Shovelheads

[AndyNZ]

I would definitely be classed as a “young guy” when I bought mine at 25. At the time it was all cost related, I would’ve loved a Pan, but as mentioned by others it was just unaffordable.

Funnily enough nowadays I feel like my Shovel is too “new”...doesn’t mean I don’t love it to bits though

[JBinNC]

I would definitely be classed as a “young guy” when I bought mine at 25. At the time it was all cost related, I would’ve loved a Pan, but as mentioned by others it was just unaffordable.

Funnily enough nowadays I feel like my Shovel is too “new”...doesn’t mean I don’t love it to bits though

A lot of people love shovelheads to bits. That's what creates basket cases.��

Jim

[Hubbard]

If you kids will accept the fact that you have to exorcise the demons that all the previous owners put in 'em you will have a fine mo'sheen. INSPECT EVERYTHING, do not take anything for granted. Black oil means zero maintenance. Keep in mind everybody don't love a Harley like some of us here. To most people it's just a status symbol.

[Guest]

I wouldn’t say a fine machine, but you can make them run down the road if you don’t want to do 90+ tank after tank.

[TriNortchopz]

I'm still trying to find that Panhead patch you posted a few years back

"Your Evo's ok, but I'll take a Panhead anyday"

$22.95 postage paid in the U.S. and CANADA

http://www.roadratroberts1.bravepages.com/Patches2.htm

[farmall]

I can't take credit since my wife owned a Shovel before I did, but I copied her final drive gearing and added two teeth at da trans while dropping four at the wheel. It changes highway behavior considerably. Everyone's 1970s/80s bikes usually had bar bike gearing because quarter mile times were important marketing tools and it was good for parading. That and a buddy seat (the dresser riders knew what works) change long distance road manners. I kept a spare buddy seat (which I fucked up and sold) for long putts and run reupholstered, wide Bar Enterprises solo seat pans for local use.

Speed doesn't bother Shovels but excessive revs and stock bar bike/bloated bagger with bloated passengers gearing tend to shake things loose and wear 'em out.

The Shovel bottom end is fine. The top end doesn't shed heat well but a decisive oil cooler works wonders. The shitty parts are the stock electric starter (which is why they were usually removed before modern Denso options were common) which is underpowered and afflicted with a thoroughly stupid gear reduction and second solenoid/linkage but many alternatives/fixes exist if you want e-start. I don't mind the tough, clunky four-speed transmission though I dislike tapered clutch hubs from a maintenance perspective. If I build from scratch or one of my cowpies dies I'll fit a splined shaft Softail five speed.

When I add a new-to-me old big twin it gets a complete new charging system, battery cables and ignition switch. If the wiring is questionable it gets shitcanned and replaced. Electrical problems are easy to cure by total replacement so I do that in advance instead of riding to failure.

Generic aftermarket kicker kits are bendy, strippy shit. Rubber popsickle pedals eventually spit off the rubber then attack your leg. Baker gears and kicker arms or stock folding arms solve that for me. Quality kicker parts are actually MUCH cheaper than replacing junk which wears out quickly even on stock displacement low compression engines.

Points keep things simple, fail gracefully, and are easy to fix on the road. They cycle a quarter as much on an HD as they would on a V8 at the same RPM so float is no issue.

I've always run full size batteries in the stock battery box. More amps is always good and can save your ass if you need to limp home. I build everything as if it's gonna be a daily rider. I never raise compression. Low static compression makes for easy starting, reduced vibes, reduced detonation on shit fuel and a bit less vibration. That's why HD chose it on earlier models. I ain't riding a dynamometer. I do like being able to kickstart by hand when the engine is warm.

Since Shovels are cheap right now it's a decent time to hoard parts and score project bikes. Keep an eye out for desirable parts (Dragstews engine porn threads have many examples) since the Shovel aftermarket shrank during the recession as old guys retired.

[garystaven88]

Cone Shovelheads are pretty damn reasonably priced right now. I picked up a clean 84' FXSB which is pretty desirable being a last year with the much better Evo style front brake setup, much better rear brake setup, belt final drive, and a total re-worked engine dual plugged heads and lots of other good shit for $5500. Around here that is very reasonable. Lots to choose from too.

Hell I see Ironheads going for almost around the same price which is pretty pathetic IMO.

[Dragstews]

TriNortchopz never sleeps due to the .....

[Lee85]

I got a shovel cuz it was cheap, a few grand for a “old school” bike that runs

[shovel625]

It's because Pans and Knucks and flat side Shovels are well out of the price range for the average guy............

Well that's my take anyways.......

Soo true. Unless you have the knowledge to start from a set of cases and build your way up, its stupid expensive, even building has gotten expensive (when trying to use as many oem parts as possible)

[shovel625]

I got a shovel cuz it was cheap, a few grand for a “old school” bike that runs

exactly, i bought a 77 fxe last year, one owner bike 45k, very well maintained, all original besides tires and pipes, for 3500 rode it the whole summer and sold it for exactly what i bought it for, to help a friend out, i could have came out ahead if i wanted. But i think this is what it must have been like back in the day when Harleys were semi cheap. Buy em ride em and pass em on.

[Toucan]

I just bought my first shovel, a '76 about a month ago. Ive always loved the look of shovels and like most have posted, its an old bike that is within the price range for me at 29 years old. Something to get my hands into and really learn as opposed to having to hook up to a computer at the dealer like new bikes.

[Hubbard]

Be forewarned ,these things are very addictive

[Vinson]

Bought my first shovel 3 years ago for $2800. Pulled it out of a barn, wasn't running and wasn't well put together. I've got it going down the road pretty nice now. Most days I love it.

[MIKESIERRA]

I like shovels.. and head. Been seein a lot on the local craigslist lately. Spring specials?