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?

Boston lincs heres as far as i have got so far didnt even notice that the bolt had been trimmed until we went to put this sides foot peg on to mock up for the tins cheers kev

ha right!! I see now!

do you have more pics of yours? where did you get the springer front end from?
I really want it on mine, but trying to find the best deal..

JP

Ebay off an unstarted project its a DNA which dont seem to get a good press on the net its 2 under Ive not ridden it yet so cannot comment more pictures on dirtyboober.com forum look under frame under way or babies first steps


heres the tank just back from pagent piantwork

that tanks looks good!!!!!!

yeh, I've heard bad stuff about DNA, that they are weak and crack?
price is not too bad though... but if they are crap, that's no good...

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.

well... long time since I posted something on this build, which is going slow slow slow.. but here it goes...


manage to get my hands on a brand new springer... and cheap!

so today I tried it out.. and looks sooooo much better!
before it was sitting, from the floor, 5" at the back and 7" at the front, just where the frame starts to bend up
now sits 5" at the back and 6" at the front....

might also swap and flip the rockers on the springer and gain an extra inch down..

how it was..








got hold of an aluminium rear fender, hand made and proper thick, and some struts to play with...
came from 7 Metal West in Milwaukee

the fender is just perfect, right curve as the tyre, will be chopped more though, only to go as far as the lower frame leg..



the struts... well, so far I done this mock up, but I'm not sure, I kind of like it



but they also came with the little domes that I can weld to it and then bolt from underneath the fender.... not too sure on what to do yet..
same as this, picture taken from another forum...(not my bike, or hand lol)

[img]but%20they%20also%20came%20with%20the%20little%20d omes%20that%20I%20can%20weld%20to%20it%20and%20the n%20bolt%20from%20underneath%20the%20fender....%20 not%20too%20sure%20on%20what%20to%20do%20yet..[/img]

well... let me put a little update..

So, the rear brake has been sorted now.. I'm using one of a 1200 sportster...
will go like this, just need to weld a tab on the frame for the caliper to run on



the problem with the caliper is that it will be on the way of the adjusters. Its a Santee hardtail, so the adjusters are on the inside of the axle plates.



but got that sorted, I'm going to use external adjusters and cut the interal ones off. already have some hex threaded bar to cut 2 bits off and weld on the outside.
Also got hold of a 16" long rear axle, so I can then get that machined to size.

meanwhile, i thought my oil tank looked shit on the bike, and was poorly made, but then again, it was also free....so got a new one with some brass fittings and bigger. fills the frame much better.
Had to cut the bracket of the old one off and make a new one and weld on at the right angle

old tank


new tank



difference before and after

Bike looks great. I love ironheads. Is it finished ???? Any more pics???

Heres mine