Okay, let me walk you through my time with this Harley Softail Evo I got my hands on. It wasn’t exactly a showroom piece when I picked it up, looked like it had seen better days, maybe sat for a bit too long under a tarp.
First Look and Getting Started
First thing I always do is give it a good look over. Tires were low, paint was faded, chrome was dull. Standard stuff for an older bike. Pulled the dipstick, oil looked pretty dark, almost like tar. So, step one, drained all the old fluids – engine oil, primary, transmission. Always feels good starting fresh there.
Next, I checked the battery. Hooked up the multimeter, yeah, completely dead. No surprise there. Put it on a charger overnight, but knew I’d probably need a new one. While that was charging, I decided to tackle the fuel system. Pulled the tank off, drained the old gas – smelled nasty. Checked inside the tank for rust, thankfully it wasn’t too bad. Just some minor surface stuff I cleaned out.
Diving into the Engine and Carb
The heart of this thing is that Evo engine. Known for being pretty reliable, but they have their quirks. I wanted to see if it would even turn over properly. With a new battery temporarily hooked up, I hit the starter. It cranked, coughed a bit, but wouldn’t fire up. Sounded like it wasn’t getting fuel, or maybe spark was weak.
So, off came the air cleaner and then the carburetor. Took that S&S carb completely apart on the workbench. Found some gunk in the float bowl and the jets were definitely clogged. Spent a good afternoon meticulously cleaning every passage and jet with carb cleaner and compressed air. Put it back together with a basic rebuild kit – new gaskets and seals.
While I had things accessible, I checked the spark plugs. They looked okay, but I replaced them anyway, cheap insurance. Checked for spark, seemed strong enough. Also took a peek around the engine base and rocker boxes. Saw the tell-tale sign of an Evo – a little oil seep. Nothing major, just weeping. Decided to live with it for now, monitor it. Tightened up the bolts around the area just to be sure.
Putting It Back Together and First Ride
Got the carb back on, fresh gas in the tank (with a new fuel filter, of course). Put in that new battery I ended up buying. Turned the key, hit the starter, and after a few cranks, she sputtered to life! Let it warm up, adjusted the idle screw on the carb. It sounded rough, but it was running.
Did some basic checks – lights, brakes, clutch feel. The clutch felt a bit stiff, so I lubed the cable. Brakes seemed okay, but I planned on bleeding them later. Checked the tire pressure again, filled ’em up.
Time for a quick spin around the block. Rolled it out, clicked it into first. It felt hesitant, coughed a bit when I gave it gas. Definitely needed some carb tuning. Rode it gently, listening to the engine. That distinctive Evo sound was there, just needed some fine-tuning.
Tuning and Finishing Touches
Spent the next weekend fiddling with the mixture screw and accelerator pump on the carb. Took a few tries, riding, adjusting, riding again. Finally got it dialed in pretty good. Started easier, idled smoother, and pulled nicely through the gears.
Also decided to change the look slightly. The stock seat was ripped, so I swapped it for a simple solo seat I had. Polished up some of the chrome, cleaned the wheels. Didn’t go for a full restoration, just wanted a solid, rideable Softail.
- Changed engine, primary, transmission fluids.
- Rebuilt and tuned the S&S carburetor.
- Installed a new battery.
- Replaced spark plugs.
- Cleaned the fuel tank and added a new fuel filter.
- Checked and adjusted cables.
- Swapped the seat.
- Basic clean and polish.
Final Thoughts
So yeah, that was my process. Took some time, couple of weekends, fair bit of elbow grease. These older Harleys, especially the Evo models, they respond well to basic maintenance. They’re not complicated machines. You just gotta be willing to get your hands dirty, listen to what the bike is telling you. Now, it’s a reliable runner. Starts right up, pulls strong, and has that character you only get from an old V-twin. Definitely worth the effort.
