Harley-Davidson Electra-Glide/Super Glide 1970–1972 Service Manual (P/N 99482-72)

Factory service coverage for 1970-1972 Electra-Glide and Super Glide motorcycles, Harley-Davidson P/N 99482-72. The publication is copyrighted 1971 and includes service revisions dated 10-71.

PDF Access and Wiring Detail

Search, navigation, and diagrams: PDF text search is not available, and there are no embedded bookmarks. Small terminal numbers and wire-color codes in the wiring diagrams are readable with zooming; full-page viewing is better suited to following the overall circuit layout.

The ZIP download contains one printable, 183-page English PDF, including six cover and introductory pages, six section-divider pages, and five repeated service pages.

Chassis, Powertrain, and Electrical Service

The following highlights are a selection of the contents, rather than a complete contents list. Other topics include seat-post spring service and speedometer and tachometer cable maintenance.

• Chassis service: Drive-chain adjustment and replacement, wheel and hub repair, sprocket replacement, wheel spoking and truing, alignment, handlebar controls, and front-fork service.

• Brake repair: Mechanical front drum brakes, the Electra-Glide front disc brake, rear and sidecar brakes, master cylinders, caliper service, adjustment, and hydraulic bleeding.

• Engine overhaul: Step-by-step procedures cover engine removal, cylinder-head and piston work, oil-pump repair, hydraulic tappets, timing gears, flywheels, bearings, and crankcase assembly.

• Carburetor service: Separate Tillotson Model HD and Bendix Model 16P12 sections cover operation, adjustment, disassembly, inspection, cleaning, repair, and reassembly.

• Transmission and starting drive: Clutch overhaul, electric-start drive service, shift-linkage adjustment, hand- and foot-shift covers, shifter forks, gearbox overhaul, and main-drive-gear oil-seal replacement.

• Electrical diagnosis: Model-specific wiring diagrams, charging-system tests, circuit-breaker troubleshooting, ignition timing, coil and spark-plug checks, battery service, horn testing, and starter-motor repair.

Its mix of basic maintenance information and factory-approved major repair methods suits experienced owners for routine service and professional mechanics for internal engine, transmission, brake, and electrical work requiring precision measuring equipment and special tools.

Maintenance and Chassis Configurations

Maintenance charts cover predelivery checks, break-in, regular service, lubrication points, and lubricant categories. Fault-finding lists address starting and running complaints, lubrication, carburetion, electrical faults, transmission operation, clutch behavior, and braking.

Separate Electra-Glide and Super Glide front-fork sections distinguish their hydraulic assemblies, oil servicing, inspection, disassembly, bushing replacement, reassembly, and alignment work. Electra-Glide coverage also explains adjustable and non-adjustable forks for solo and sidecar use.

Frame dimensions support alignment checks, while rear-fork procedures cover pivot-bearing inspection and adjustment. Rear shock coverage includes spring adjustment, removal, and inspection; faulty hydraulic shock units require replacement rather than internal repair.

The fiberglass section covers gel-coat touch-up, molded-in-color surface repairs, and patching holes, punctures, and structural breaks.

Engine Repair and Carburetor Differences

The engine chapter helps distinguish top-end work that can be performed with the engine in the chassis from lower-end repairs requiring engine removal. Cylinder-head procedures include rocker-arm rebushing, valve-guide replacement, valve-seat and face grinding, lapping, and hydraulic-tappet adjustment.

Cylinder and piston coverage extends to bore measurement, refinishing, ring fitting, connecting-rod bushings, and rod alignment. Lower-end material covers oil-pump inspection, gearcase-bushing replacement, valve and breather timing, flywheel truing, bearing fitting, and crankcase assembly, with torque data, clearances, wear limits, and operating oil-pressure checks.

The Tillotson Model HD section applies to 1970 models; the Bendix Model 16P12 section covers 1971 and later models. Tillotson coverage adds inlet-needle, main-nozzle, and economizer leakage tests plus symptom-based troubleshooting. Bendix coverage explains its float system, fixed main jet, and accelerator-pump adjustment differences.

Gearbox Variants and Electrical Tests

Transmission material separates solo and sidecar gearing and documents the differences between the four-speed gearbox and three-speed-and-reverse configuration. The latter requires a hand-shift application and cannot be assembled in a four-speed case.

The Main Drive Gear Oil Seal Tool, Part No. 95660-42, is covered for seal replacement without removing or internally disassembling the transmission.

Dedicated wiring sheets and diagram keys cover the 1970 Electra Glide, 1971 Electra Glide, 1971 Super Glide, and 1972 Electra Glide. Charging-system diagnosis includes module checks, stator resistance and output tests, and a regulating-voltage temperature curve. Switch tests, headlamp aiming, and starter-motor inspection and repair support circuit diagnosis.

Factory Tools and Technical Illustrations

Named equipment includes the Fork Stem and Bracket Aligning Gauge, Part No. 96245-51, Carburetor Leakage Tester, Part No. 94750-68, and Crankcase Main Bearing Lap, Part No. 96710-40.

Illustrations include Frame with Basic Dimensions, Sprocket Shaft Bearing Assembly – Section View, Model HD Carburetor – Exploded View, Bendix Carburetor – Exploded View, Mainshaft Assembly – Exploded View, and Charging System – Schematic Diagram. Component views identify individual service parts and assembly relationships.

Repair Cautions and Safety

Drilling beyond the Tillotson main-nozzle welch plug can damage the nozzle assembly; wires or drills can also burr or resize calibrated passages. Connecting or disconnecting the stator-to-module plug with the engine running can damage the rectifier-regulator module.

Fuel-tank repair carries a specific fire and explosion warning if all fuel and vapor have not been purged before flame work. Fork, wheel, brake, engine, and transmission procedures also involve heavy assemblies and safety-critical systems; the motorcycle should be securely supported, and the specified measuring and torque equipment should be used for major repair work.

Examples of Engine, Brake, and Ignition Test Data

Engine fitting: The piston specifications list a ring end gap of 0.010–0.020 in., alongside separate ring-groove side-clearance data and ring-fitting instructions.

Front disc brake: For the 1972 Electra-Glide caliper, the inspection procedure specifies 0.020–0.025 in. piston retraction after brake release, checked with the hydraulic system connected.

Ignition coil: The troubleshooting section specifies primary resistance of 4.7–5.7 ohms and secondary resistance of 16,000–20,000 ohms for coil testing.