Buying a rebuildable motorcycle is a great way to save money. Motorcycle repair, too, can come in handy. Do you have a bike in storage that you haven't dusted off for awhile? There's a good chance you can be among those restoring motorcycles so that you can ride your old road hog again. Here are a few basic steps to get your bike going:

Check Fuel
Drain the old fuel completely from the system and put in fresh gas before your turn the engine, especially if it the motorcycle has been sitting for a long period of time and did not have fuel stabilizer added before storage. Better to be safe then sorry.

Engine Oil
Replace engine oil and filter. Inspect the old oil and filter for any residue or metal shavings that would indicate internal engine problems.

Check the Battery
Make sure leads are not corroded and that the battery will fully charge and then hold a charge and replace if necessary.  Again for the price of a new battery, replace it if it's questionable.

Inspect The Chain
The chain is what transfers power from the engine to the rear wheel and is thus one of the most if not the most important wear item you need to inspect to ensure your safety.  Verify the chain tension and alignment as well as sprocket wear. Replace where needed and keep chain properly lubricated with manufacturer recommended lubricants and procedure.

Fluid Levels
Brake, clutch and coolant levels should be checked as necessary. Make sure you replace missing brake fluid with a new container of the same brand you used last time. Let your bike idle for a few minutes before you take off so that all fluids circulate properly.

Tires and Suspension
Inspect everything thoroughly before you take your first ride. If you kept your bike stored upright on a kickstand, make sure your tires aren't cracked, marked, or flat. In addition, check to make sure tire wear and air levels are good.

The above notes are a few suggestions to get your restored motorcycle going and in running order again.  Always consult a professional mechanic to ensure your bike is safe and road worthy before taking it on the open road. So go ahead and take your old bike out of storage or buy a rebuildable and get back on the open road. Check out our Salvage Motorcycle eBay Store to get the best deals on repairable and rebuildable motorcycles and choppers.Other Interesting Posts:

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Motorcycles: Fuel Efficient and Cool

The VW Service Manual will give you all the information on how to properly maintain and fix your Volkswagen.  Sure there are sites on the Internet with how-to's, but nothing beats having authoritative documentation with step by step instructions along with illustrations.  If anything else, the FSM will give you a better understanding of your vehicle and help along with performance mods and enhancements.

The VAG-COM is an aftermarket VAG-tool compatible with VW, Audi, Skoda and Seat vehicles.  This tool, which is comprised of a hardware cable and software, turns a laptop into a full diagnostic scan tool.  Don't even waste your money on an OBD-II scan tool if you own a Volkswagen.  My VAG-COM paid for itself on the first diagnostic use when it properly and accurately identified a failed MAF sensor, which I purchased off eBay for a third of what the dealer was charging.  For any of you keeping tabs, that's no charge for simply plugging in the car to the VW proprietary scan tool at the dealer, purchased the correcting identified replacement part for a third of the dealer cost, then with the service manual I installed in myself in a few minutes.  Return on investment was immediate. 

Although this article is specific to Volkswagen's, the same is true for all makes and models.  The more educated you are and the more information you have available to you, the more successfully you will be at maintaining your vehicle.

VW Jetta 2005 2005 2.5 Owner's Manual Nav GPS US $.99 ** Ends In 4h 45m **

VW CHILTON REPAIR MANUAL 1974-90 FWD ALL MODELS MK1 MK2 US $.99 ** Ends In 8h 29m **

1987 VW Jetta Owner's Manual and Dealer List US $.99 ** Ends In 15h 36m **

CHILTON AUTO TRANS REPAIR MANUAL FOR 1980-84 IMPORTS US $.99 ** Ends In 1d 4h 16m **

1970 CHILTON'S AUTO REPAIR MANUAL IN COLOR US VW 63-70 US $.99 ** Ends In 1d 17h 2m **

VW DASHER Workshop Repair Manual 1974-1979 All models US $.99 ** Ends In 2d 9h 4m **

2000 VW JETTA OWNER'S MANUA US $.99 ** Ends In 2d 11h 9m **

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Petersen's VW Rabbit Tune-Up & Repair Manual Volkswagen US $.99 ** Ends In 2d 12h 38m **

VW Beetle Car Care Guide manual 67 - 79 US $.99 ** Ends In 3d 9h 9m **

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Volkswagen Service Manual and Maintenance

First of all it is a parts car so don't expect to drive it back home or drive it ever for that matter so you will need to make arrangements to get it home.  Getting a BMW parts car for a steal of a deal is no good if you bust the budget shipping it home.  Best experience I've had is to have a list of parts I need for a restoration or rebuild of a project vehicle: car, truck or motorcycle.  Once you have your full list you can shop for parts cars that match your list and criteria rather then sourcing all the required used auto parts seperately. 

eBay is by far the best place to find great deals on parts cars.  The selection of parts car auctions is great and changes daily so you can keep coming back or set alerts to receive updates and summaries of new listings.  When shopping from eBay, make sure you have all the details of the vehicle BEFORE you bid.  Once you bid and win it is a binding contract.  There are some good eBay stores that sell parts cars with no reserve that sell for very reasonable and sometimes unbelievable prices.  These stores are nice to keep in your favorites as they sell volume so deals are there to be had.

Take a look through our indexed eBay parts cars and salvage projects.  You never know what you'll find.  The last parts car I bought through eBay was a Jeep Wrangler I wanted for the frame.  I got the straight frame I wanted and parted out the rest through eBay.  I actually made a profit selling off the Jeep parts I didn't want or need.  So what are you waiting for?  Happy Parts Car hunting!

C4 Corvette Dana 36 Differential Cover Bat Wings US $5.00 ** Ends In 6d 9h 18m **

GARMIN NUVI GPS REPAIR - REASONABLE RATES, FAST SERVICE US $.01 ** Ends In 27d 8h 26m **

Bride of the Monster (VHS, 1995) Used Ed Wood Lugosi US $.98 ** Ends In 1d 7h 14m **

97-05 Malibu Right Rear Window Motor, used, working, NR US $.99 ** Ends In 6h 48m **

Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Salvage Parts - No Reserve US $.99 ** Ends In 9h 13m **

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Parts Cars: Salvage Cars Parts

Totaled motorcycles with damaged frames can be bought for excellent deals.  Search eBay for a "parts motorcycle" where your plan is not to ever title the bike as salvaged.  The other part is to search eBay for "chopper rolling chassis" or something similar.  It's best to lock in your rolling chopper chassis before you actually buy your totaled parts bike so you can buy a more targeted bike with the parts you really want.

Now that you have the parts bike and your rolling chassis the fun starts.  You have all the basic components to put your own custom built chopper together.  Using eBay you could easily complete this project over the winter months and have yourself a kick ass bike for the next summer.  That being said, I'm on the hunt... would be interested in hearing stories and pictures of anyone who has gone through this process.

220 Rigid Rolling Harley Chopper Chassis Frame STICKER US $9.99 ** Ends In 8d 16h 12m **

250 Rigid Rolling Harley Chopper Chassis Frame STICKER US $9.99 ** Ends In 8d 16h 12m **

230 Rigid Rolling Harley Chopper Chassis Frame Sticker US $9.99 ** Ends In 8d 17h 16m **

220 Rigid Rolling Chopper Chick Chassis Frame STICKER US $10.99 ** Ends In 21d 16h 35m **

220 Rigid Rolling Chopper Chrome Chassis Frame STICKER US $10.99 ** Ends In 21d 16h 35m **

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Custom Built Chopper Motorcycles

One tool every backyard mechanic should invest in is a good OBD-II scanner. An OBD-II scanner can save you time and money when troubleshooting car troubles or to get information on the health of your next salvaged car or truck restoration.

Every OBD-II error code is a warning that something could be very wrong inside your car. It can tell the difference between a broken gas cap and a more expensive fuel pump or oxygen sensor problem, but you will still have to investigate the error. Investment in a good FSM, Field Service Manual, for the make and model of the vehicle you are working on is paramount to match up the error code pulled from the OBD-II. Matching the error to teh FSM should give details and possible resolutions. The Internet is also a valuable resource.

Keep in mind that OBD-II is a standard in only the broadest sense, and some carmakers use proprietary codes and keep their meaning secret. Although it can't compare with the dealer's more sophisticated device, there's a lot you can do with a $100 auto scanner or kit that uses a notebook or a PDA. The bottom line is that an OBD-II scanner is essential equipment for today's shade-tree mechanic.

Wireless Bluetooth Scanner OBDII OBD2 OBD II 2 V1.3 US $.01 ** Ends In 8h 53m **

OBD II OBD2 USB AUTO SCAN TOOL SCANNER CAN BUS OBDII 2 US $.01 ** Ends In 10h 3m **

Auto scanner OBD 2 II trouble code reader CAS804 OBDII US $.01 ** Ends In 11h 3m **

ELM 327 1.5V USB CAN-BUS Scanner ELM327 Software US $.01 ** Ends In 17h 31m **

Autel Maxscan GS500 OBD2 CAN-BUS Scanner Code Reader US $.01 ** Ends In 17h 54m **

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Post from: Wrecked Salvaged Cars & Motorcycles

OBD-II Scanners

Antique Harley bike decalcomanias and spines are another point that you may desire to add to your shopping list. These parts are very cheap and they are still relatively easy to find. Online auction bridge land sites are great topographic points to happen vintage Harley decals, as are Harley trade shows and flea markets.

If you are interested in really alone old-timer Harley Motorcycle parts then you may desire to look for one of a sort products. One point that tin liven up your Harley aggregation is a Harley Davidson police force siren. Most of the Sirens that you can happen on the secondary marketplace still work, and those that don't work can usually be repaired.

Shopping for repairable Harley bikes and parts is not hard to do. Harleys have been interlaced in bike civilization since the beginning. You can find the best deals on restorable Harley's and Harley parts in almost every portion of the world. If you can't find the parts or rebuildable Harley locally, then try online auctions.

Check out some books that will help after you've purchased your Salvaged Harley Davidson:

Harley Davidson WLA 1943 Technical Manual 3 Ebooks CD US $.90 ** Ends In 2d 1h 22m **

Harley front master cylinder repair kit. US $.91 ** Ends In 1d 15h 21m **

HARLEY DAVIDSON CD SOFTAIL SERVICE REPAIR MANUAL 84-07 US $.90 ** Ends In 3d 20h 2m **

HARLEY DAVIDSON CD SOFTAIL SERVICE REPAIR MANUAL 84-07 US $1.00 ** Ends In 3d 20h 2m **

HARLEY DAVIDSON DYNA GLIDE SERVICE REPAIR MANUAL 91-06 US $1.00 ** Ends In 3d 20h 3m **

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Repairable Harley Davidson Motorcycles

The new owner will have to have a new title created which will be marked as "salvage" by most state DMVs. Some state DMV's will allow the bike title to reclaimed as "clean" after a vigorous inspection, but this is more an exception to the rule. In the end, the wrecked motorcycle is marked as a salvage title, which will forever affect the value.

A "write-off" means the cost to fix the damage is more than the value of the motorcycle. A "write-off" or "total loss" can be declared by an insurance adjuster looking at superficial damage.  It's always buyer beware as there are sometimes hidden issues with a salvaged bike that the salvage yard might not know about.  It's your due diligence to inspect all aspects, get as much history on the bike as you can and ask lots of questions.  Ask if you can open the bike up to see if there is any internal damage. 

You must research registering a salvage motorcycle before you buy. If the red tape and inspection to reclaim the title is more time, work and money then you can afford it might be worth it to buy a clean titled bike. There might be expensive parts required to pass a safety check that aren't available used. Your insurance company might not insure your newly titled salvaged motorcycle or the cost of insurance so expensive it just wouldn't make sense.  Always check with your insurance company before making a buying a wrecked or salvageable motorcycle.

You really can save money and get a good motorcycle buying salvage, but it's easy to get wrapped in a money pit.  The main point is to do your research and be especially wary of the "to good to be true" deals out there.  For those of us that do find the "golden egg", enjoy!

80CC BICYCLE ENGINE KIT BIKE gas motor BLACK Z2-80BK-B US $.11 ** Ends In 4d 7h 32m **

1956 NORTON 350 MODEL 50 motorcycle collector card. US $.75 ** Ends In 2d 15h 50m **

2003 INDIAN CHIEF SERVICE MANUAL CD US $4.00 ** Ends In 11h 49m **

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Buying Tips: Repairable Motorcycles

First off, get the proper training. If you think you can just throw one of these in your garage and start straightening you're in for a mighty surprise and more damage then good. Check your local trade school or community college for classes or go chat with your local collision center mechanics. They love to talk about their tools ;o) The following is a pretty neat video that will give you a rough description and idea of frame straightening a wrecked car.

I am not affiliated with the product in this video, but found it to be helpful in researching affordable frame straighteners. Nice little unit for the home shop.

This next video is a training video, part 1, of the BlackJack Frame Straightening machine.  This is the "cats meow" of the frame straightening units.  If there's interest I'll post all the parts with comments and tips, or check out all 5 training videos from YouTube.com

I think I'll follow up this on this post as a mini series for auto body and salvaged car rebuild tips and techniques I've found helpful while doing research on the net. In the meant time I hope you stay tuned and while your waiting for the next post check out our store for the best deals on repairable cars

Tools of the Trade

New CAR REMOTE KEY SPY HIDDEN MICRO CAMERA DVR 720*480 US $.01 ** Ends In 1h 7m **

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New CAR REMOTE KEY SPY HIDDEN MICRO CAMERA DVR 720*480 US $.01 ** Ends In 14h 55m **

PETERSEN'S BASIC AUTO REPAIR MANUAL US $.01 ** Ends In 17h 38m **

New CAR REMOTE KEY SPY HIDDEN MICRO CAMERA DVR 720*480 US $.01 ** Ends In 20h 53m **

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Post from: Wrecked Salvaged Cars & Motorcycles

Auto Body Repair: Frame Straightening

What is a Totaled or Salvage Title Car?
Insurance companies often declare accident-damaged vehicles as total losses rather than pay for repairs. A car can be totaled by accidents, fire, vandalism, hurricanes, or other natural disasters. The typical rule is that if the cost of repairs will exceed 75% of the pre-damaged value, then the vehicle will be totaled.

In cases such as those in which a large number of vehicles are damaged at the same time, as in a flood or hurricane, an insurance company may survey only a few vehicles and then, to save time and expense, declare large groups of similar vehicles as total losses.

Oftentimes there are vehicles among the group that actually have only minor damage, or no damage at all. In some states these vehicles end up with salvage or flood titles. Rebuilding such vehicles may only require some minor body work and paint.

In some states, if a car has been salvaged after reaching the point of no return, the title should contain a comment saying that the car is a salvage car. In many states, this is not required and a salvaged car may carry a clean title. Because of these geographical inconsistencies in law, many car dealers move totaled cars to states where they can get a good title and then sell them without any hassle.

What happens to wrecked vehicles?
Insurance companies sell wrecked, recovered, and damaged vehicles at salvage auctions where they can be purchased by individuals, used car dealers, and rebuilders.

Salvage auctions are conducted on regular schedules by professional auction companies in cities in every state. Most are open to the public. Such auctions are good place to pick up wrecked and rebuildable cars but remember that there will other people attending and looking for good deals too.

Buying rebuildable cars & trucks
Buying rebuildable cars and trucks can be risky if you don't know what you're doing. It's difficult in many cases to be able to determine the full extent of the damage or estimate the cost of repairs. Vehicles that may seem driveable may actually have hidden damages that could be costly to fix. What initially seemed like a great deal might turn out to be just the opposite.

There can also be safety problems. Airbags may be missing or disabled. Anti-lock brake systems may not work. Seat belts may have become unsafe. Warning indicators may not work. Steering system and wheel alignment may be damaged.

In Summary
There are pros and cons to buying a salvaged vehicle. Tread lightly and safely, inspect all points and become a material expert so you know what to look for in the vehicle. Don't get caught up in the emotion of a potential good deal. If you are not a material expert in rebuilding salvaged cars, bring someone with you who is or you might not have a good experience.

Check out our store for more salvage cars for saleOther Interesting Posts:

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Post from: Wrecked Salvaged Cars & Motorcycles

Buying Salvaged Cars & Trucks