1973 FLH Shovelhead Chopper

[SwampDecoy]

I truly envy all of your projects. You seem to have a vision for them all and get it done.

Is that Nitrous on the back of the SG?

[DRDUCK]

Cool project!

I still have a special love for 2-wheels, but don't ride a whole lot anymore, simply due to cellphones.

I keep saying I'm going to trade my Honda XR650 for a BMW GS series > 800cc, but I've yet to do it.

I'd love to put another superbike under my ass, but I feel as if I'm too old for that now.

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I gotta ask, WHAT THE HECK does a cell phone have to do with it???? Cut the mofo off

[USMCsilver]

I gotta ask, WHAT THE HECK does a cell phone have to do with it???? Cut the mofo off

If I had a pocket EMP - I'd GLADLY cut those off within a 50' vicinity.

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[DRDUCK]

If I had a pocket EMP - I'd GLADLY cut those off within a 50' vicinity.

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I might be old but I don't get the lingo

[USMCsilver]

I might be old but I don't get the lingo

I'm saying - due to OTHER PEOPLE'S phones, I'm more apprehensive to venture out on 2-wheels. I don't touch my phone in the car. Hopefully I set an example for my child.

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[Chessbay]

I truly envy all of your projects. You seem to have a vision for them all and get it done.

Is that Nitrous on the back of the SG?

I wish! Lol……those are remote reservoirs for shocks made by Ohlins…..massive suspension upgrade.

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I gotta ask, WHAT THE HECK does a cell phone have to do with it???? Cut the mofo off

I think he’s talking about the other jack legs……90% of the people I see when I ride are texting or on the phone.

[DuckorBust]

You can never beat a shovel in my opinion. I’ve had allot of bikes over the years and the only one that I’ve never got rid of is my 79 shovel FLH. Bike has over 100,000 miles and the cases have never been split. Just one top end rebuild by Doug Gwynn from Doug’s Harley Davidson. Well him and Little Jim. We’ve had it since 83. I did just recently pick up a 07 ultra classic that I’m thinking about doing something with but haven’t made up my mind yet. Can’t wait to see the updates.

[FishSticker]

Chess,

Have you done the SM500?? I've never been a 2 wheel asphalt guy but spent alot of time in the dirt over the years. Been thinking about getting back into a trail rig and doing the 500 with some buddies. I battled over that one you had for sale for a while...

There enough decent off road stuff around to make it worthwhile?

[Chessbay]

Chess,

Have you done the SM500?? I've never been a 2 wheel asphalt guy but spent alot of time in the dirt over the years. Been thinking about getting back into a trail rig and doing the 500 with some buddies. I battled over that one you had for sale for a while...

There enough decent off road stuff around to make it worthwhile?

I have not done the SM500, but would really like to…….seems like a pretty sweet trip. I spent this summer riding as much of the SCAR (South Carolina Adventure Route) as possible. I’ll pick off sections a Saturday at a time and then cruise back home. That 250L was a really great bike, but for trips like that it is much more conducive to overnights and taking your time. If you are limited on time and can only ride for a full day before you need to get home (like a lot of my riding) I found myself not riding that bike because it was so damn slow when you have to pound the pavement. I have a KTM 790R that is a pretty amazing bike…….great off-road, but no problem jumping on the interstate and cruising at 75-80 home.

There are a ton of great roads in SC to ride a dual sport to keep busy between trips like the SM500 or the TAT. I also go up to Hendersonville some and ride a bunch in the National Forest there. It’s a quick trip.

All of these pictures are from the SCAR right here at home.


https://scadventureroute.wixsite.com/website



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[Tha Dick]

Looks good! Brings back memories. I built a 93 low rider from bare frame up once upon a time. Had a 107” M/P that Pete Hill built. That SOB would scream!!

My brother found one of my uncles old bikes and bought it. If he’ll ever get his shop cleaned up I’ll go get it put back together. It’s an 83 super glide. If I remember correctly, Pete had done some work on it as well back in the day.

[Chessbay]

Looks good! Brings back memories. I built a 93 low rider from bare frame up once upon a time. Had a 107” M/P that Pete Hill built. That SOB would scream!!

My brother found one of my uncles old bikes and bought it. If he’ll ever get his shop cleaned up I’ll go get it put back together. It’s an 83 super glide. If I remember correctly, Pete had done some work on it as well back in the day.

I am pretty excited to get my motor back (whenever that actually is). His shop is the kind of place that when you walk into it, you are positive you’ve come to the right place.

[Chessbay]

Some progress:


Got the Tank and Fender mounted up…….the tank was somewhat challenging, more Fidaly than anything. I bought some 1/2” bungs that take 5/16 bolts and drilled the frame out once I had it located in the right spot. I used a string, level and my eyes to locate center and get it nice and level sitting. After that I drilledd holes, inserted the bungs and welded them in place. Really happy with it and the fender was pretty straight forward as it mounts in the original mounting holes.

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I also got my front brake rotors in and my front brake caliper….still waiting on the rear to get here. I did not skimp on the brakes and got Performance Machine 4 Piston calipers. The front rotor is 11.5” as the Fork I’m using is from a newer model motorcycle. The rear rotor is 10” as it’s what would have been originally on there.


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My bars and risers came in as well, so I got them put on. I went with a 12” mini Ape Hanger which came out just how I wanted. I used 1.5” risers which are nice and tight looking….nothing too high. I learned my lesson with Apes on my Softail and have started using solid bushings for this type bar. The bar is rock solid and won’t budge an inch when pulling or pushing on it.


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The original oil tank and battery set up on these bikes is pretty ugly. The battery is mounted in a big box on the side of the bike and just looks bad. I installed what you see here which incorporates the battery into the oil reservoir (common on newer bikes). The filler will be hidden under the seat. I had to modify a few things to make it fit correctly, but it really looks good.

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[Chessbay]

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Lastly, I got my wheels centered and spaced correctly and am currently waiting on more stuff. Don’t judge some of the hardware in the pictures……most will get swapped out once I take it apart again…..I’m using it for mockup purposes.


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[JOHNSON]

You have more projects than a fifth grader.


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[Carolina Counsel]

You’re an extremely talented fella. Haven’t been on a Harley in 20 years but still miss it.

[mudflat]

Love the old shovelheads, first ride on a Harley. I've had a Harley, CMC chopper, but my love is Indian. I grew up when the motorcycle scene was taking off. Saw a friend of mine on and old seafoam green Indian scout, straight out of a barn and fell in love with old Indians. That set me on a search for my own and after many dead ends, I found a basket case 1948 Indian Chief I purchased.

[FULLCHOKE]

I know nothing about bikes, but the way you did that oil reservoir/battery combo is slick. Very nice.

[Chessbay]

I picked away some this weekend.

I planned my controls several weeks ago, but went ahead and started mounting them to see what they did to my potential exhaust routing options and how they would interact with an open primary.

There are some guys in Charlotte (Prism) supply that are putting out some pretty sweet stuff. I am running their brake pedal/Master Cylinder setup and also running their foot clutch. I wanted Mid Controls instead of forward controls because I personally think that is how a Chopper should look. The Mids certainly open up many more challenges than forward controls such as exhaust interference among other things.

I also picked up the 2” rise foot pegs. I could use the floorboard mount on the right side of the bike, but had to weld a little connector on for the left.


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I troll Marketplace pretty often and picked up a set of S&S Cases, Heads, etc……There were a really good deal and will give me some spares should I ever need them. I put them in as they helped me with mock up.

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Next up was installing the transmission and I put together the shift linkage for the foot clutch and Jokey Shift. I’m going to take it back off, but was curious what it would look like.



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I mentioned earlier that I wanted to shave my forks and take the front fender bosses off since I will not be running a front fender. I took the lowers to a machine shop this week to see how much they would charge me to shave them off in a Lathe. They wanted $2500 and I almost shit my pants. Most shops charge about $150 per leg, but I would have had to ship them half way across the country. I decided to give it a whirl myself and I think they turned out pretty damn great.

I used a belt sander to get them pretty close and then used a combination of 80, 120, 220, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1200, 1500, 2000, 2500 and them finally 5000. I wet sanded once I got into the 1000+. I then used a buffing wheel and polished them using a similar procedure with different polishes and wheels.


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[Chessbay]

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I have started messing with the open Primary…..I need to study some more before I get it going. The plate in the picture is a bearing support which I will need to run because I won’t have an inner primary and something needs to support the main shaft. The other parts in the picture are the clutch basket and belt pulley. I also really, really need a complete motor that has the crank installed…..I am kind of stuck without it. I need to figure it out, work on the alternator, etc.


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That is pretty much where I sit as of now.



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[DRDUCK]

That is gonna be one SICK, BADASS MACHINE when you finish it.