1979 Ironhead build

Hello...
new member here.. just thought about starting a thread with the build of my 1979 ironhead...

have been around bikes for years and years, have had a Drifter and a 79 CB750, both chops, but always wanted to build my own and with a harley engine..

So about a month ago I bought something in "project" state and here we are...
its my first build ever.. so expect a lot of questions....from the top of my head:

1. does it need to run a oil cooler and filter? I see some without any?
2. what to use to do the plastic tube on the side of the tank to show how much fuel is in?
3. is my oil tank too small? i've been told it is?

...and soooooo many more! lol

here's some pics.

how it was and engine work






the bike with all the bits I got kind of bolted/resting on her just for the picture...



engine detail... love the brass bits.. hopefully will get to do the oil lines in brass or copper



on the surgery table


sprocket alignment


and what i've done today...
my frame had the tab to located a rear drum on the right side, but as im using a disc on the left, it was time to get rid of the tab, and the really thick backing plate, and reshape to the same as left side....

the backing plate was thick!!


started by cutting a template from the other side and get a line on the piece... here you can see the slot used to hold a drum brake and the backing plate behind.. which was a pain to get off without cutting to the plate I wanted to keep!



my mate cleaning off the welds once the backing plate was off


welded a piece inside


cut close to shape..


and then was a case of grinding and using a flap disc...quite happy with the result!


then was time to tackle the rear caliper and get it hanging down..
So i cut a new groove where the adjuster sits....but this time so it matches when the caliper is hanging down


and then test fitted it...




there ya go.... all for now!
any advice, criticism, piss taking, etc.. is more than welcome, its my first build and I have loads to learn

thanks
JP

Brakes= air stays at the highest point

And it looks like a lot of fun man!! Chop the hell out of that shit. And your oil bag is just fine you just will have to change it more often and a cooler is a good idea, but depends on where you live

looking very good buddy!
to your questions. on my 1980 sporty I have an oil-cooler and filter!
1 year ago I decided to run an oilcoller because of the high temp in summer and the poor sae50 oil in the engine. this stuff gets super liquid in high temp and it finds its way out of the engine.....
I still have the original oilfitler, after I had redone the hole engine I thought it would be better to have all the dust and stuff, that got into the engine by accident, filtered out.

keep on

thanks for the replies!

well, I guess most of you guys live in the US in some nice warmer place... I'm from a nice warmer place, Portugal, but been living in England for the past 8 years...and believe me, nice and warmer its hard to get over here! lol
Been raining for the last 2 months now....getting sick of it.

Over what outside temps do you reckon I'd need an oil cooler? I would rather not having to use one, so to keep the bike look clean with one less thing to mount... but if I have to, I'll use it.

looking good and faster than my build are you going for forward controls or mid cause if you are going for wards I would like to swap with you the bolt that holds the mids on for the one I have that has been cut down to allow the rod to sail past Im also in the uk sick of rain and its still the wrong type !!!!

Im going for mid controls.....I dont know what bit you are looking at when you mention the bolt, but I found out my casings are a mix?
the engine is 79, the front casing is pre 79, as it has a hole for the footpeg, and then my sprocket cover has the footpeg and brake cilinder at the bottom,... plus, just next to the front sprocket there's a threaded bolt that I dont even know what it is for, but I guess would be where the footpeg would screw into??

here's the front cover, and you can see the threaded bolt next to the sprocket..


and the sprocket cover....


it doesnt really matter much to me about the cover, as Im gonna trim them all down. Timing casing will be trimmed down to follow the bolts and the sprocket cover will be cut at an angle to show the sprocket and also have holes of some sort on it..

where abouts in UK are ya?

hey buddy, I'm from germany. so the temp is not that different to yours

Originally Posted by xJPx

thanks for the replies!

well, I guess most of you guys live in the US in some nice warmer place... I'm from a nice warmer place, Portugal, but been living in England for the past 8 years...and believe me, nice and warmer its hard to get over here! lol
Been raining for the last 2 months now....getting sick of it.

Over what outside temps do you reckon I'd need an oil cooler? I would rather not having to use one, so to keep the bike look clean with one less thing to mount... but if I have to, I'll use it.