Gotta tear down the 50 to measure and fix the frame.

[easyricer]

 We just picked up my buddies 50 Pan/Shovel from the shop that did the estimate for me. We got her onto the trailer, home and unloaded back in the shed where she is usually parked. I asked the mechanic at that shop to inspect every weld and bar on that frame, to make sure it was all good. I also asked them to drain the tank and the carb. On the estimate they said that they checked out the frame and that it was straight and in good shape. Just standing around it at the house, we found the tanks had not been drained, but the caps were on backwards, so we lost one in transport, the rear fender is bent as well as the sissybar, the oil tank mount plate is twisted, and the backbone is broken clean through! This we saw standing only 4 feet from the bike while it was on the floor!
I already called my lawyer because I want that adjuster to stand there with me as I dissect this bike to find ALL the damage from this wreck. I know that I'm not supposed to do the estimate because I was the one in the wreck but as it seams I'm the only one who gives a damned to do it right!
EASY

[mark61]

Shamefull behavior on the shop's part. I for 1 would make it known to everyone I come in contact with for a long time what a bad place that is to deal with!

[Erichill]

I was in a wreck with my '48 this spring. Other person's fault. We both have Progressive insurance. After the estimate, they agreed to leave it open ended in case more damge showed up after the teardown started. We had no way of know if the engine over revved and did any damage until everything else was fixed and we could fire up the engine.

Don't settle on cost of repairs until you are sure all is covered.  Hope you find a better shop to deal with.
Eric

[easyricer]

LOL yeah Eric, I have a better shop to deal with, mine. I know my lawyer don't like it very much but I already know that I'm not going to find someone who cares about these bikes as much as I do anywhere with in reason.
EASY

[easyricer]

 Well now, that was interesting! The adjuster finally came back, I showed him the bike at my shop, pointed out all the damage from the impact. He says "No way that got damaged like that in a frontal impact, had to be previous damage" I asked him what made him think it was a head on collision. He says the forks are bent back, not to the side. So I gave him an education (that apparently his company never did) I removed the taillight lens and showed him the light bulb. The filament will always show the direction of impact, if the light was on. The filament was clearly pointing to the right. He looked and looked for the break in the frame and I finally had to show him that too. I explained to him that the bike has to be stripped down to the frame, whether we replace the frame or repair it, the cost is about the same. I also showed him a few pages in the Palmers guide and showed him the factory repair manual, where it covers frame repair. I explained that these bikes are repairable regardless of damage. Then we went round and round over the value of the bike, as it was before the wreck. He went back to his van and we could see him talking on the phone, then holding his head over his laptop, walk back take more pics of the bike, then holding his head over the laptop again. After about an hour, he came back with an estimate that actually reflected what was done.
SO that is settled, for now. We have an open ended estimate, and enough money to get started on fixing the Pan. The check will be mailed to my shop.
I'll have to get another bike dolly since the Pan is all but impossible to roll around, and start stripping the frame for repair.
EASY   

[kik]

Well now, that was interesting! The adjuster finally came back, I showed him the bike at my shop, pointed out all the damage from the impact. He says "No way that got damaged like that in a frontal impact, had to be previous damage" I asked him what made him think it was a head on collision. He says the forks are bent back, not to the side. So I gave him an education (that apparently his company never did) I removed the taillight lens and showed him the light bulb. The filament will always show the direction of impact, if the light was on. The filament was clearly pointing to the right. He looked and looked for the break in the frame and I finally had to show him that too. I explained to him that the bike has to be stripped down to the frame, whether we replace the frame or repair it, the cost is about the same. I also showed him a few pages in the Palmers guide and showed him the factory repair manual, where it covers frame repair. I explained that these bikes are repairable regardless of damage. Then we went round and round over the value of the bike, as it was before the wreck. He went back to his van and we could see him talking on the phone, then holding his head over his laptop, walk back take more pics of the bike, then holding his head over the laptop again. After about an hour, he came back with an estimate that actually reflected what was done.
SO that is settled, for now. We have an open ended estimate, and enough money to get started on fixing the Pan. The check will be mailed to my shop.
I'll have to get another bike dolly since the Pan is all but impossible to roll around, and start stripping the frame for repair.
EASY   

That's great. Looks like things are finally looking up. I hope you take plenty of pictures during the rebuild. Are you going to repair or replace the frame??

[easyricer]

Yeah there will be a lot of pics.... I'm gonna fix the frame. No way I can spit this up. While I'm at it, I'm gonna fix a few other missing tabs and so on.
EASY

[easyricer]

Well now.... Here's an interesting turn of fate...... I'm buyin the Pan. I made the deal today. The shop is trading an 05 Roadking for the insurance check and the wrecked Pan, then I am buying the Pan from the shop. (Yeah It's my shop but that's how the paper work turns out)
Plan is for now, to put it in storage until I have the money to fix it right. At this current point in time it's an income for the shop. Next time the old gal emerges with a license plate on her, she'll be a 1950 Hydraglide.
EASY

[96flhpi]

Congrats - lots of work to be done I know but damn a pan looks sweet.  I'm partial to the stock look on those classics too, assume that's what you mean by it'll be a Hydraglide.  You know we'll be waiting (hopefully not too long) for pix.

Always hoped that someday the gods will convene and put the right pan in my lap.

[War Horse]

Good deal Easy 

I learned something new today, I've never heard that about a filiment showing direction of impact, very interesting. Just goes to show, we never stop learning.

[twincamzz]

Good for you Easy ... I know this Pan is going to a good home. Can't wait to see the pix as the re-build comes along. 

[CraigArizona85248]

Very cool!  Bummer how it came about, but the outcome is going to be good.

-Craig

[wfolarry]

How are you going to put it in storage with an open ended estimate? Did you just settle on a dollar amount for the repair?

[easyricer]

He decided to cash the checks, buy another bike and let me buy the wrecked Pan. He just can't get past the broken frame or a replacement frame. He's a welder by trade and knows what my abilities are but it's kind of a mental block thing. So no more open ended repair.
It's not like he has nothing to ride, he has a sweet Softail Heritage that will blow a hole in the wind. He just decided he had the have the Roadking too.
Anyhow he should be picking his new bike up from us tomorrow and bringing me the title to the pan.
EASY

[easyricer]

Well it's now official the 50 is mine. I'll bring her home in a few weeks after I stick some straight forks on her. I'll start a new thread about the tear down and semi restoration of her. She will look stock, but the old shifter tanks off of Betsie will be put on her, the engine will stay stroked and I'll replace the Shovel heads with STD heads to keep the power she has.  She'll also get new fenders and the frame will be restored with all the correct tabs and mounts. Betsies 1963 tanks are not right (on either bike) but I really don't care to mess with a fuel shut off rod.
EASY

[panjs]

Pingel has an adapter if you want to get away from the stock shut off.

http://www.pingelonline.com/big_twin_valve_adptr.htm

[Snuff™]

Pingel has an adapter if you want to get away from the stock shut off.

http://www.pingelonline.com/big_twin_valve_adptr.htm

...but it doesen't get me back to original steel line to the filter/linkert.

Will be keeping an eye on that new thread "Tear down and semi restoration" Easy!

[easyricer]

It's gonna be a while. If anyone remembers "Project Frankenstein" it took me 10 years to collect up enough parts to call it a bike. This won't be quite that long I hope, but I have a lot of parts to drag up and the frame is going to need a bunch of attention getting it back to where it started at.
EASY