Well, I had decided to just try and get the bike running, then I planned on putting it up while I finish putting the Ambassador together. I started with taking the carb covers off and taking out the crusty air cleaner / choke assembly, Struggled to get it open for what looked like the first time in 68 years... there were no marks on the tabs so I am pretty sure that it was never service in the 7000 mile life of the bike. The crud was hard as a rock and a day of degreasing, picking and cleaning, it went back together like new.
I got the exact replacement NOS lead acid battery (bought two of them) put acid in and charged it for 24 hours on trickle.. just like new. Next task was to start looking over the wiring (which since paint job was Bunched up and zip tied). I could tell it was all original cloth covered wires and harnesses. Well, as you can see, the wiring is too far gone to be safe to hook up the battery to even get it running. I can buy new replica harnesses; cloth covered like the originals, but at that point I need to clean all the terminals on all the connections so that is well on its way to the refurbishing route. I am going to put it up for the next month or two and wait to start on it in the fall and do what needs to be done even to get it running... and hopefully riding.
harleyhummerpartsusa.com
