HarleyTechTalk

I  own two TCs, 2005 FXSTD and 2002 FLHT; both built up a bit from stock.  Don't know why but I have recently been thinking of acquiring a shovelhead; can't explain the sudden attraction but it has taken hold.

I am thinking later model FXR or FXS with 84" engine.  Am I nuts?  What's the down side?  I don't mind working on my bikes when something breaks or pulling regular maintenance or installing an upgrade but I don't want one the needs constant attention or one that I can't rely on to make a 400 mile ride without breaking down or requiring that I carry a toolbox to make sure I get home.

 

Ya know I don't think I ever actually pulled out the tool roll for my own shovel. I have loaned tools out of it to other riders and I have used it a time or two for tightening up other's mirrors or pegs, things of that nature.

ok, sure as hell I just jinxed myself 

I did the same thing, currently own two EVO's, a 86FXR and 96 FLHR. There is just something about a shovel....maybe it's the sound, the vibrating.....the aura! Don't know but I am buying a 79 1/2 FLH and I am stoked to have it. They are good machines and just like any other bike treat it well and it will do for you the same. Nylocks and locktite don't hurt either!!!!!!! 

I have a 78 FLH and my last trip with it was approx. 2500 miles in 5 days.  950 one day, 950 another, and the rest putting around doing short trips here and there.  I ran 75-80 mph the whole time on the 950 mile days and never encountered a single problem.
The key to these bikes is "quality" parts.  There are tons of cheap parts and you need to shy away from them. 
When I got my 06 bike the shovel went in storage mode but comes out on occasion and fires right up every time.  I still trust it to make any trip I desire.

My advise to you is to buy the bike you like, but, and this applies to any model bike, if the previous owners were neglectful, don't blame the bike, blame who ever skimped on repairs.

Tell me more. Were these modified machines or stock?  Are OEM parts hard to find or must one resort to the aftermarket?  How well do the shovels respond to engine upgrades?  Are shovels more difficult to work on than TCs? Are OEM service manuals still available? Sorry for all the questions but I know nothing about shovels except that lately I have been ovecome with this strange attraction to them.

84" mtr ? Stroker ?

I have owned & worked on so many Shovels ,I can't remember how many .  I used to run the crap out of them , almost all the time .

They are as good as any other as long as , as said , use quality parts & keep up on any thing that comes loose , just like all HD's

I now own too Panheads , but want another Shovel , but with three HDs in the garage already , don't think I need another ( no more room for one )

Go for it !

djl,
there's a spirited thread about shovels in Earl's and there's another spirited thread in Earl's about AMF. We also have the shovel page where a lot of actual owner/operators will speak up even if they don't venture here.

Looks like the whole damn place is about Shovels these days!! 

You say that like it's a bad thing.
Finally got the electrical gremlin exorcised from Mistress Pearl and took her out for a little 65 mile run last night after work.  I missed my baby.  Now all I gotta do is get her some new shoes. 
You know your tire's thin when some old gentleman with a WWII Vet ball cap on, who could hardly walk, even with the cane he was carrying, tells you your front tire is getting thin.

DJL, 2 Evos and a Shovel in my stable.  The shovel is my favorite...even when she's broke.

A well built Shovelhead combined with a good PM schedule will damn near run forever. 

Been ridin the piss outa mine for the last 19 yrs.I have never had a engine or trans breakdown on the road.Have had electrical/charging problems during that time.Its rare,but happens.Shovels require TLC,depending on how many miles & how hard you ride:you will have to ocassionally tighten things up.You will learn what comes loose & how often.Usually once a month for me;i'll go tighten up a few things.Excessive vibrations from solid mount motors cause things to come loose on your bike,and yes this also applies to solid mount EVO's.

Large displacement shovel engines on the other hand are fairly un-reliable.Anything larger than 88" will be a constant maintenance project.Others will argue that,just saying what i've seen.Shovels are good bikes,but you're limited on what you can do performance wise without sacrificing reliability.If you want a high performance bike,buy an EVO.

Run quality american made parts on your bike!Cheap taiwan parts will require constant wrenching as they will wear out quickly.Shovels can be made to keep up with any other harley on the road and be just as reliable using modern upgrades.The key is using modern american made parts & doing proper maintenance.  

Quote from: 76shuvlinoff on June 15, 2012, 02:53:24 PM
djl,
there's a spirited thread about shovels in Earl's and there's another spirited thread in Earl's about AMF. We also have the shovel page where a lot of actual owner/operators will speak up even if they don't venture here.

Looks like the whole damn place is about Shovels these days!! 

Thanks. I will search for the threads in Earl's. I know there is a shovel page but was hestitant to post this same thread there; Coyote might bust me for double posting but I am going there next.

I have included a photo of what I think I am looking for.

Check right now.

Five years ago sold a '96 Road King to buy an '82 FLH that is my only bike, daily rider (commute to work weather permitting) and would not go back.  My experience was this.  A LOT of necessary work for the first few seasons fixing problems, leaks, and gremlins, and still a lot of work, but now more optional - points replace elect ign, elec ignit replaces points, this carb replaces that carb, etc, - more I can't leave it alone syndrome than anything else.

Definately not a turn-key, tune it up at the beginning of the year and forget it experience, but once I got it "right" it's been much more me fiddling with it than repairing.  And even in those first few seasons, though I had to pull off the road a few times, it always got home under its own power.  And most of those time it was something stupid on my part, like I didn't loctite the coil mount and it vibrated loose. 

Still, getting it ready for the start of the season is definately more involved than with a new bike, mostly making sure everything is tight and loc-tited down and chain maintenance, again simple stuff but more time consuming.

The only complaint I'd have has already been mentioned - a lack of quality replacement parts available.

Good luck - hope you get an old girl.  BTW, someone else probably knows better than me but that $$ seems high in today's market.  Might be worth it if you knew for sure everything was recently rebuilt.

I can't imagine selling my ole 81 FLH - had it for about 18 years and have gone thru it more times than I can count.  Good quality parts are available BUT, IMHO, these bikes aren't very forgiving.  Parts MUST be torqued to spec and loctited.  Use the manual and do regular maintenance.  They are easy to work on, which is their biggest problem - everyone and their 8 year old kid has probably turned a wrench on it.  I spent several years chasing down issues from the previous owners.  I have the S&S 84" Hot Set Up kit, which on a 80" motor comes out to about 88".  Has been in there for about 15 years now with no problems.  I don't think twice about heading the 250 miles to Portland or 300 to Seattle.
(of course as I write this, it's down - stripped every tooth off the drive belt at Laughlin River Run! - that'll teach me to race my bud's softail!)
Dog
http://www.flickr.com/photos/49788418@N03/4569156303/#in/photostream

if you have to ask  ,then NO.

Quote from: hbkeith on June 16, 2012, 06:37:46 PM
if you have to ask  ,then NO.

Not much help. If one has no experience with shovel heads; how else is one supposed learn something about them.

Thanks to those that have shared their experience; helps put things in perspective.

Quote from: 96flhpiGood luck - hope you get an old girl.  BTW, someone else probably knows better than me but that $$ seems high in today's market.  Might be worth it if you knew for sure everything was recently rebuilt.

Thanks for the feedback.  I know nothing about pricing but would never pay the asking price.  I would offer $6500 and go from there but based on what I have seen in Ebay and other places, I would not pay more than $7K knowing I would probably find some gremlins that would need addressing.

Before I bought my '06 TC, I had an '82 FLT shovelhead.
I sold it 2 help pay for upgrading the TC....and still regret it to this day. 

Never left me stranded...and always answered the call when I needed it to.
Cold starting that carbed 80" shovel...mechanical music. 

djl,
yeah the price might be a little high but if you score that FXR and it's all legit ....you're my new hero.

Quote from: djl on June 17, 2012, 08:19:45 AM

Quote from: hbkeith on June 16, 2012, 06:37:46 PM
if you have to ask  ,then NO.

Not much help. If one has no experience with shovel heads; how else is one supposed learn something about them.

Thanks to those that have shared their experience; helps put things in perspective.

I took hb's response to be more along the lines of "only you know if your willing to do what it takes" not "if you have to ask about them then forget it."  Lord know's there's plenty to ask and plenty of willing support over on the shovel board.  But of course I could be wrong - about the post, not the shovel board.

Quote from: 96flhpi on June 17, 2012, 03:14:12 PM

Quote from: djl on June 17, 2012, 08:19:45 AM

Quote from: hbkeith on June 16, 2012, 06:37:46 PM
if you have to ask  ,then NO.

Not much help. If one has no experience with shovel heads; how else is one supposed learn something about them.
     
Thanks to those that have shared their experience; helps put things in perspective.

I took hb's response to be more along the lines of "only you know if your willing to do what it takes" not "if you have to ask about them then forget it."  Lord know's there's plenty to ask and plenty of willing support over on the shovel board.  But of course I could be wrong - about the post, not the shovel board.

Exactly 96flhpi , if a listened to other people on what bike I should own, i would of never bought a HD to begin with, my buddies thought i was stupid buying a 45 flathead after highschool when they were buying 900 KAWs, but I was happy 

'course over on the shovel board we might be just a little biased 

....Like I said Nylocks and Locktite! and who cares what others think. You don't need us to tell you what you should like or not. I had a friend ask me what I wanted that piece of sh#t for (79 FLH), it's what I wanted just like the FXR and the Road Sofa. They are awesome machines that with love and regular maint will last you a lifetime......SO GO GET IT! Just shop around a bit, they are out there! and there is a mecca of knowledge on here to help, this site is the best tool in the box!

I'm sure everyone has a different reason as to why they like riding their shovels - for me, it's like a time machine.  I was riding in So. Cal back in the 60s, on POS bikes that were barely held together - and loved every second of it.  I can remember more than one ride where we were on PCH and had to double back to find parts that fell off.  It's not near that now, but the vibes, and noise are closer to what we dealt with back then.  AND, back then you really had to know your bike and be able to make roadside repairs - unlike today, when there really isn't anything to do other than oil changes.  Makes this old guy young again, everytime I ride it.

that is a sweet fxr shovel! and they are tough to find, shovels.. especially slap-sides are getting pretty collectable if you can find them in close to original condition (that means no 84"),, i always likes the sound of the 74" the best! and if you know how to do simple inspections and matianace they will take good care of ya!