Ok , I'm new to the site so first off glad to be here!!From what I've read seems to be several very knowledgable people on here. So, I just pruchasedthis 1972Sporty froma Doctor (one owner) who has every receipt including from the day he bought it in 1973 ~~ I feel lucky ~~ now this isn't my first bike but it is the oldest bike I've ever owned ~~ I remember my dad and uncles building old 'Pan's' & 'kNUCKLES'in the basement as a kid and thinking how cool they were ~~ so that is about all I know about the inner workings of these older bikes ~~ i.e. mechanical brakes etc... ~~ so, the bike has had a top end job around 1995 bored out .50 over Carb (in good shape) about 15K miles on it since the top end job the bike has sat for about a year or so I replace the plugs changed the fluids and changed the battery ~~ started right up ~~ bam best $1000.00 I have ever spent right ?? Now for the problems , I'm getting a littleseepage from between the front head and jug right behindwhere the exhaust
bolts on ~~ not bad but the more I ride it well it just gets a little worse ~~ "no real engine noise" ~~ so I'm wondering ~~ Now , I am also having a problem getting the Carb dialed in right as far as the "rich" / "lean" ~~ other than these two things and the new front tire I put on it and one head brokenoff a boltheadthat's it~~ great runner ~~ quick as hell redlight to redlight ~~ any input would be awesome guys!! Thanks in advance ~~ Tony in Knoxville,TN ~~





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Nice bike.

 

Nice bike and sounds like a low price. If I read the page right. The carb may need to be cleaned. Not a big deal. You also said a head broke off the bolt head. If you riding with a broken head bolt you need to stop and fix this now. Small problem about to become bigger. If the broken bolt is the small 1/4 diameter shaftthan it might be less damaging, but still needs to be fixed. This bolt seals oil from leaking from roller/valves and supports the rocker shafts. If the bolt is larger like 3/8 or 7/16 shaft then it's a true head bolt and you are asking for trouble if you drive with it broken. This is an inconvenience to repair, but more bolts might break if left unrepaired. Then you looking at another top end build.

 

Sorry about the wording guys it was late when I posted this ~~ the only bolt that is broken is a bolt in the Generator Chrome Cover ~~ no big deal I have to take the cover off and use a pair of Vise Grips to twist out , just haven't done it yet ~~ but there are no broken bolts in , on or around the Front Cylinder what so ever ~~ but I am still getting a little seepage around the front head where the actual head mounts onto the jug itself ~~ not much just a little ~~ I was thinking that because it had sat for a year that this was causing it ~~ I just wanted to see if anyone else had ever seen this or if someone had been thru it before and might have some tips ~~ on what might be causing it ~~ oh , and thank you for you reply's !!! my other bike is a 93' Softail ~~ which ishaving a top end job done right now ~~ so I would really like to keep this bike original as possible and keep it to ride around town AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE ~~ Something about it ~~ it's quick and fun as hell ~~ some people trash Sporty's and although I had ridin one before I have never owned one and this one just felt right and felt like something I could work on myself and spent time with it ~~ I know that may sound corney or whatever but like I said I grew holdin wrenches for the ol' man and if I can't find or afford a 58' Pan to wrench on this is just as cool if you ask me!! T

 

Beautiful bike. Incredible deal. Everything amazing except the paint job. Looks very original. The proper carb for that bike are still available new and reasonably cheap (it's a bendix, right?).

 

Thanks,It's a Zenith& very,very much like my ex-wife ~~ You have to adjust it after every ride ~~ I think either a brand new one or a S&S ~~ BUT MAN $500.00 for a new carb is real steep ~~ Anyone know where to get"new"struts ?I'm going to have the gaskets on the heads replaced and the entire engine "Blacked" out ~~ Should look cool ~~ I don't like the Red either ~~ but it has started to grow on me some what ~~ Here's a couple of updated Pic's ~~ T

 

Man, that bike's close enough to stock that I'd do a resto on it instead of customizing it. It will still be cool, and will be worth a lot more if you ever sell it.

 

WOW, $1000 for that Ironhead....man you stole that bike from that guy! Congrats.