[chuckthebeatertruck]

A decade ago, I bought a 69 sprint to flip. I started riding it. . .and I never have sold it. I ride it frequently and just enjoy rolling around on the little beastie

Parts are plentiful and cheap. Doing the top end is a two hour affair and involves no gaskets, just the oil line crush washers. Four head cover bolts, undo push rod adjustment, release carb flange bolts, release oil lines, release exhaust, four head nuts, and all is free.

often, you can fracture or jam up kicker quadrants giving the same feeling as a stuck motor. Put it in 4th and rock it to confirm what’s stuck. The bottom ends are very tough and unlikely to have damage.

the only odd thing about them is that setting the timing is inconvenient.

shout if you need any help.

[joe fxs fxr]

A decade ago, I bought a 69 sprint to flip. I started riding it. . .and I never have sold it. I ride it frequently and just enjoy rolling around on the little beastie

Parts are plentiful and cheap. Doing the top end is a two hour affair and involves no gaskets, just the oil line crush washers. Four head cover bolts, undo push rod adjustment, release carb flange bolts, release oil lines, release exhaust, four head nuts, and all is free.

often, you can fracture or jam up kicker quadrants giving the same feeling as a stuck motor. Put it in 4th and rock it to confirm what’s stuck. The bottom ends are very tough and unlikely to have damage.

the only odd thing about them is that setting the timing is inconvenient.

shout if you need any help.

Thanks, I will. I just bought a shop manual and waiting to get a parts manual. For fun I bought a 1970 owners manual and an issue of The Enthusiast that features a 72 Sprint. Glad the top end is so easy.

I'll give the rocking in 4th a try, but the other thing that may be wrong is there may be a shift dog issue as the lever felt too easy to move.

What's your suggestion for cleaning it up without a restoration? Would polishing the paint be too much? How about aluminum, just clean with a plastic brush or get more aggressive? Spokes?

[Rubone]

I like Sprints and rode lots of them in the old days (70s) as a dealership wrench. Of course my favorites were the competition models. We sponsored an ERS for flattrack. I had a '68SS and a '65H at different times. Now makes me want one again!

[PaulCDF]

I had a Sprint Great bike. Good find!

[joe fxs fxr]

Thanks, I did put the bike in all the gears today and rocked it back and forth. I think it will loosen up with some ATF or Marvel Mystery Oil. Something for another day.

[otis71]

Hey Joe, I have a complete oem Bronson exhaust system (mufflers, shields, header, clamps and bracket) I no longer plan on using. If interested send me a PM.

[joe fxs fxr]

Hey Joe, I have a complete oem Bronson exhaust system (mufflers, shields, header, clamps and bracket) I no longer plan on using. If interested send me a PM.

Thank you but I already found one. Thanks for putting this out for anyone else looking for an original quiet exhaust system.

[joe fxs fxr]

Two years later and I've started working on it. The motor freed up fairly easily, but the cylinder is pitted.

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The piston doesn't look bad. It's marked 020, so 0.2mm oversized?


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I bought a $100 parts bike last year, too. There's way more than $100 in parts there, including in the milk crate behind. The exhaust header is the first thing I need.


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Unfortunately, that motor is really stuck. It's been soaking in Kroil for a week. I will try heat next. If I can save the cylinder I can have it bored 0.2mm to fit the other piston.


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I hope I don't have to split the cases, but there was a ton of grey goop in the oil when I drained it.

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[joe fxs fxr]

Woo hoo! On the advise of my local auto machinist, I heated the piston to over 500 degrees with oxy-acetyline.

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I heard it 'tink' three times, and then melted an ice cube to cool it quickly. Brought out the big hammer and voila!

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It's still hard to move so I'm soaking it in Kroil for a while longer.

[joe fxs fxr]

Some persuading with a bigger hammer and it's off!

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There's some rough areas, but I hope they will clean up with a 0.2mm overbore so I can use my other piston.

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I'll bring them to the machinist tomorrow.

[PanheadFred1]

Two years later and I've started working on it. The motor freed up fairly easily, but the cylinder is pitted.

IMG_0591.JPG


The piston doesn't look bad. It's marked 020, so 0.2mm oversized?


20240614_170505.jpg



I bought a $100 parts bike last year, too. There's way more than $100 in parts there, including in the milk crate behind. The exhaust header is the first thing I need.


IMG_6455.JPG

Unfortunately, that motor is really stuck. It's been soaking in Kroil for a week. I will try heat next. If I can save the cylinder I can have it bored 0.2mm to fit the other piston.


1718386168967.jpg


I hope I don't have to split the cases, but there was a ton of grey goop in the oil when I drained it.

1718397174314.jpg

I'm thinking that .020 is 20 thousandths oversize

[joe fxs fxr]

I'm thinking that .020 is 20 thousandths oversize

Hi Steve, maybe. I left the piston and the standard bore cylinder with the machine shop and he'll figure it out. I also dropped off the head for whatever it needs and the other for parts if necessary. Next is look at the lower end and gearbox. The rod feels tight so that's encouraging.