regressing

Check the wiring loom where it goes around the headstock and into the headlight. May be some wear on the inusulated wires, which is causing a short on full lock.

Thanks for the info. I did all the usual checks. The bike had been sitting idle for over a year I knew it would mean the carb would have to come out. Gave it a clean. There was some gunk in the float chamber along with a jelly like substance. Popped it back in on the fourth attempt it fired up. It's running quite smoothly. I've not had a V-twin before, nice tone out of the exhaust. Next on the agenda is to clean it. Carry out some minor repairs, then start tracking down the missing or broken parts. EG... Mudgaurd, headlight RH side panel and indidcators.

Well I've seen cleaner field bikes than this. Unusual front mudgaurd. Crhome sprayed with primer. Undersized headlight, found it was held in with gaffer tape and believe or not, blue tac. Thankfully the mud and gunge has actually protected most of the chrome work from rusting. Plenty of elbow grease and a tube or two of Autosol should start to make it shine. Need to get the engine going first though. A new battery should do the trick. One thing I do miss on these bikes is the option of kickstart. Not had a cruiser vtwin before. Apart from the battery, is there anything else I should be on the look out for, before I attempt to start it? Are there any known issues with the ignition system that I should check out? I do know that fuel is present in the cylinders. I don't think there is enough life left in the old battery, to spin it over to check for a spark. Any tips would be appreciated.

Sorry I meant The Bar not the General forum doh!

Thanks for the welcome. I'm located in the heart of the hurling county. Kilkenny. I've put a a couple of pics in the general forum of the current project.

Yep this is how I like to get my projects. It's the potential I see in these basket cases. There's nothing like bringing something like this back to it's former glory. This being Ireland, the bike could be on the road in this state. Just needs insurance and Tax and away you go. Not MOT or Roadworthyness test required for bikes. Crazy, I know. I restore them to get them to MOT standard. I'm a Bristolian living here for over 25 years. I seen worse and seen lads riding worse. Anyway the resto will take a while, most of the work it needs is cosmetic. I'll be starting on it soon. Comments always welcome Thanks for looking

Hi to one and all. I'm new to this site. Bikes have been in the blood since I was 14. Let my licence lapse which is possible here(life,young family, as the story goes). I'll need to sit the test again at some stage. I tend to go for small engined bikes normally basket cases. I get them back up and running. Then they're rebuilt/restored to their former "glory". I've kept one or two but, normally, limited space in the bike shed, means one has to go. To make room for the next project. My current project is a '98 XV125 Virago. Picked it up yesterday, in a pretty sorry state, about 95% complete. I doubt very much that it's been washed in the last 1/2years. There's a bike there somewhere under all that muck and grime. I'll try and upload some pics when I figure out how to. Thanks for reading my ramblings Cheers Regressing