On to a new donor and new opportunity to keep on tinkerin' and learnin'.
Picked this up the day after I let go of the "Mutt Shovelhead" bike (separate thread).
1975 with a ratchet 4-speed, aftermarket frame, etc.
Hauled it back 2 hrs north from Charlotte in Tropical Storm Ian (fka hurricane Ian) when it rolled thru the Carolinas.
Unfortunately, with the storm and rain, that meant no test ride. More on that below...
I nicknamed this thread the "Cosmic Shovel" because of the gas tank that I'm going to put on it later on. I really dig this bike as is. It's not my style. But I can live with it. So I'm in no hurry to tear it apart like I was the past few bikes. This I'm gonna ride for a bit and stockpile parts.
After a good shakedown ride, and in classic Shovelhead fashion...
- Timing hole plug bolt came loose. Almost lost it but didn't. Sprayed oil everywhere though. Fun.
- Lost an exhaust mount bar bolt. That's ok. Still got one more.
- Rear axle nut came loose. Wacked out alignment. Was a handful to get home.
- Lost (or never had) the front oil tank mount bolt.
- Cracked (or was cracked) one of the oil tank tabs on frame (that's ok... 1 out three mounts aint bad right?)
- Rear brake is 50% gone. Front brake is 90% gone. All good. I ride slow.
- Worst of all... pretty heavy spark knock on low RPM load (like pulling out and going up hills). Not good.
The good news is that it has a lot of decent parts on it that will either stay (frame, fork trees, ratchet trans, compu fire digital ignition, etc) and a lot that I will replace/sell (the 3" belt drive, tins, seat, bars, wheels). Should be able to do a good little makeover eventually.
Plan is to go 21/19 wheel combo. Little taller in the front (but not crazy). Bars to dogbones to dragbars. And the dished peanut tank I won from an awesome painter dude. More on that in a future post.
The really bummer is the need for engine work. More on that in the next post below...
Picked this up the day after I let go of the "Mutt Shovelhead" bike (separate thread).
1975 with a ratchet 4-speed, aftermarket frame, etc.
Hauled it back 2 hrs north from Charlotte in Tropical Storm Ian (fka hurricane Ian) when it rolled thru the Carolinas.
Unfortunately, with the storm and rain, that meant no test ride. More on that below...
I nicknamed this thread the "Cosmic Shovel" because of the gas tank that I'm going to put on it later on. I really dig this bike as is. It's not my style. But I can live with it. So I'm in no hurry to tear it apart like I was the past few bikes. This I'm gonna ride for a bit and stockpile parts.
After a good shakedown ride, and in classic Shovelhead fashion...
- Timing hole plug bolt came loose. Almost lost it but didn't. Sprayed oil everywhere though. Fun.
- Lost an exhaust mount bar bolt. That's ok. Still got one more.
- Rear axle nut came loose. Wacked out alignment. Was a handful to get home.
- Lost (or never had) the front oil tank mount bolt.
- Cracked (or was cracked) one of the oil tank tabs on frame (that's ok... 1 out three mounts aint bad right?)
- Rear brake is 50% gone. Front brake is 90% gone. All good. I ride slow.
- Worst of all... pretty heavy spark knock on low RPM load (like pulling out and going up hills). Not good.
The good news is that it has a lot of decent parts on it that will either stay (frame, fork trees, ratchet trans, compu fire digital ignition, etc) and a lot that I will replace/sell (the 3" belt drive, tins, seat, bars, wheels). Should be able to do a good little makeover eventually.
Plan is to go 21/19 wheel combo. Little taller in the front (but not crazy). Bars to dogbones to dragbars. And the dished peanut tank I won from an awesome painter dude. More on that in a future post.
The really bummer is the need for engine work. More on that in the next post below...
Comment