A lot of Italian in that bad boy, it was a collaboration between Harley and Aermacchi, later models were entirely Aermacchi but marketed in the US as Harleys.
I used to really be into Sprints and have owned many. The spring you found in the toolbox is used to secure the gas tank at the rear. Thanks for the ride down memory lane.
I picked up an SS350 Sprint that was sitting in the barn of a house I was renting. I was able to secure the paperwork for $50.00 from the previous owner. Some clean gas and a new spark plug and it fired right up. That little bike was really fast. Faster than my friends Honda CB360. Too small for my large frame but it was worth going through with new fluids, tires and brakes. I worked at a farm implement dealer and some orange Allis Chalmers paint and black Rust-Oleum gave it the Harley race bike look. Sold it to someone that was tickled to receive it. Another one of many bikes that I shouldn't have let go. Those little Italian Harleys were fast on the race track, mostly dirt flat track.
Nice! I had one, the 350cc. They were made in Italy by Aermacchi for AMF-HD. Rode mine all over Italy, never missed a beat. An awesome little roadster!
@@JoeyP322 They were. In 1960 AMF-Harley Davidson bought 50% of the Aermacchi stock and these bikes were sold all over Italy. I remember going to the Aermacchi parts counter in Milan in the early '70s where you could buy everything needed down to the last nut and bolt. Around the block was the shop of legendary Aermacchi mechanic Osvaldo Coppelli who built them as racers and helped us with maintenance, etc. It was quite a scene back then.
When I worked as a locksmith, I used WD40 during the winter to displace water and prevent the locks from freezing up. Also used it to free up stuck lock cylinders and aid in picking. WD40 makes it difficult to impression/file keys by hand though. During the Summer and all seasons in doors, I opted for graphite powder. It really lubed locks well. The only time it's a bad idea is when a lock has been installed upside down and true double sided key locks, as the graphite can get past worn pins and prevent them from moving into their bores. It fine for all locks using wafers instead of pins.
The brand of locks i have on my house require you to use graphite powder lube to maintain the warranty. The best part is it doesn't attract dirt in the long term.
A suggestion on your points. Try using contact cleaner. WD-40 acts as a insulator. Also a points file is great for getting rid of corrosion. The float tickle button is used to flood the combustion chamber on cold startup just press it down until gas runs down the float bowl. Great video.
@@jeromebreeding3302 not amal they didn't make a float like that I've got several amals from GP, mono block, and concentric.( British bike rider since the late 60s) it looks similar to amal but I don't think it is.
Fantastic at 52:55. Brings back serious 1970s memories. We always used to push down the carb "tickler" to allow raw fuel to enter the intake port for cold starting. Great work.
Cool motorcycle I had a 350 Sprint scrambler wish I still had it it was a fantastic little machine sold it to my pal He still has it to this day Thank you for sharing
Just to correct some of the comments: - It's a 250. They went to 350 in 1969. - It's a four-stroke. - The entire bike (not the just the engine) was made by Aermacchi (not Benelli) in Italy. Harley acquired 50% of Aermacchi in 1960. The first Harley-badged Sprint was in 1961; the last one in 1974 (by then they weren't called "Sprint" anymore - SS350 and SX350). AMF bought the remaining shares of Aermacchi in 1972, after having bought Harley in 1968. The Sprint was no more an AMF than the rest of Harleys. - The 250s are wet clutch. They went to dry clutch with the 350 in 1969. - The carburetor is a Dell'Orto - They don't use head gaskets. This one appears to be all original, with the exception of the muffler, which is aftermarket. To find an original seat in that condition is very rare indeed.
@@Eustus2000 I like Italian bikes (have 2 in garage) and know these small HDs were badged Italian bikes, am wondering if I should carry on watching the video. When this guy started he wasn't much good at repairing things imho (ok 3+ decadesa and being in electronics might help) but hopefully he will have got better.
I had a 71 Harley Davidson sportster and the gas tank looked worse than yours did inside. I got a kit from POR 15 to clean and seal the gas tank and it did a great job!
A few cups of bb's for a bb gun works great for stuff like rust in tanks and even to clear carbon from 2 stroke pipes. Just dump em in and shake it for a few minutes to dislodge the crud
Always fun to see Sprints. I had a 67 when I was 16, and years later, a 1965. I used to joke that I couldn't get lost on it, because I'd just follow the trail of parts that fell off back to my home. It was quite a vibrating machine. Used to make my hands go numb.
Your little Harley is 100% Italiano made here in Italia by aermacchi. Parts are VERY Available because there are many still in use here. H. D. Owned 50% and then 100% of the company after it was sold by HD to Aermacchi In 1978 to the Castiglioni brothers, who built Cagiva from it, which in 1985 bought Ducati, and later Husqvarna and Moto Morini.
Kepe up the grind! Algorithm finally picked up on your consistent and quality uploads, so keep it up man! Very informative and relaxing content to watch.
This project is right up my street. So wish I could get involved! Love 1960s Italian 2 strokes! (And 4 strokes that look like 2 strokes...)😅 Try a Lambretta air filter... They are about six quid. I've got a tenner that says it'll fit. Dellorto carburettors are my speciality!😊
Good grief, this one takes me back. I remember guys having those when I was in junior high, and high school. 68 is a special year for me, the year I graduated high school.
Always said Joe is an Old Soul. '68 Harley, wasn't that when Japanese bikes were sweeping the market? '68 I was entering kindergarten at 4yo and my oldest brother was heading to Vietnam.
@@thebigguy8306 yeah a lot of the the guys I knew in high school went to Viet Nam. I remember guys started buying the Honda Super Cub 50, the 90 and Super 90, Dream 150 and 305's, plus the 305 Super Hawk. Cushman Eagles were big back then too.
I knew several people that had them as their first bike in High School. Very rare to see one,especially in such good condition. A lot of them were converted into short trackers. They had a very low center of mass.
My step-dad bought one of these for $75 at a yard sale in really poor shape. While bs-ing with him, I told him I'd take it if he didn't want it. He gave it to me! It had been parted out and was exposed to ALL the elements. But, it's been 5 yrs of tracking down parts and cleaning things up and my first start-up attempt is officially just around the corner. This video has got me even more hyped for it😂. Thanks for making it.
I had the silver & black version of this bike around ‘77 or so. Very comfortable to ride with its low cg and seat. I believe that the shifter was 1 up and 3 down too. Paid $125.00 for it rode it for two years, holed the piston and sold it for fifty bucks. It even had a windshield. Those were the days.
I had a 1966 Sprint H. It was 250cc. I loved that bike. Ended up putting moped front forks on it, ridgid rear suspension, CRS cams and pistons. Ran it alcohol at the drag strip. Don't remember the times. I think it was in the 15's.
I had a '66 250 Sprint in high school. My Dad 'massaged' the motor and I remember whippin' the local bigmouth's 450 Honda with it in the twisties...riding 2 up!
What a great accomplishment to get that piece of history going! But remember most old Harley’s even the the Italian influenced ones leaked oil. Great video great content your grandfather would be beaming with pride right now seeing you get this going, can’t wait for part 2
44:30 a cotton swap on the end of a drill with some fine cutting paste can clean out and surface the needle seat or polish it so the needle will close how it should, sandpaper will leave scratches.
A single set of points does not indicate a single cylinder. A single set of points can run many cylinder. But you are just a kid. I love your videos, and your thoughtful methods.
I Your video brought back memories. My first bike was a 70, 350 Sprint. The left hand kick-start was awkward, and had a tendacy to kick back. Un-reliable electrics caused me to trade it for a CH Sportster. Most guys that stuck with it switched out the stock DelOrto carb for a Micuni.
Joe you are much more athletic than me stepping from the tailgate to the ground, holding the bike up above your head and not missing the small ramp. I can see this going wrong 25 different ways. Probably should have said nothing.
Great find, sharp looking cycle for a '68 (not that old!). Like many things of that vintage (me) a little worn, a little rusty around the edges, but with good spark. A slight departure from the dirt bike, ATV content, and classic cycles - you will have to get another property to store everything
"Fogging oil" in a spray can will coat the entire surface of the cylinder when regular oil can't due th the cylinder being horizontal. Little trick I picked up a long time ago.
Really neat bike. I'm about 20 minutes in.. Definitely yelling to add a little heat to the carb (you said it right after I did!!) Thing is super cool. I wonder if when the gentleman you bought it from said he 'cleaned' the carb he meant he did that in 1982. What a very nice find though, bike is super clean and I'm thinking if you get that tank un rusted, that dent should come out with a little dolly and hammer work! Nice find!!
Maybe it's just me but I think this guy is being pretty brutal on the ol' 250 Sprint...especially the Delorto carb. P.S. I could feel my Dad smacking me in the head when you were using that screwdriver as a prybar!
Carb might have gotten messed up in this, you’re right about that, at least it looked like it to me, but…. maybe I’m wrong I guess. The no-oil-change-decision was a worse thing to do to an old sitter imo. Again though, hard to say for sure on this side of the screen. I’d def change it for sure. Spraying WD40 on the points seems wrong? Ah. It ran I guess.
I had one of those. Bought new in 1965. It was a real POS. Drove it home from the Harley dealer about 30 miles praying it would make it It wouldn't go over 40. After I shut it off it wouldn't start. Plug was fouled. Put a new plug in , kicked 200 times finally fired up. No power at all. Checked the point gap setting , right on. Loaded it up on the truck and took it back. Dealer couldn't figure out what was wrong after weeks of kicking it so I traded it in for a 64 Duel Glide. Later I found out that the timing mark was miss stamped on the crank flywheel. After he figured that out set everything correctly it ran just fine. Good luck with you project, You won't find another one.
As a teen i remember my next door neighbor had a 350 sprint,same color ,his little bro had a Harley Rapido 125cc.The amazing thing he went to Cali and back! That was in 1971,i was almost 16yrs old and i had a 500 sawki mach 3,man those were the.good ol days. .
The spring and latch you found in the tool compartment the spring is used to hold the gas tank down In the back of the tank .great see a peice of history come back to life...
saw these first at the Highland Show in Edinburgh. Always remember and desire. I did own a few Ducati singles but the aermacchi was another step ahead.
love your videos mate keep them coming I'm in the process my self at a full rebuild on a 2002 yz426f put a valve threw the piston so going a big bore now ur videos have helped me a lot
the spring you found in tool side cover holds the gas tank on right in front of the seat. the clip-on spring hooks to the tank and spring hooks to frame
Awesome works really good for cleaning parts and so does dish washing soap like Dawn when using an ultrasonic cleaner. Not sure if you can use it in the model you have, but gas is actually the best cleaner. The ultrasonic cleaner is a handy tool to have in the shop !
For dogs sake get a remote tank, you don't even have a fire extinguisher nearby and you're pouring raw gas into a fuel line with a hot running exhaust pipe below the fuel line. It might be "running good" but it looks like it's burning some serious oil and there's some piston slap.
I have even more advice on bikes like this because I owned them. Points cam be cleaned many times and they last quite a while, but old condensers dry out and break down as they age. Always replace an old condenser. Better yet, convert it to 12V with electronic ignition. That's the shizzle.
That carbs trashed, but it was cleaned, lol. I had to find one for the 250 we fixed, and I found one in Canada and one in Phoenix. Got the Phoenix one, in, and it was trashed to. Rebuilt it with what we had around. Worked ok
I have a soft spot for anything that looks like my favorite moped engines.... My thing is Puch, but a lot of Italian makers made good flat engines, and bikes, too. One of the best moped engines around, if you ask me, is the Minarelli V1. Plenty old bikes with V1's still on the market. You should find one, and go shopping at treatland. -With a big Polini cylinder on it, big carb, and fat pipe, and you easily have a 60+ mph sub-100cc two-stroke featherweight moped, that makes adequate horsepower, for it's small size. Surprisingly powerful, with a circuit pipe... I mess with Puch. E50 mopeds, mostly. This flat 4-stroke engine, is just like my two-stroke E50's, and the V1, and many moped engines, flat, cylinder head first. Literally like they built a large 4-stroke moped engine with a gearbox. Aermacchi has made airplanes (Look at their name) and mopeds in Italy, as well.
Tip, an easy way to check for a spark without kicking, is have the points fully closed with the ignition on.open and close the points with a screw driver or something non conductive,and observe the plug in the usual way. Retired mechanic.
When I was in the Canadian Navy I was posted off my ship when we sail to Montreal to work for the Olympic committee, they had a bunch of these bikes during the 76 Olympic’s in Montreal Canada for quick hops around the site.
Great stuff, Joe! I was wondering if it was the Italian design that placed the shifter on the right and the rear brake and kick start on the left? I'd really have to concentrate taking this one out for a first drive!
In 1971, I was a motorcycle mechanic. Lots of motorcycles had right side shifters . Some had left side throttle. Early Harly Sporters had right side foot shifters. In other words, controls wear put wherever the engineer decided to put them. In 1975, the US passed the standard, requiring that they all be placed as they are today. In fact, Harley-Davidson and Indian motorcycles had opposite control layouts, and both those manufacturers offered optional reversed kits for their control layout. Harly built military WLR with the throttle on the opposite side because that's what the military wanted.
These were made by an Italian firm Aeromachi. my buddy had one with full fairing on on it he road raced it in the 60's. with some tuning it was reasonably competitive.
For an easier ultrasonic cleaning, put water in the tub and the parts in a ziplock bag with the cleaning solution. I usually just use diesel fuel in the ziplock bag. The ultrasonic waves go through the bag with ease. A take the parts out and let the diesel evaporate in the sun.
That is so very cool. When I was just a very young child, back around 1954 my dad had one of those he drove to work down at the refinery. I can remember hearing the whistle blow for him to get off work and knew that he would be home in a while. So I would go out to the curb and when he got there he would put his lunch pail down and put me on the tank and have me hold onto the handle bars and take me for a ride. I was only 4 or 5. No helmets or anything. He would get arrested to day.
@@2vintage Well, I have been informed that this harley was not made back in 54. I was only 4 or 5 and later in years I asked my dad about it and he said it was a Harley about a 250. But he was kinda fuzzy about it. Anyway, the memory is that he took me riding and what bike it is is not important. I just want you to know how much I enjoy your videos and am amazed at your mechanical ability.
First Harley Sprint we ever saw, was ridden by a carney, at the state fair in Georgia. About fifty years ago. He had a bowl shaped track, made of stout boards. Bowl was quite deep. He made use of centrifugal force, in order to zoom around the inner rim of the bowl, nearly parallel to the ground. Had a repertoire of other stunts, too. Unrestricted exhaust, nice and loud. Who remembers what this act was called? Vague recollection, "Speeding Pit of Death", or similar. Submit corrections in the replies. This daredevil thrilled callow youths to the marrow. Some swore that he kept a cigarillo clenched in his teeth, through the whole spectacle.
I Had a friend that had one of the little 50cc Harley Davidson scooters and it was Italian scooter it was pretty cool. It had the white handle grips and foot pegs and were marked Harley Davidson on the grips & pegs . You can really dress up that chrome with SOS pads it will take away the rust you will be amazed.
Brah, I've been dreaming of finding on of those for years. I have 3 Ducati singles (250 Diana, 250 Scrambler and 350 Sebring) but I really want one of those Harleys. Sounds like a very low-time engine. Great score, hope it finds a nice home.
I'd check for loose head bolts.,or blown gasket.,or exhaust pipe flange donut ring crush sleeve seal could be on it's way out. After all it's been sitting for over 30+ years you said. It could've started doing that is one of the main reasons why it got parked.& Most likely a long with the no spark issues to on it. Good work Joe!
That is probably a 250 as I have read it was replaced by the 350 in 1969 suggesting that they did not sell both in the same time frame, gearbox is one up 3 down and it has no return spring for the throttle it should be an interesting project.
I have a 74 SS350. FYI, on mine they can leak oil from the lower engine mounts. If you find that’s the case, shoot some silicone in there and maybe that will help.
It's not a true Harley Davidson if it isn't leaking oil from some place. Lol Super awesome bike and very cool you got it running again. You could probably work that dent in the tank out and get it pretty nice. It'll definitely clean up and be a great bike to cruise around on.
I’ve heard ultrasonic cleaners work for stuck slides. Though in every case where I had a stuck slide, it was just cheaper to buy a new carb from someone than to buy an ultrasonic cleaner
I had the Rapido, a 125cc Aermacchi-made H-D badged, with gasoline/oil mix in the tank. Not good with electric connections. Weak in all senses, not trail-worthy. But it got me around town for a couple of years.
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
Can we all just take a minute here to realize just how much content he uploads? Excellent job.
Joe realises ,u wanna grow the channel u have to post,alot!👌🦾🦾🦾
Agree. Joe has been incredible with the content!
Thank you so much! It means a lot! I enjoy what I do, and I am glad that you all enjoy the videos! Thank you for watching!
@@richardaffonso Thank you so much man! That means a lot! I appreciate you watching!
Nice job I remember those I believe they are Italian engine’s
A lot of Italian in that bad boy, it was a collaboration between Harley and Aermacchi, later models were entirely Aermacchi but marketed in the US as Harleys.
It’s an aermacchi not a Harley
@@marcmenton8063absolutely correct. Until 74 HD owned 50% of Aermacchi. The bikes however were always built in Italy.
I used to really be into Sprints and have owned many. The spring you found in the toolbox is used to secure the gas tank at the rear. Thanks for the ride down memory lane.
I picked up an SS350 Sprint that was sitting in the barn of a house I was renting. I was able to secure the paperwork for $50.00 from the previous owner. Some clean gas and a new spark plug and it fired right up. That little bike was really fast. Faster than my friends Honda CB360. Too small for my large frame but it was worth going through with new fluids, tires and brakes. I worked at a farm implement dealer and some orange Allis Chalmers paint and black Rust-Oleum gave it the Harley race bike look. Sold it to someone that was tickled to receive it. Another one of many bikes that I shouldn't have let go. Those little Italian Harleys were fast on the race track, mostly dirt flat track.
What a time capsule, I love seeing old machines coming back to life!
I love working on old machines! Thank you for watching!
@@2vintage he'll yeah brother. Keep it up. 💪
Nice! I had one, the 350cc. They were made in Italy by Aermacchi for AMF-HD. Rode mine all over Italy, never missed a beat. An awesome little roadster!
tutti machina.
Surprised I had to scroll this far for your comment. I had a '77 Harley AMF MX 250 motocross bike I was going to restore. The Spaghetti Harleys
Were these sold in Italy? I lived in Italy from the mid 70’s to early 80’s and I never saw any Harleys… (fell in love with Moto Guzzi tho).
@@JoeyP322 They were. In 1960 AMF-Harley Davidson bought 50% of the Aermacchi stock and these bikes were sold all over Italy. I remember going to the Aermacchi parts counter in Milan in the early '70s where you could buy everything needed down to the last nut and bolt. Around the block was the shop of legendary Aermacchi mechanic Osvaldo Coppelli who built them as racers and helped us with maintenance, etc. It was quite a scene back then.
Definitely! Thank you for watching!
When I worked as a locksmith, I used WD40 during the winter to displace water and prevent the locks from freezing up. Also used it to free up stuck lock cylinders and aid in picking. WD40 makes it difficult to impression/file keys by hand though. During the Summer and all seasons in doors, I opted for graphite powder. It really lubed locks well. The only time it's a bad idea is when a lock has been installed upside down and true double sided key locks, as the graphite can get past worn pins and prevent them from moving into their bores. It fine for all locks using wafers instead of pins.
The brand of locks i have on my house require you to use graphite powder lube to maintain the warranty. The best part is it doesn't attract dirt in the long term.
shut up your boring me
@@k-mc94 kill joy 😊
@@speedfreak8200 Feel free to pump loads of grease into your ignition, its a free country 😃
@@SP2X1369 , thanks for your input
A suggestion on your points. Try using contact cleaner. WD-40 acts as a insulator. Also a points file is great for getting rid of corrosion. The float tickle button is used to flood the combustion chamber on cold startup just press it down until gas runs down the float bowl. Great video.
Wonder if the carb is an Amal. They had a"tickler button" also.
@@jeromebreeding3302 not amal they didn't make a float like that I've got several amals from GP, mono block, and concentric.( British bike rider since the late 60s) it looks similar to amal but I don't think it is.
@@jeromebreeding3302 also the jets are set up different than any Amal I've seen.
Thank you for the suggestions! I appreciate it! Thank you for watching!
@@markgoodwin6266 I think you are correct. Aside from the tickler button, does'nt look like my Amal concentric or any other Amal I've ever seen.
They were Aermachis badged as HD's.My sister had one in about 1973.A really nice wee bike.Hers was the 350.I ran it in for her.Great handling.
Fantastic at 52:55. Brings back serious 1970s memories. We always used to push down the carb "tickler" to allow raw fuel to enter the intake port for cold starting. Great work.
Cool motorcycle
I had a 350 Sprint scrambler wish I still had it it was a fantastic little machine sold it to my pal
He still has it to this day
Thank you for sharing
Just to correct some of the comments:
- It's a 250. They went to 350 in 1969.
- It's a four-stroke.
- The entire bike (not the just the engine) was made by Aermacchi (not Benelli) in Italy. Harley acquired 50% of Aermacchi in 1960. The first Harley-badged Sprint was in 1961; the last one in 1974 (by then they weren't called "Sprint" anymore - SS350 and SX350). AMF bought the remaining shares of Aermacchi in 1972, after having bought Harley in 1968. The Sprint was no more an AMF than the rest of Harleys.
- The 250s are wet clutch. They went to dry clutch with the 350 in 1969.
- The carburetor is a Dell'Orto
- They don't use head gaskets.
This one appears to be all original, with the exception of the muffler, which is aftermarket. To find an original seat in that condition is very rare indeed.
I felt so bad watching the carb and throttle being destroyed. Dellortos are great carbs and that one went to carb hell in this guys hands.
@@Eustus2000 I like Italian bikes (have 2 in garage) and know these small HDs were badged Italian bikes, am wondering if I should carry on watching the video. When this guy started he wasn't much good at repairing things imho (ok 3+ decadesa and being in electronics might help) but hopefully he will have got better.
Great to hear the sound of a 60’s machine come back to life!
It is an awesome sound! Thank you for watching! I appreciate it!
I had a 71 Harley Davidson sportster and the gas tank looked worse than yours did inside. I got a kit from POR 15 to clean and seal the gas tank and it did a great job!
A few cups of bb's for a bb gun works great for stuff like rust in tanks and even to clear carbon from 2 stroke pipes. Just dump em in and shake it for a few minutes to dislodge the crud
Bro is so consistent with his uploads. Can probably open a used bike dealership! Keep rocking bro!!
Dude always check that plug is good. They can go faulty.
@Random One And that's a good thing to do 👍
Thank you so much! I appreciate you watching!
Always fun to see Sprints. I had a 67 when I was 16, and years later, a 1965. I used to joke that I couldn't get lost on it, because I'd just follow the trail of parts that fell off back to my home. It was quite a vibrating machine. Used to make my hands go numb.
At idle the piston is stationary and the bike goes back and forth.
Your little Harley is 100% Italiano made here in Italia by aermacchi. Parts are VERY Available because there are many still in use here.
H. D. Owned 50% and then 100% of the company after it was sold by HD to Aermacchi In 1978 to the Castiglioni brothers, who built Cagiva from it, which in 1985 bought Ducati, and later Husqvarna and Moto Morini.
Wow! so many bought it..
These bikes are cool , buddy bought a 175 Enduro
Kepe up the grind! Algorithm finally picked up on your consistent and quality uploads, so keep it up man! Very informative and relaxing content to watch.
This project is right up my street. So wish I could get involved! Love 1960s Italian 2 strokes! (And 4 strokes that look like 2 strokes...)😅
Try a Lambretta air filter... They are about six quid.
I've got a tenner that says it'll fit.
Dellorto carburettors are my speciality!😊
Good grief, this one takes me back. I remember guys having those when I was in junior high, and high school. 68 is a special year for me, the year I graduated high school.
Always said Joe is an Old Soul. '68 Harley, wasn't that when Japanese bikes were sweeping the market? '68 I was entering kindergarten at 4yo and my oldest brother was heading to Vietnam.
@@thebigguy8306 yeah a lot of the the guys I knew in high school went to Viet Nam. I remember guys started buying the Honda Super Cub 50, the 90 and Super 90, Dream 150 and 305's, plus the 305 Super Hawk. Cushman Eagles were big back then too.
It is definitely a nostalgic machine! Thank you for watching! I appreciate it!
That little oil leak is just what good Harleys do ... marking its spot !
It's an Aermacchi from Italy with a Harley badge.
@@scottnathanphoto Italian machines are quirky as well.
Haha exactly! Thanks for watching!
its a Marca Registrada of HD motorcycles!
@@scottnathanphoto was in a Triumph showroom in the 70's every Triumph on the showroom floor had oil spots under the engine,a common quirk!
Probably my favorite small moter content creator atm. Keep up the regular updates. Good content great addatude 😊
That means so much to me! Thank you! I appreciate you watching! I am glad that you enjoy the videos!🙂
From somewhere in Wisconsin to Sturgis, South Dakota approximately 800 miles. You will look cool when you ride into town on that Harley this summer.
Learning a lot in these comments. The VIN on the title starts with "67" which... before 1970, according to what I read, that's when it was made
I knew several people that had them as their first bike in High School. Very rare to see one,especially in such good condition. A lot of them were converted into short trackers. They had a very low center of mass.
That is awesome! Thank you for watching! They are great machines!
Yep saw them run at Ascot Park on Friday nights back in the '60s.
Sturgis flat track every Friday night in the summer.
My step-dad bought one of these for $75 at a yard sale in really poor shape. While bs-ing with him, I told him I'd take it if he didn't want it. He gave it to me! It had been parted out and was exposed to ALL the elements. But, it's been 5 yrs of tracking down parts and cleaning things up and my first start-up attempt is officially just around the corner. This video has got me even more hyped for it😂. Thanks for making it.
They won't fire covered in wd 40 fine sand papper only
I had the silver & black version of this bike around ‘77 or so. Very comfortable to ride with its low cg and seat. I believe that the shifter was 1 up and 3 down too. Paid $125.00 for it rode it for two years, holed the piston and sold it for fifty bucks. It even had a windshield. Those were the days.
It is definitely a nostalgic machine! Thank you for watching!
These bikes do really well in the Classic TT as pointed out its an Aermacchi
Sweet bike! Glad you got it working. I can't wait to see the tires rolling. Enjoyed the video.
Thank you for watching! I am glad that you enjoyed the video!
I had a 1966 Sprint H. It was 250cc. I loved that bike. Ended up putting moped front forks on it, ridgid rear suspension, CRS cams and pistons. Ran it alcohol at the drag strip. Don't remember the times. I think it was in the 15's.
I had a '66 250 Sprint in high school. My Dad 'massaged' the motor and I remember whippin' the local bigmouth's 450 Honda with it in the twisties...riding 2 up!
What a great accomplishment to get that piece of history going! But remember most old Harley’s even the the Italian influenced ones leaked oil. Great video great content your grandfather would be beaming with pride right now seeing you get this going, can’t wait for part 2
Thank you so much for saying that! I appreciate it! It means a lot to me! Thank you for watching!
I think these Harleys were aermacchi's rebadged so some parts could be sourced from Italy.
44:30 a cotton swap on the end of a drill with some fine cutting paste can clean out and surface the needle seat or polish it so the needle will close how it should, sandpaper will leave scratches.
A single set of points does not indicate a single cylinder.
A single set of points can run many cylinder.
But you are just a kid.
I love your videos, and your thoughtful methods.
It's been sitting for 30 years, now let it sit out in the rain! Omg 😢
I
Your video brought back memories. My first bike was a 70, 350 Sprint. The left hand kick-start was awkward, and had a tendacy to kick back. Un-reliable electrics caused me to trade it for a CH Sportster. Most guys that stuck with it switched out the stock DelOrto carb for a Micuni.
Joe you are much more athletic than me stepping from the tailgate to the ground, holding the bike up above your head and not missing the small ramp. I can see this going wrong 25 different ways. Probably should have said nothing.
Haha! Thank you for watching! I appreciate it!
I was fretting as well. A buddy on the other side would be good.
Great find, sharp looking cycle for a '68 (not that old!). Like many things of that vintage (me) a little worn, a little rusty around the edges, but with good spark. A slight departure from the dirt bike, ATV content, and classic cycles - you will have to get another property to store everything
It is a great machine! Thank you for watching!
"Fogging oil" in a spray can will coat the entire surface of the cylinder when regular oil can't due th the cylinder being horizontal. Little trick I picked up a long time ago.
Really neat bike. I'm about 20 minutes in.. Definitely yelling to add a little heat to the carb (you said it right after I did!!) Thing is super cool. I wonder if when the gentleman you bought it from said he 'cleaned' the carb he meant he did that in 1982. What a very nice find though, bike is super clean and I'm thinking if you get that tank un rusted, that dent should come out with a little dolly and hammer work! Nice find!!
If I remember correctly from working on them back in the day, that spring thing in the side cover is the fuel tank hold down for the rear of the tank.
I'm just glad you got the old girl running again. Good job young man.
Maybe it's just me but I think this guy is being pretty brutal on the ol' 250 Sprint...especially the Delorto carb. P.S. I could feel my Dad smacking me in the head when you were using that screwdriver as a prybar!
Carb might have gotten messed up in this, you’re right about that, at least it looked like it to me, but…. maybe I’m wrong I guess. The no-oil-change-decision was a worse thing to do to an old sitter imo. Again though, hard to say for sure on this side of the screen. I’d def change it for sure. Spraying WD40 on the points seems wrong? Ah. It ran I guess.
I had one of those. Bought new in 1965. It was a real POS. Drove it home from the Harley dealer about 30 miles praying it would make it It wouldn't go over 40. After I shut it off it wouldn't start. Plug was fouled. Put a new plug in , kicked 200 times finally fired up. No power at all. Checked the point gap setting , right on. Loaded it up on the truck and took it back. Dealer couldn't figure out what was wrong after weeks of kicking it so I traded it in for a 64 Duel Glide. Later I found out that the timing mark was miss stamped on the crank flywheel. After he figured that out set everything correctly it ran just fine. Good luck with you project, You won't find another one.
Nice find, one of a kind would love to own one someday. Love your videos, lotsa hard work to keep up this pace so much respect to you.
Thank you! That means a lot! I appreciate you watching!
As a teen i remember my next door neighbor had a 350 sprint,same color ,his little bro had a Harley Rapido 125cc.The amazing thing he went to Cali and back! That was in 1971,i was almost 16yrs old and i had a 500 sawki mach 3,man those were the.good ol days.
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This is sooo much better than anything on tv. Thanks
My dad had one of these back in the 70s when I was a kid. Rode on the gas tank. He made bar for down tubes for my feet. They were crazy loud!
The spring and latch you found in the tool compartment the spring is used to hold the gas tank down In the back of the tank .great see a peice of history come back to life...
I love working on vintage machines like this! Thank you for watching!
Ultra sonic cleaner before teardown, amazing how much it'll get off it.. great vid, very cool bike.
saw these first at the Highland Show in Edinburgh. Always remember and desire. I did own a few Ducati singles but the aermacchi was another step ahead.
love your videos mate keep them coming I'm in the process my self at a full rebuild on a 2002 yz426f put a valve threw the piston so going a big bore now ur videos have helped me a lot
I am so glad to hear that the videos are helpful! Thank you for watching! I appreciate it!
the spring you found in tool side cover holds the gas tank on right in front of the seat. the clip-on spring hooks to the tank and spring hooks to frame
ITS AN OLD Harley they all dripped lol Great video and well done bringing them all back!
Awesome works really good for cleaning parts and so does dish washing soap like Dawn when using an ultrasonic cleaner. Not sure if you can use it in the model you have, but gas is actually the best cleaner. The ultrasonic cleaner is a handy tool to have in the shop !
Thank you for watching! I appreciate it!
Just found your channel. Thoroughly enjoyed this one.
For dogs sake get a remote tank, you don't even have a fire extinguisher nearby and you're pouring raw gas into a fuel line with a hot running exhaust pipe below the fuel line. It might be "running good" but it looks like it's burning some serious oil and there's some piston slap.
I have even more advice on bikes like this because I owned them. Points cam be cleaned many times and they last quite a while, but old condensers dry out and break down as they age. Always replace an old condenser. Better yet, convert it to 12V with electronic ignition. That's the shizzle.
That carbs trashed, but it was cleaned, lol. I had to find one for the 250 we fixed, and I found one in Canada and one in Phoenix. Got the Phoenix one, in, and it was trashed to. Rebuilt it with what we had around. Worked ok
I have a soft spot for anything that looks like my favorite moped engines.... My thing is Puch, but a lot of Italian makers made good flat engines, and bikes, too. One of the best moped engines around, if you ask me, is the Minarelli V1. Plenty old bikes with V1's still on the market. You should find one, and go shopping at treatland. -With a big Polini cylinder on it, big carb, and fat pipe, and you easily have a 60+ mph sub-100cc two-stroke featherweight moped, that makes adequate horsepower, for it's small size. Surprisingly powerful, with a circuit pipe... I mess with Puch. E50 mopeds, mostly. This flat 4-stroke engine, is just like my two-stroke E50's, and the V1, and many moped engines, flat, cylinder head first. Literally like they built a large 4-stroke moped engine with a gearbox. Aermacchi has made airplanes (Look at their name) and mopeds in Italy, as well.
Castrol Super Clean best on market IMO. Haven't had much luck with simple green. Doing great work... keep it up.
Tip, an easy way to check for a spark without kicking, is have the points fully closed with the ignition on.open and close the points with a screw driver or something non conductive,and observe the plug in the usual way. Retired mechanic.
When I was in the Canadian Navy I was posted off my ship when we sail to Montreal to work for the Olympic committee, they had a bunch of these bikes during the 76 Olympic’s in Montreal Canada for quick hops around the site.
Gotta love seeing the old HD
Great stuff, Joe! I was wondering if it was the Italian design that placed the shifter on the right and the rear brake and kick start on the left? I'd really have to concentrate taking this one out for a first drive!
In 1971, I was a motorcycle mechanic. Lots of motorcycles had right side shifters . Some had left side throttle. Early Harly Sporters had right side foot shifters. In other words, controls wear put wherever the engineer decided to put them. In 1975, the US passed the standard, requiring that they all be placed as they are today. In fact, Harley-Davidson and Indian motorcycles had opposite control layouts, and both those manufacturers offered optional reversed kits for their control layout. Harly built military WLR with the throttle on the opposite side because that's what the military wanted.
These were made by an Italian firm Aeromachi. my buddy had one with full fairing on on it he road raced it in the 60's. with some tuning it was reasonably competitive.
Now I am excited..I road Kern canyon two hipundred times on one of these durable Italian masterworks…. The 350 has guts..guts…and style…
Good job man! You didn't give up and you figured it out. Looks like it will be a nice machine.
Cool bike! Love your videos. Used to be a motorcycle mechanic in my younger days.
That is awesome! It is a lot of fun! Thank you for watching! I am glad that you enjoy the videos! I appreciate it!
I drove the 250cc sprint to high school for 2 years. For sure I love these old sprint motorcycles.
For an easier ultrasonic cleaning, put water in the tub and the parts in a ziplock bag with the cleaning solution. I usually just use diesel fuel in the ziplock bag. The ultrasonic waves go through the bag with ease. A take the parts out and let the diesel evaporate in the sun.
That is a BEAUTIFUL Harley Bike. Great Find!!!
Have worked on a few of them, they are a nightmare to fix. Getting parts, nope. Good vid.and good luck!
That is so very cool. When I was just a very young child, back around 1954 my dad had one of those he drove to work down at the refinery. I can remember hearing the whistle blow for him to get off work and knew that he would be home in a while. So I would go out to the curb and when he got there he would put his lunch pail down and put me on the tank and have me hold onto the handle bars and take me for a ride. I was only 4 or 5. No helmets or anything. He would get arrested to day.
He didn't have one of these in 54, the first one came out in 61
@@gunfighterzero Okay, I was so young I didn't know. When I got older he told me it was a Harley and that is all I knew.
That sounds like a great memory! Thank you for watching! I appreciate it!
@@2vintage Well, I have been informed that this harley was not made back in 54. I was only 4 or 5 and later in years I asked my dad about it and he said it was a Harley about a 250. But he was kinda fuzzy about it. Anyway, the memory is that he took me riding and what bike it is is not important. I just want you to know how much I enjoy your videos and am amazed at your mechanical ability.
First Harley Sprint we ever saw, was ridden by a carney, at the state fair in Georgia. About fifty years ago. He had a bowl shaped track, made of stout boards. Bowl was quite deep. He made use of centrifugal force, in order to zoom around the inner rim of the bowl, nearly parallel to the ground. Had a repertoire of other stunts, too. Unrestricted exhaust, nice and loud. Who remembers what this act was called? Vague recollection, "Speeding Pit of Death", or similar. Submit corrections in the replies. This daredevil thrilled callow youths to the marrow. Some swore that he kept a cigarillo clenched in his teeth, through the whole spectacle.
Wall of death. There are a few still around.
I Had a friend that had one of the little 50cc Harley Davidson scooters and it was Italian scooter it was pretty cool. It had the white handle grips and foot pegs and were marked Harley Davidson on the grips & pegs . You can really dress up that chrome with SOS pads it will take away the rust you will be amazed.
My dream bike in the 60's! At the drags, one was beating the 650 Triumphs & BSAs.
Right hand shift like my 1969 Bultaco Pursang 250
My dad had a 67 electraglide. He was having back issues. And traded the 67 for a new last year sprint 250 and a new sprint 350. I got the 250.
I loved my Sprint SX 350 and am glad to see this one getting the TLC she needs.
Brah, I've been dreaming of finding on of those for years. I have 3 Ducati singles (250 Diana, 250 Scrambler and 350 Sebring) but I really want one of those Harleys.
Sounds like a very low-time engine. Great score, hope it finds a nice home.
Great video! I always want to buy an old bike to fix up after watching your videos but have no idea what to look for.
Hearing that come back to life was awesome 👍👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Tank looks good..easy clean up. Great bike. Pretty easy to work on.
I'd check for loose head bolts.,or blown gasket.,or exhaust pipe flange donut ring crush sleeve seal could be on it's way out. After all it's been sitting for over 30+ years you said. It could've started doing that is one of the main reasons why it got parked.& Most likely a long with the no spark issues to on it. Good work Joe!
Thank you for the suggestion! I appreciate you watching the videos!
That is probably a 250 as I have read it was replaced by the 350 in 1969 suggesting that they did not sell both in the same time frame, gearbox is one up 3 down and it has no return spring for the throttle it should be an interesting project.
I had a similar tank dent. Paintless dent repair shop fixed to perfection.
my first bike was a 350 sprint. It was given to me by an uncle for my 12th birthday.
I have a 74 SS350. FYI, on mine they can leak oil from the lower engine mounts. If you find that’s the case, shoot some silicone in there and maybe that will help.
Harley Davidson, Oil Leak? Who knew? Great video as always.
These have one of the rare uses of dry plate clutches in motorcycles. And they handle like a dream.
Im 72 now...i wanted this bike when i was 16! Have had 10 since.
It's not a true Harley Davidson if it isn't leaking oil from some place. Lol
Super awesome bike and very cool you got it running again. You could probably work that dent in the tank out and get it pretty nice. It'll definitely clean up and be a great bike to cruise around on.
Harley's don't leak they just mark their spot😎
Thank you for watching! I appreciate it!
I think only you could get this running...I was born the same year as this bike...Awesome
Very COOL! I want to find one of these BAD 😁Thanks for the info and the great video!
The bike is my age love it 👍👍👍55 years old!! Very nice!!!
I had the last sprint, a '73 or 4 SX-350 until 1980. good to hear this one run. Keep an eye on the welded on gas tank mounts.
Thank you for the suggestion! I appreciate it!
I’ve heard ultrasonic cleaners work for stuck slides. Though in every case where I had a stuck slide, it was just cheaper to buy a new carb from someone than to buy an ultrasonic cleaner
I had the Rapido, a 125cc Aermacchi-made H-D badged, with gasoline/oil mix in the tank. Not good with electric connections. Weak in all senses, not trail-worthy. But it got me around town for a couple of years.
Great video you don't see many of those my sister had one of those brand new back in the day she was 19 then have a great day