Ironhead Magneto Sportster Tries To Restore a 1953 K Model?!?! (Photos and Story Included)

[Magneto Sportster]

Update: 8/27/22

I stopped by my buddy's shop yesterday and we searched for more parts to go with my '53 K Model project. I think we did pretty well:

Early shift lever, splined and threaded so no nut used on the pinch bolt:

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nGKe5k]

Early coil cover standoffs with coarse threads:

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nGMqUw]

Correct rear axle spacer. Notice the smaller flange on the inside:

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nGMuei]

Model M-53 "bombsite" Linkert carburetor. Early K only.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nGF9hy]

Correct early K horn trumpet and power pack:

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nGF9A9]

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nGKeh9]

Saddlebags, correct for 1953:

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nGF9GB]

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nGLQmH]

Some original cables, levers, plug wires, and oil lines:

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nGMup8]

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nGKeey]

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nGMr1Z]

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nGMr9u]

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nGF9DR]

K Model rear shock studs (notice the thin width of the hex area):

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nGMugT]

Early K Model shocks:

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nGF9tk]

Exhaust bracket:

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nGLQ5W]

Parts gathering is moving along nicely! Hopefully I can begin some assembly before Autumn is over....

[Captain Johnny]

Your buddy must have a helleva parts stash. Love those bags! Nice score.

[IronHeadRon]

Originally Posted by Magneto Sportster

I'm not sure I follow everything you are sayin, but my 900's cruise 65 mph with a 21 tooth in the front, no problem.

However, a '53 K is a 750 and come in somewhere around 30 horsepower in stock configuration. It will probably cruise along a 50 - 55 mph nicely. But that's just a guess. Also, it was supposed to be a joke.

Yeah, that's why I said ignore it all (unless it helps somebody think, I was using a rough rpm:mph conversion factor the book suggests for things which require little accuracy, so better to go tooth by tooth. I have before (still just unit conversion with more factors) but must've done something wrong.) The math should be easy to follow x/z × y/x = y/z and x/z × z/y = x/y, it just confuses some people when the x's y's and z's get replaced with realistic units like engineRevs, tireRevs, and minutes. but again, all that is mute points based on rough estimates on an entirely different machine, so all can be ignored

And totally agree that the top speed on either will be dictated by power and not redline (otherwise I'd be able to push into the 100's of mph on the ironhead)

I did all this before as my dad claimed similar shortcomings, and messed up some arithmetic. (He felt like he really had to "wind it up" but who knows what that means without a tach.)

Anyways, awsome project. Probably should've deleted (more complicating than explicatory) but now it's been quoted ..... hope that helps clarify my train of thought.

I've never been on the highway (was 11 the last time she was road worthy, and were triple checking everything) so I definitely agree I was mistaken at first EDIT: on a harley, I've pushed a little Honda Shadiw 500 over 100mph a few times, no balls up there, but on the right stretch if road she could do it. Used to put 150mi a day on her, part of the time with a busted leg and crutches, and well past comfortable riding season, but she was all I had):END

I am very interested in your oil slinger design and how it was modified for the xlch and if special is a reference to rarity or if it has a performance advantage

[Magneto Sportster]

Originally Posted by IronHeadRon

Anyways, awsome project. Probably should've deleted (more complicating than explicatory) but now it's been quoted ..... hope that helps clarify my train of thought.

I am very interested in your oil slinger design and how it was modified for the xlch and if special is a reference to rarity or if it has a performance advantage

No need to delete anything, this is a "discussion" board. No worries.

The oil slinger was used on early XLCH's too. I believe 1963 was the first year for the big "washer" in place of the slinger on the Sportster, but I have have my parts book in front of me to say the year for sure.

[brucstoudt]

the early oil seperator has no performance advantages.DR DICK referred to it as the power robbing daisy wheel.the factory discontinued it's use after '62.

[needspeed]

Originally Posted by IronHeadRon

..I am very interested in your oil slinger design and how it was modified for the xlch and if special is a reference to rarity or if it has a performance advantage

I'm showing this link at the risk of cluttering this thread with a big discussion on oil separators. Not my intent.

Using a K model separator on your '69 would involve more than just putting one on the generator. The proximity of the separator to the cam cover is part of what makes it work and the early covers are different.

It wasn't better for performance as explained here.

http://xlforum.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1861965

The separator and gear appear to be one unit. A pic of sportster part # 31071-58 is shown in the thread. K models and '57 sportsters use part # 31071-52A.

[brucstoudt]

it looks like your recent clutch cable uses one of these early bushings this one came with my bike when i bought it 44yrs. ago.i went to newer levers when the early clutch lever broke.i've since repaired it and will be putting my early levers back on soon.i had to use heat and an impact driver to back out the screw on that part,super tight.i looked in my early parts books and don't see that type bushing shown.have you seen it on early XL models?

[IronHeadRon]

Originally Posted by needspeed

I'm showing this link at the risk of cluttering this thread with a big discussion on oil separators. Not my intent.

Using a K model separator on your '69 would involve more than just putting one on the generator. The proximity of the separator to the cam cover is part of what makes it work and the early covers are different.

It wasn't better for performance as explained here.

http://xlforum.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1861965

The separator and gear appear to be one unit. A pic of sportster part # 31071-58 is shown in the thread. K models and '57 sportsters use part # 31071-52A.

Huh, I thought that was the mist on topic part of my post. Sorry again for the nonsense, thank you for the link and the quick summarization. I was not thinking of getting one or anything, just curious about the model k (I guess my internet Foo has gotten rusty, I did search for it.....)

If it's part of what makes it different I am going to enjoy nerding out on it (I feel like most of the changes here were epa motivated, considering sportster history. It seems a general consensus that regurgitation into carb < foo foo valve < venting to the atmosphere so it will be very cool to look into the things they changed on purpose!

I am loving this thread (I don't know why I thought my bad calculations worth keeping, I am an odd person who enjoys odd things so many times I don't make sense. Again my apologies for any clutter.) And I'm sure any other links to interesting model k stuff would help the O P. as well ...... or maybe that's just a nerdy thing of mine too, if so ignore

the reason I love studying thus us it seems like it was pure efficiency and performance chasing, I know ama saved the company; but feel like a lot of cost cutting was involves. Then We enter the Era of performance upgrades vs epa downgrades, clearly the upgrades won, but it is far less simple to study than the model k's progression

TL;DR
Ty for answering and the links, I will lurk now as I feel I haven't added anything, sorry about that; just a motercycle nerd consumed by curiosity and projecting things that help me learn onto others. I'm working on it, my bad.

Also to OP, how the hell dud you score that carburetor, you have a time machine. You need to cut the B.S. here and start putting every harley ever kept to rot in our shops (and, if you could swing back to 2009 and grab some of thus stuff called bitcoin for us, if it only goes back to the 50's gold will be fine!

Seriously though, beautiful score; they probably took you arm and first born son but totally worth it! EDIT: oh it's your buddy, see I was right. He'll take good care of the boy and you have an extra arm.

[needspeed]

Ironheadron, to be clear I wasn't being critical of your question about the oil separator. Not at all. Actually a good question about a part involved.

It's just that I've seen too many threads morph into discussion about stuff that has nothing to do with the OPs subject. Example: It could go: K model restoration- oil slinger- oil pump function- oil type-oil leak-gasket sealer-pump speed-breather timing- airflow thru carb- spark plug type- and on and on and on until we're talking about a chevy v8. Don't laugh, it happens.

[thefrenchowl]

How can one assume it could be noble to compare such different things as a "Slinger" (the horrible washer) and the "Separator" which marries in one simple but elegant design such opposites as centrifugal and centripedic forces???

Patrick...

(yes, je suis hors sujet... it is very late now and I should be in bed...)