1971 Sportster Ironhead Chop - Redo it Right
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In other news - finally finished up lacing, truing, and mounting the rear hub/spokes/rim/strip/tube/tire combo. Just kinda sitting there for now. Going to rebuild the drum brake internals and engrave the backing plate. Then I'll get it on the bike. Looks WAY better with chrome shoes each end now. Getting pumped again.
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Got some more work done over the past few weeks on non-motor stuff.
So the gas tank is the type where it has the larger HD bung in the middle and two opposing Brit style bungs in the back. I didn't want to have to plug or mess with the two holes I'm not using so I decided to do this. Running a non-reserve petcock on the left rear side small bung. Then with the two bungs on the right side, got fittings to install a sight-gauge of sorts. It's really low on the tank so... if I see the level drop in this tube... I better get to a station quick. Oh well. Kinda looks cool and might (maybe sorta) be functional? Also got the new air cleaner mounted.
Spent a lot of engraving time too on the rear brake drum backing plate. Kinda came out cool I guess. I'm diggin it.
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Also got the new top motor mount in and relocated the coil with a little strap I engraved to protect the coil bolt holes from ob-longing, started shortening the throttle cable, got most of the rear brake linkage done, rear wheel mounted and on the bike, exhaust mocked up for design of rear mounts, new (correct) cam chest breather tube installed, started mapping out the new wiring diagram, made a headlight bracket and mounted the headlight, and a bunch of other dinky stuff. Got a lot more to do to get prepped for a trip to my buddy's shop for a welding session. He's going to weld up all of the tabs and bungs I need. I'm just stoked to be almost back at roller status and get this thing off the blocks. Desperately want to see this thing rolled out in the sunshine.Comment
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Cool idea with the "sight-gauge" to let you know you are out of gas...it looks lower than the tank so my guess it will still be full when the tank is empty.
That engraving is great! Hope it helps you with stoppin'. It looks like you may need to change the location of the bottom mount for your sissy bar so you don't hide that fabulous work...If buildin' old school choppers was easy, anyone could do it... ain't nobody said it's gonna be easy...Comment
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Cool idea with the "sight-gauge" to let you know you are out of gas...it looks lower than the tank so my guess it will still be full when the tank is empty.
That engraving is great! Hope it helps you with stoppin'. It looks like you may need to change the location of the bottom mount for your sissy bar so you don't hide that fabulous work...
On the sight gauge, I did test it with some gas earlier and I still had a decent bit of gas come out after I started to see air/daylight in the top of the line. I dunno. I'm sure I'll figure out a new design the first time I have to push it to a gas station. Will have plenty of time to think then. Haha.Comment
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You got it man. I'm hoping to have it all done by the Cotee River Bike Fest up in New Port Richey in October. I'll be doing all my own paint, wiring, and final assembly and everything so I think it's gonna take me every bit of those months to get this thing alive.Comment
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Back in 2004... I designed a bike in CAD with engraved tank panels that had the lyrics to the Allman Brothers "Midnight Rider". I'm finally getting ready to make good on that design. Much more to come. And yes... at the bottom... that's a silver dollar. In fact the coin is from 1971. The same year this Sportster rolled off the assembly line. I'm pretty pumped.
There will be three aluminum plates, each mounted to 0.4" stand-offs on the tank surface. The one on the left is the raw cut piece that wraps around the gas cap. Middle is the filed/sanded bottom plate ready for engraving. The right obviously is the paper template.
I just did the first outline pass engraving this morning but forgot to snap a pick. Sorry.Comment
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I'm enjoying this thread/build. Your engraving skills are awesome! Do you ever do that for other folks?? Is it a hard skill to learn?
For the last couple years I have been riding down to Ocala area in October for one reason or another, no plans yet this year though. Chopper show might be fun if the stars align. October is a long ways off, or it seems like it is now!
Anyways, diggin your scoot and am jealous of your skills. I hope you get the PO shat straightened out without too much headache.
Cotton1Comment
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