Sunday, March 20, 2011

Shovel head dream machine

1957 WAS ABOUT THE LAST YEAR FOR HARLEY'S RIGID FRAME. AND ALONG CAME THE DUO GLIDE, BUT THE TIMELESS GOOD LOOKS OF THAT OLD RIGID STYLE, HAVE CAPTURED THE IMAGINATION OF BIKE BUILDERS AROUND THE WORLD EVER SINCE.
HARLEY INTRODUCED THE SHOVEL HEAD ENGINE WITH A NEW ALTERNATOR CRANK CASE IN 1970, AND IN 1973 THE OLD REAR DRUM BRAKE WAS REPLACED BY A REAR DISC. AND THAT BASIC DESIGN CONTINUED WITH ONLY MINOR CHANGES UNTIL 1984, WHEN THE NEW EVO SOFTAIL WAS INTRODUCED.
MY AIM IS TO BLEND THE  57 RIGID STYLE, 73 SHOVEL CHARM, AND 84 SOFTAIL COMFORT, into a 2011 DREAM MACHINE
THIS BIKE WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR SALE WHEN COMPLETE.











4 HOURS, SHAVE, MASK, & PAINT.
LOOKING BLOODY GOOD.

OK TIME TO MASK UP THE MOTOR, CLEAN ALL THE PARTS TO BE PAINTED, SHAVE ALL THE HEAD FINS, AND GIVE THE PLAIN ALLOY A COAT OF HARLEY TEXTURE BLACK, 
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NEXT JOB ON THE LIST, IS TO CUT UP THE SPORTBOB TANK I GOT FROM ZODIAC....
WAS NOT KEEN ON THE DUAL GAS CAP, AND ALTHOUGH THE SIZE WAS NOT BAD, THE MOUNTS HAD TO BE MODIFIED, AND WHILE CONVERTING IT TO SINGLE CAP, I THOUGHT I MAY AS WELL MAKE A NEW TUNNEL AND NARROW THE REAR OF THE TANK AN INCH. FOR A CLEANER, COMPACT LOOK. THE OLD TUNNEL HAD INDENTED SHAPES TO CLEAR THE XL ROCKER BOXES, BUT AS I AM NOT MOUNTING IT THAT LOW, IT WAS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE IT A FLAT BOTTOM AND GAIN BACK SOME OF THE FUEL LOST BY NARROWING THE TANK. SPENT ABOUT 25 HOURS ALL UP. VERY HAPPY WITH THE RESULT. NOW HAVE A SPINNER STYLE GAS CAP IN THE CENTER.
MARKED READY TO CUT
CAP HOLES FILLED, TUNNEL REMOVED


TACKED, OLD TUNNEL, NEW TUNNEL.
ALL DONE, NEW MOUNTS AND FITTED


JUST WAITING ON  SANTEE 12" APES, FRONT FENDER, AND THE LEATHER SOLO SEAT.

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