1960 ironhead build

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  • jaredshaunsmith
    • Mar 2024

    1960 ironhead build

    Yo!
    Posted in the intro thread as well... but...
    30 year old software engineer here - grew up in Tallahassee, Florida but for the past few years have lived in and around San Francisco - now we live in El Cerrito.

    I'm not new to motorycles but took a break from them for a while and now I'm getting back into it. I recently finished building up a basket case 1972 Yamaha R5 ( twostrokeworld forum thread here: (http://www.2strokeworld.com/forum/in...3360#msg183360 ) - that build set me off to really want to build something I could ride longer distances, plus the chopper bug bit me really hard.

    A few weeks ago, the day before my 30th birthday I found a 1960 ironhead hard tail in Arizona for a steal of a price. I talked to the guy on the phone a couple times, convinced the wife it was a good (no.. GREAT) idea and then I jumped in the truck and drove 11 hours, grabbed a hotel, woke up and bought the bike - loaded it in my truck, and then drove 11 hours back home. Made it home to see the wife and kids with 3 minutes left of my birthday before midnight.

    This is how it looked when I picked it up:
     
     
     


    The guy I bought it from knew very little about it and had let it sit in his garage for 20 years. The day after I got it home I replaced the plugs, filled a funnel up with gas and connected it to the carb... and guess what?!?! It started on the second kick. I was amazed.

    My plan is full rebuild from the frame up. As such, I've stripped it down all the way already, had the frame sand-blasted, started body work on the frame, polished tons of parts, ordered tons of parts, and started to fabricate some parts.

    More photos of my current progress in the next post!
    Attached Files
    Last edited by Guest; 11-23-2014, 9:42 PM.
  • jaredshaunsmith
    • Mar 2024

    #2
    Started polishing up the back brake drum:  
     
        

    Before and after cleaned up neck cups:  

         

    Engine removed, and frame in the background stipped before going to the sand blaster:  

         

    Some body work done so far cleaning up old welds:  

         

    Cleaned up petcock:  
     
        

    Start of a highway peg mount I'm fabricating from 1/4" steel plate - I don't have a bandsaw (yet) so this was all cut with dremel cutoff wheels (like 30 of them) and then rounded out and polished on the belt sander:  

         

    Shaved 1/16th" shorter, removed all chrome, and polished the hell out of the top triple tree - I'm debating whether I'm keeping them or going to get some Mullins trees - just not sure I want to spend that cash yet, but damn if Mullins trees don't look the baddest:  
       
    Attached Files
    Last edited by Guest; 11-23-2014, 10:16 PM.

    Comment

    • Dragstews
      Senior Member
      • Sep 2010
      • 13740

      #3
      Take my 45 and outrun em all ..

      Comment

      • crush1776
        Senior Member
        • May 2011
        • 779

        #4
        Great bones to work with, whatever you do don't let any slickster con you out of that oil tank. Might as well be dipped in gold and filled with dope!

        Comment

        • FooDog
          Senior Member
          • Feb 2014
          • 427

          #5
          Cool bike....looked good as it sat. Looking forward to the build.

          I did the same with my Chevelle....I got home from work on a Friday, called the guy and agreed on a price. Turned to my wife and said "I'm going to Ohio" (12hrs away). She was like "just be home by Sunday"....it was my sons 1st b-day on Sunday. Left around 2am, got to Ohio about 12hrs later. Then we turned around and went home. Was home in plenty for the party on Sunday. Did it with my super glide too....but that was only 4 hrs away....LOL!

          Comment

          • jaredshaunsmith
            • Mar 2024

            #6
            Originally posted by crush1776
            Great bones to work with, whatever you do don't let any slickster con you out of that oil tank. Might as well be dipped in gold and filled with dope!
            I was planning to keep the oil tank on the final build - what's so special about it?
                  
            Originally posted by FooDog
            Cool bike....looked good as it sat. Looking forward to the build.

            I did the same with my Chevelle....I got home from work on a Friday, called the guy and agreed on a price. Turned to my wife and said "I'm going to Ohio" (12hrs away). She was like "just be home by Sunday"....it was my sons 1st b-day on Sunday. Left around 2am, got to Ohio about 12hrs later. Then we turned around and went home. Was home in plenty for the party on Sunday. Did it with my super glide too....but that was only 4 hrs away....LOL!
            right on. i've done the long-drive-craigslist-pickup several times now.

            Comment

            • Dragstews
              Senior Member
              • Sep 2010
              • 13740

              #7
              Originally posted by jaredshaunsmith

              What's so special about it?
              A good one without dents is rare as Hen's teeth.... (Chrome-able)

              Only the Ch's ran that tank.... Think it was 1963 that was the last year that Harley used it....

              What you have is the Crown Jewel of the Old 900cc Sportster's
              The first run of the CH's .....

              Here is a 61 CH that I did a chop job on a few years ago...

              Click image for larger version

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              Got a little nuts with it...
              120 Spoke on the front and 80 on the rear. (Drilled 40 more holes into the OEM hub.)
              Cut down the OEM shocks, 3 degree rake fork cups (Timkens), Repop 4" over 45 Springer, K-Model tail light.... ect...

              The 58 to 63 CH was/is Kick-Ass....
              Last edited by Dragstews; 11-21-2014, 10:40 AM.
              Take my 45 and outrun em all ..

              Comment

              • jaredshaunsmith
                • Mar 2024

                #8
                Originally posted by Dragstews
                The 58 to 63 CH was/is Kick-Ass....
                awesome! your '61 looks great. i'm not planning to change too much from what the original state of mine was, just rebuild the right way and ride the hell out of it. would really like to have it done by june to ride down to born free.

                Comment

                • Dragstews
                  Senior Member
                  • Sep 2010
                  • 13740

                  #9
                  I'm sure you will be more than Happy once it's back together....

                  I see one little problem that may not be a big concern...
                  Your rear brake lever has been flipped .... That makes the cam work on the highs of the ramps...
                  By going up with the lever (Like OEM had it) your cam action is gentle engagement of the shoes to drum...

                  Guess it's not all that much of a biggie... Just food for thought when your putting it back together...
                  Last edited by Dragstews; 11-21-2014, 11:14 AM.
                  Take my 45 and outrun em all ..

                  Comment

                  • jaredshaunsmith
                    • Mar 2024

                    #10
                    Originally posted by Dragstews
                    I see one little problem that may not be a big concern...
                    Your rear brake lever has been flipped .... Guess it's not all that much of a biggie... Just food for thought when your putting it back together...
                    that's a good point. if i have clearance around the frame i should be able to flip it back over the OEM way when i reassemble it.

                    planning to reassemble completely before i send the frame for powder just to make sure it rides well. some reassembly may happen this weekend if i get my new fork tubes in the mail

                    Comment

                    • Dragstews
                      Senior Member
                      • Sep 2010
                      • 13740

                      #11
                      I may be wrong.... But I do think that the frame is an old D&D (Jammer)

                      It will work well with the lever going up.... No problems with clearance of the brake rod....

                      Click image for larger version

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                      Here's a photo of a 64 CH that I used a D&D frame....
                      All parts fitted up well ....
                      Take my 45 and outrun em all ..

                      Comment

                      • jaredshaunsmith
                        • Mar 2024

                        #12
                        Originally posted by Dragstews

                        Here's a photo of a 64 CH that I used a D&D frame....
                        cool! i was wondering what frame it was. did your D&D frame have a square down-tube? this one has a 2" square down-tube.

                        Comment

                        • Motorradfahrer
                          Senior Member
                          • Aug 2009
                          • 886

                          #13
                          Looks like you found a good bike. I've been hunting for an Ironhead deal like yours for a while; I'm jealous. Keep us updated on the progress.

                          Comment

                          • Dblwlf
                            Member
                            • Dec 2012
                            • 79

                            #14
                            Cool score!

                            Comment

                            • Dragstews
                              Senior Member
                              • Sep 2010
                              • 13740

                              #15
                              Originally posted by jaredshaunsmith

                              Did your D&D frame have a square down-tube? this one has a 2" square down-tube.
                              No... It was round...

                              Do think that D&D made some to special order back in the day...
                              Take my 45 and outrun em all ..

                              Comment

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