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XL Bobber Project

Started by JW113, July 17, 2016, 09:43:22 AM

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JW113

After 15 years of starting & stopping a works in progress project wiht a 1978 XLH, I am finally moving in a direction and making lots of progress. It started out as a rolling basket case I bought from a close friend, pretty rough but all there. I was going to a complete restoration on it, but then changed my mind. Then I was going to dress it up like a FLH, got pretty far with that, then decided that didn't feel right. So using the 90s Fatboy front end, I decided to make a bare bones bobber out of it. And here we go.

The plan is basically:
- Keep motor stock-ish, will use a CV or S&S carb and likely electronic ignition
- Fatboy 41mm front end with 16" front wheel
- TC four pistion front caliper & rotor
- T- bar handlebars with 2000s style controls
- "King" tank (3.3 gal I think)
- Custom rear fender mounted directly to the swing arm
- Custom-ized front fender from a Sportster 48
- Solo springer seat
- Very little chrome, most everything other than the polished aluminum stuff is powder coated black
- Drag pipes will be coated with silver Jet Hot Coating

I got the parts back from the powdercoat shop on Friday, looks fantastic. Even the tank & fenders. So far have just sat the motor back in frame, will be chipping away on reassembly over the next few weeks.

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-JW
2004 FLHRS   1977 FLH Shovelhead  1992 FLSTC
1945 Indian Chief   1978 XL Bobber

Racepres

Look forward to Details on the Front end...Have a Friend wanting a Fat front on his Ironhead...Something I never done..

JW113

Today I put the top end on, and the triple trees.

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Putting a 41mm Evo front end on is pretty straightforward, just a couple of mods to do. I made a fork lock bracket out of 1" x 3/16" bar and welded to the lower tree.

[attach=1]

The fork stops are completely different between Softail and Iron, so with a 4" grinder and several beers, you cut down the Softail lower tree to make a "fork stop".

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Also, the fork stem on a Softail is about 1/2" or so longer than an Ironhead, so I just used some big washers to make a "spacer" until I get around to spinning one up on a lathe.

Next, on to the rear swing arm and front forks. Still waiting on the fork rebuild parts, should show up this week. But the powdercoat sure looks great.

[attachimg=4]

-JW
2004 FLHRS   1977 FLH Shovelhead  1992 FLSTC
1945 Indian Chief   1978 XL Bobber

garyajaz

 :up:
always good to see iron going together.

JW113

Have chipped away on it a little more, installed starter and generator. Ran into a couple snags though.

Know what this is? Does this look a little odd to you?
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Yes, that's that bolt that holds the oil tank bracket to the transmission that also is the trans vent. See there between the first and second thread from the top? Yep. Over-tightened it. I was telling myself the whole time as I was tightening it DON'T OVER TIGHTEN IT!!! And while doing so, after it snugged up, it went soft. Damn it. I swear there I wasn't putting that much torque on it. Maybe the last guy had already broke it and just left it that way? Yeah, that's it. Did the same thing on my Ironhead chopper years ago. So.... Kwik jump on Ebay, lots of them to be had both NOS HD and from Colony. Ordered a Colony repop, maybe (yeah right) it will be a little stronger than the stock ones. Maybe I should order a couple extra, since I'm evidently pretty lame at installing these.

So then I go to put the swing arm back on, and.... Hey, what happened to the left side swing arm nut?? I had left it in the swing arm when I took to powder coater, guess they decided to remove it. Sure hope they still have it, will check tomorrow. If not... Ebay! Damn.

One good bit of luck, while looking for the oil tank mount bolt I found a NOS genuine HD brake cable still in the red white & blue AMF wrapper. I am SURE the one I have now is CCI or some other cheapo knock off. Score!

So back to waiting for the big brown truck to show up in order to make forward progress. Two steps forward, one step back. All part of the game!

-JW
2004 FLHRS   1977 FLH Shovelhead  1992 FLSTC
1945 Indian Chief   1978 XL Bobber

JW113

Well, things are moving along very nicely. Got the front forks and swing arm installed. Hopefully by tomorrow, it will be setting on it's own two feet again. So far so good.

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There is a discussion on the Shovelhead forum about paint and powder coating. I had all the structural parts, and also the sheet metal, powder coated. The tank/fenders/oil tank look pretty good, but I wanted to see if I could get rid of the lingering orange peel in the texture. Took back to the p/c shop, they wet sanded and polished the powder. Personally, it looks as good as any pro paint job I've ever had done. What say you? [eh hem, uh, Prez?]  :SM:

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I wanted to get the rear wheel on today, but also wanted to polish the rear brake housing. Always a big production to get the polishing station set up, so had to banish the "Obsolete Fleet" from the garage to get it done.

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I had a couple of pieces for my Shovelhead to do also, so spent the day polishing away and getting totally filthy. But, have to say, love the look of polished aluminum and all turned out quite well. Tomorrow, off the cart and on it's feet. Need to go get a new rear tire first thing in the morning, then call RageGlide to come over and help me hoist this thing off the cart.

-JW
2004 FLHRS   1977 FLH Shovelhead  1992 FLSTC
1945 Indian Chief   1978 XL Bobber

biker3r


garyajaz

looking good.
when I had frame and swing arm powder coated  10 years ago I opted for the clear coat over black.
was only another 30-40 bucks.
came out super shiny like yours.
lots less work.  and still shinny.
also, as you know, much tougher than paint.

yours coming along nicely.
that front end looks like what they putting on some new sporties with the 16 on front. 

JW113

Yeah Gary, it's interesting how the factory decided to finally put a 16" front wheel on the XL after all these years. I always thought they should have had it from day one, and if I would have gotten off my butt and finished this project 10 years ago, would have beat them to it! Oh well, better late than never. Speaking of 16" wheels, have both of them installed along with the fenders. Rims are 3.5" x 16" Akront, with Buchanon heavy duty stainless spokes. Front hub is from a 2000s softail custom. Looking pretty good so far.

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Now the fun part, need to make a wiring harness.

-JW
2004 FLHRS   1977 FLH Shovelhead  1992 FLSTC
1945 Indian Chief   1978 XL Bobber

iamdouglas1


rageglide


Hossamania

That is a good looking scoot. Has a bit of Exile Cycle look to it.
If the government gives you everything you want,
it can take away everything you have.

biker3r


nibroc

NICE----a mag would make wiring a piece o cake-- excellent paint -- agree bout exile look

Mountainman streetbob

Brice H Dyal  The "Mountainmman"
US Army 89-01 35H/12B US Army AMC

JW113

Thanks guys! Still have a ways to go on it, but at least it's looking like a motorcycle and not a pile of parts. Ran into a snag with the rear wheel. I went to get a new tire, wanted a 130/90B16 Dunlop. The rims are Akront 3.5 x 16. The Dunlop book says that 130 tire goes on a 3.00" rim, and they would not mount it. The next size that could go on my 3.50" was a MU8516, but I knew that was going to be awfully close to the fender. Sure enough, when I got it home, way too close as in basically touching. Did some reasearch, seems an Avon Cobra 130/90b16 should fit OK, it's about 1/2" less diameter than this Dunlop. So, back the to tire store next Saturday for a new shoe.

Also dropped the drag pipes off at this place that does Jet Hot Coatings, going to have them done in satin silver. Trying to keep the chrome to a minimum, just a splash here and there.

-JW
2004 FLHRS   1977 FLH Shovelhead  1992 FLSTC
1945 Indian Chief   1978 XL Bobber

JW113

Well here is an update. Progressing forward, slow but steady. Still no wiring, but getting critical stuff installed.

I bought some tail lights from Ebay from a wrecked (??) Sporty or Dyna, in OK shape needs repaint but cool none the less. And the price was right! Mounted on the rear frame section, will figure out how to make them combo brake and turn signals later. Probably go for the Penta Star unit from Signal Dynamics.

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Had to do some mods to the frame, but was not too difficult to install and looks good. Nice and sleek. Really love the challenge of taking garbage from other bikes and grating it onto a project bike and have it turn out cool.

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I got the tire replaced with an Avon Cobra 130/90B-16, and it fit like a glove. Chain on, right side trans stuff all buttoned up and new brake cable installed.

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I found some cheapo black late model mirrors on Ebay, fits the bike very nice.

[attachimg=4]

And lastly, got a brake line and fittings for the front, and bled the front brake system. Always a party bleeding a bone dry brake system, I tell  you. NOT! Throw in my own screw ups (save that story for later) and three hours later, front brake pressure! Yay!

[attachimg=5]

So now, it's really down to round up a battery, get the speedo/tach mounted, and begin the wiring process. Always enjoy that part, assuming all the electrical parts are in place and ready to be hooked up. I'm thinking first week of September, will be ready to hit the starter button and take it on it's maiden voyage.

-JW
2004 FLHRS   1977 FLH Shovelhead  1992 FLSTC
1945 Indian Chief   1978 XL Bobber

JC 92FXRS

You do very nice work, I must say!  :up:
A very slick looking ironhead!
Cheers, Jeff
"never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by incompetence"

JW113

Well progress has been slow, and like all projects, now it's moved to taking it back apart to get to stuff I should have done first. I did not have a battery, battery cables, & starter relay, so ordered all that and am in wait mode. Of course, you can't get to the battery terminals with the oil tank and battery box on, so off those came. And lo and behold, what do I find on my bench? That thrust washer that goes on the end of the bendix, so now need to pull the starter out. No biggie, all in good fun. What's worth doing, is worth doing thrice I always say.

I've got a set of mechanical mini-tack & speedo to mount up. Am using the speedo sender from a 90s Fatboy, but my front hub is from a 2000s softail custom, so has sealed bearings. Need to take the sender to the shop and get it cut down to 0.960" to space it correctly. Have not found a source for custom lenght speedo and tach drive cables yet, but I'm sure there out there just have not looked real hard.

One inch at a time....

-JW
2004 FLHRS   1977 FLH Shovelhead  1992 FLSTC
1945 Indian Chief   1978 XL Bobber

JohnCA58

JW,  great looking bike you got there, remember seeing a few transformation of this bike in the old Harley Digest days.....  best one yet.  :up:
YOLO

JW113

Yeah John, it has indeed been through a few. Here is what it looked like when I bought it from Surfer Bill in 2001. It was pretty rough, but it did run. Only wiring on it was a battery, a toggle switch to the coil, and a push button switch to the starter relay.

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I planned to do a bone stock restoration on it, but about half way through got bored with that, and decided to do a custom. So then switched gears to dress it up like an FLH. This is as far as I got in 2008, then decided it looked both kinda cool but kinda goofy at the same time.

[attach=1]

So I tore it all back down to parts and it sat in the shed for another 6 years, then decided to make it a bobber. I kept the fatboy front end to run a 16" wheel, and rounded up all the other misc parts and pretty much got the raw bike together and test fired it. But then I found a real FLH, and took interest in doing a stock restoration on it over the past year & a half. But after that was mostly done (no project bike is every really "done"), got back to this sporty. So... now it's down to getting it wrapped, and the plan is to take it on maiden voyage in September.

-JW
2004 FLHRS   1977 FLH Shovelhead  1992 FLSTC
1945 Indian Chief   1978 XL Bobber

biker3r

I think its a great project, cant wait to see it done. Makes me want to start a new project.

JW113

Well it was a productive weekend, have all the wiring done. The "to do" list I can now count on one hand. Still waiting on plug wires, but those should show up today. And have not quite figured out how I'm gonna mount the speedo and tach, but who needs a speedo and tach anyway? And I need to make a license plate bracket. Ah hell who needs a license plate anyway? So looks like next weekend, come hell or high water, we're going for a little ride on it.

-JW

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2004 FLHRS   1977 FLH Shovelhead  1992 FLSTC
1945 Indian Chief   1978 XL Bobber

JW113

Oh and here's the proud owner.
:-)

[attach=0]
2004 FLHRS   1977 FLH Shovelhead  1992 FLSTC
1945 Indian Chief   1978 XL Bobber

JW113

And I just had to show off these awesome polished aluminum drag pipes...

[attach=0]

-JW
2004 FLHRS   1977 FLH Shovelhead  1992 FLSTC
1945 Indian Chief   1978 XL Bobber