Tuesday, December 15, 2009

D-Days Ironhead


Of all the Bikes Ive admired, this one is the only one I would like to build a copy of. And someday will.
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2 comments:

  1. NootDecember 16, 2009 at 8:07 AM

    Hey Mish, Is that frame you're using for your panhead originally a swing arm frame? Which hardtail is that? I have a swingarm frame and I could make it rigid?

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  2. MishDecember 17, 2009 at 12:46 AM

    Hey Rick!
    Yeah that was a 1976 FX frame. It has good numbers so I decided to hardtail it. Its a Santee Hardtail. I got lucky and got a straight one. They are hit and miss. The biggest problem seems to be the axle plates. Ive seen them tipped forward almost 15 degrees. It varies from section to section. Isnt that big a deal but as you adjust the rim outward, the fender clearance will change. This one was dead on when I got it trued up. I regret cutting up a stock HD frame, but I just didnt have the moola to buy a Flyrite $700. I saved the swingarm section I cut off. Eventually I will get a flyrite frame for the pan, but for now it will have a chopped harley. Even better yet, Id like an original pan frame. But the V-Twin knock-offs are sweet too. Click my link and go to the Jockey Journal Website, and do a search on weld on hardtails. There is some good threads. A guy named Fab Kevin, does sweet hardtailed conversions, but for the cost you could buy a decent aftermarket. He gets $1200 to do a hardtailed conversion, but he uses V-twin axle plates and removes the bottom cross tube and it looks really nice. He does it right.
    I used a conglomerations of things to check and double check my alighnment. The best was a magnetic protractor and a craftsman laser leveler. I tacked it here at home with my stick welder, then took it to work and put the wire to it with a nice Millermatic. I LOVE that welder. It was alot of fun to do the project. Had a hell ofa time figuring out what axle to use. I finally used a Santee axle kit for the santee hardtail frames with disc brak setup, and ordered a set of axle spacers. I didnt need the set of spacer. It worked out great. The add says the hartial wont lkower the bike, but it does lower it about 2 inches. Which I liked.
    My current issue, is how the hell to mount the horseshoe with a skinny rear fender. I want something that looks clean and is strong. Im experimenting with bending up a stainless steel "L" shaped battery pan that replaces the original type battery mount plate that is mounted under the oiltank and typically bolts to the rear fender with that separate bracket peice. The L-plate would bolt into bungs in the upper cross tube under the seat. The original battery mount plate wont work as it wont let the clutch arm swing due to the fact that the trannie sets up a half inch or so higher than the stock pre-65 panhead frames. Stock FX frames didnt have an adjustable trannie plate, just a single plate. The pre-65's had a double thickness plate as they had the adjustable plate. I know Im preachin to the choir to you, but it took me an hour or two to figure out why the clutch arm didnt have the needed throw, and why the 5th trannie mount bolt boss was a half inch away from the frames mount plate! I know, Im bohiemian!! But that is all the stuff I LOVE about building bikes. I cant get this exited hunting deer or anything else.
    Well, I better quite before I ruin yer eyes. Thankyou so much for reading my blog. I check yours almost daily. Cant wait to see the Sporty Project updates. I wasnt sure were it was going, but that Frisco'd tank tells me its going to be SCHWEEET!!
    When you starting the Board Tracker!!!HHMMMMM??? Im thinking 1940's Fleetwood bicycle for a platform..

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