1979 and late 1980 crankshaft timing marks. AMF Harley-Davidson XLH1000 Ironhead Sportster.

[@markkneller1172]

thanks i,m getting my head around timing marks so regardless whats stamped ,going clockwise,TDC front cylinder ,firefront cylinder, rear cylinder fire, happy days.

[@ImminghamIronhead]

Harley don't help by using (and changing) random squiggles instead of something that would actually make sense 🙂 I sometimes think that motorcycle designers actively hate mechanics, and they draw sustenance from our tears.

[@warrenp2022]

I must say that you don't give up easy! With all the repairs you have done there shouldn't be much left to cause you trouble. I hope mine isn't that contrary when I finally dig into it.

[@ImminghamIronhead]

This leak is the last thing that was wrong with it when I got it - anything else now is on me 🙂

[@danpoole3628]

Apparently earlier 80 are different then late

[@ImminghamIronhead]

You're right; I'd forgotten that. It did change sometime in 1980, so mine's a late '80 crank.

[@benderbender1233]

79 is kind of a bastard year. soooo many changes took place in da 70s.

[@ImminghamIronhead]

A '79 Ironhead is like a box of chocolates; you never know what's in there until you open it up 🙂

[@benderbender1233]

@@ImminghamIronhead indeed. eye really luckd out wit mine!

[@danpoole3628]

On the 79 do you time it on the line or dot....I tried to time using the line and would not start.so timed it off the dot and it starts.... using points ignition.

[@ImminghamIronhead]

79 is the line, but from late 1980 it was the dot; you may have a later crank. It's the middle one of the three, in both cases.

[@danpoole3628]

@@ImminghamIronhead I think late 80 was the lazy eight oo mine as the two drilled dots

[@ImminghamIronhead]

The infinity loop! That's on my current one.

[@danpoole3628]

@@ImminghamIronhead it's all so confusing. I'm going to get electronic ignition lol

[@ThomasELeClair]

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