SINGLE SPEED HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLES
The next stage of the build is progressing well. Kevin and I spent a full day on the bike today, baring too many coffee breaks and an extended lunch.
It is still always a surprise how much effect the paint and plating has on clearances. The oil tank is in now and the rear fender took half a dozen refits to get right. But we’re getting there.
Now that all the parts are all back I can start the build. The plan was to tackle everything in the exact opposite sequence of the tear-down but that plan has changed. There were so many small nickled parts that came back from the plater that I decided to match all the small fittings with each relevant part of the bike first. That now completed, the next stage is fitting the oil tank/ tool box unit.
The parts for the motor needing plating and polishing have now been returned and the motor has been assembled. I now have everything I need to start the build up and will complete the job within the next few months.
Problem is its riding season and that comes first. I’ve just come back from tour through Europe, the Baltic states and up to the Arctic Circle. Riding needs to come first. If I get this bike assembled and running before the year end I will be very happy.
I can’t believe the bidding is so low on this great little project. It’s been listed for a week now and the bidding hasn’t hit $10k yet. What a great start to a great new bike.
The forks also came from Dewey Rice at Antique Harley. They have a great shape and profile and with a little more work in the rust department will match the frame well.
The internals came from Comp Dist and I have a nice set of original rockers and top caps. The grease (Alemite) fittings are 1914 on but they will suffice for the time being.
I’ve started a few jobs on the older 12 (8D) because I am still waiting for various items that are stopping me from starting the 8XE. It will be a side project until I get the other assorted bits back.
I got this great frame from Dewey Rice. It comes complete with the the top motor mount that will need attaching later. First job though was to drill holes for the lower mounts. We laid the frame on wooden blocks and supported the motor front side with blocks to keep it parallel to the down tubes. The top holes were drilled first (slightly undersized just in case) and then the motor re-fitted. That done we set about the lower two holes. Straight forward and simple. The bolts shown are just some we had on the shelf. We will look at the top mount in the future.
These original bars came with the project. They have needed some repair and straightening but they have come out well. You can always tell repop bars because they are straight and equal on both sides! Originals never are. I have original and repop spirals and will use those that fit and feel the best but at the moment I am just mocking everything up to see what is needed. The outer and inner cables are new as are the small parts.
Pedals are a part which seem to have patchy availability. Currently I can’t find any repops but these are the ones going on the 12. They are a mix of stainless and mild steel so the ends have now been plated. They will probably end up with white blocks.
Here are a couple of seat post images. All seat posts are the same but they are not.
The one on the right is original and from a 1916. The next (two from the right) is original and from a 1914. Three from the right is a good quality repop and the one on the left is a disappointing repop. The good thing is that the original ones are cheaper (!) but they are harder to find.
Look at the quality of the rivets location and fitting, and the shoulder step on the repop bodies.