Ironhead 75 Rigid Iron Rebuild

[mct496]

buy proper I mean right

[deedub97gt]

im throwing that option around. im not really sure how to do that.

[deedub97gt]

My god, where to start...where to start

Okay lets start with that engine i took down to my builder. that mother -I LUV XLF!--I LUV XLF!--I LUV XLF!--I LUV XLF!-er packed up his shit and left. its been about a year and i havent heard from him about the motor at all. his house is vacant. no idea where he dissapeared to with $350 and my motor. But i have others. But im not going to a backyard mechanic again. so i had to SAVE!

Got close to saving up what i needed to go to a shop and BAM! My fiancee runs off with a guy I considered my best friend and brother. so now i had all the bills to take car of by myself....bye bye savings lol. Anyways i was able to get back on my feet after a few months and was able to pick this build back up where I left off.

OKAY! enough sob story and feeling sorry for myself. I live in Jacksonville FL and work in Mayport FL. There is a new shop that opened up a few months back called Dirtbag Choppers, heard nothing but good from them so i gave them a call. Down here everywhere I called they wanted $1500 or more to 110% rebuild an ironhead motor. Jeff, owner of Dirtbag, said he would do it for $1200. And if i had any spare parts to bring them in and we can talk prices. I showed up at his shop with my 72 ironhead engine and a truckload of parts. ended up taking what he wanted and credited me $600 for it.

A short three weeks later and I get a phone call to pick it up! Along with multiple phone calls every time anything of question was brought up. I cant speak highly enough of these guys. Really helped me out.





It sat for about a week until i could get paid and i started picking up the things needed, wire, heat shrink, fuses, bolts, connections, the stuff you never think about.



And i did my once over on the engine before i threw it in the frame. found a hole in the bottom of the cam chest that would obviously leak oil all damn day long! I think it was plugged but when I trimmed the cam chest I ground the lead plug out on accident. Anyways took the cover off and tapped it out and put a plug in it. Easy day just time consuming.



After that it was time to put the motor in. Female friend of mine left a pink blanket thing out in the garage. was the perfect size to set the frame and engine on!





And here is how the Cluster -I LUV XLF!--I LUV XLF!--I LUV XLF!--I LUV XLF!- sits RIGHT NOW!



Long night last night but it was VERY productive!

Still have a lot of work to do. wiring, cables, brakes, to name a few. Anyways I should be back to semi regular updates now lol.

[tizard]

Originally Posted by deedub97gt

My god, where to start...where to start

Okay lets start with that engine i took down to my builder. that mother -I LUV XLF!--I LUV XLF!--I LUV XLF!--I LUV XLF!-er packed up his shit and left. its been about a year and i havent heard from him about the motor at all. his house is vacant. no idea where he dissapeared to with $350 and my motor. But i have others. But im not going to a backyard mechanic again. so i had to SAVE!

Got close to saving up what i needed to go to a shop and BAM! My fiancee runs off with a guy I considered my best friend and brother. so now i had all the bills to take car of by myself....bye bye savings lol. Anyways i was able to get back on my feet after a few months and was able to pick this build back up where I left off.

OKAY! enough sob story and feeling sorry for myself. I live in Jacksonville FL and work in Mayport FL. There is a new shop that opened up a few months back called Dirtbag Choppers, heard nothing but good from them so i gave them a call. Down here everywhere I called they wanted $1500 or more to 110% rebuild an ironhead motor. Jeff, owner of Dirtbag, said he would do it for $1200. And if i had any spare parts to bring them in and we can talk prices. I showed up at his shop with my 72 ironhead engine and a truckload of parts. ended up taking what he wanted and credited me $600 for it.

A short three weeks later and I get a phone call to pick it up! Along with multiple phone calls every time anything of question was brought up. I cant speak highly enough of these guys. Really helped me out.





It sat for about a week until i could get paid and i started picking up the things needed, wire, heat shrink, fuses, bolts, connections, the stuff you never think about.



And i did my once over on the engine before i threw it in the frame. found a hole in the bottom of the cam chest that would obviously leak oil all damn day long! I think it was plugged but when I trimmed the cam chest I ground the lead plug out on accident. Anyways took the cover off and tapped it out and put a plug in it. Easy day just time consuming.



After that it was time to put the motor in. Female friend of mine left a pink blanket thing out in the garage. was the perfect size to set the frame and engine on!





And here is how the Cluster -I LUV XLF!--I LUV XLF!--I LUV XLF!--I LUV XLF!- sits RIGHT NOW!



Long night last night but it was VERY productive!

Still have a lot of work to do. wiring, cables, brakes, to name a few. Anyways I should be back to semi regular updates now lol.

[deedub97gt]

, Here is how she will sit tonight. Doesnt look like a lot but it actaully is. Ignition is done oil lines ran all the mounts are on and tourqed and wiring is started









Now please excuse me while i drink an un-responsible amount of alcohol and watch football!

[deedub97gt]

Alright. i feel sort of bad for how long these updates are taking. lol. but im working around 18 hours a day 6 days a week here. doing what i can! lol.

It sat for a few weeks since the last update. and i started wiring...and i HATE wiring lol. its not hard, especially on an ironhead. but its still not my forte'.

I also feel bad that i havent been stopping and taking pictures while im working. just been drinking beer relaxing and tinkering.

Anyways monday i went ahead and got the clutch cable on and adjusted. i think its a little tight but i like it that way! Illl adjust it more precisely once the damn thing moves.

Also had a problem with one of my primary bolt holes. Had to CAREFULLY tap it and clean it out. just 45 years of gunk in there. so now primary isnt leaking!

Here is how she sat when i headed inside for bed that night.



The next day i said screw it and sat down and finished wiring All of the few wires i had left anyways. hooked everything up. turned the key LIGHTS! poured a little oil in each cylinder and pushed the button SHE CRANKED! moving right along!

Only thing is i cant tell if oil is circulating. the horseshoe tank wont let me see the return. actually as im typing this i just realized i can just pop the return line off and see what comes out. so i might do that in a minute its cheap and easy! And here is how she sat when i went to bed tuesday night!



This weekend im going to weld a frame for my rear fender, and work on mounting it better. it flexes with my 120 pound girlfriend on there. when my 225 lbs fat ass bounces back and lands on the fender ill rip the tire apart lol.

And since i have to do a lot of metal work saturday anyways, making a smoker for a buddy in exchange for a home brewing set up. i figured i might as well play with the finder.

[randy3934]

I like it, loosen one of the top end oil tubes and crank, that'll tell you if you're pumping or not.

[Icefire]

Looking good, hope it's on the road soon...

[deedub97gt]

Alright. So Friday i ended up at a local marine MC clubhouse then about 10:30 i ended up at a strip club with some buddies. Then about 3am my buddies house turned into the strip club after party. and i punched the clock for work at 7am saturday. needless to say i did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING that day after work. except slept.

so sunday around noon i made my way into the garage. took the fender off the bike and spend the day making it more sturdy. first thing i did was take a grinder to it and strip all the paint.



Then i had to think of a way to get this 5/16" steel rod to fit the outline of the fender lol. I have a map gas torch but it was just taking way too damn long. so i reverted to my tried and true charcoal fire. cot the coals hot and threw the metal rods on it. BAM starts pouring rain. At this point i figured im not supposed to use heat for this. so i stuck the rods in a vice and cut about 3/4ths of the way through them. and just bent them back and fourth until they fit.



worked pretty good! spot welded a few spots and finessed it in place with a hammer. and now it went from flexing when my 120 # girl sat on it to where i can stand on it and jump a little and it doesnt flex at all. Im not a professional welder and not sure how to test things, but ill say its good. lol.



tomorrow i think im going to throw around the idea of putting an oil filter some place. and paint the fender.

[1980hdsporster]

Holy big weld, I can see why it wouldn't flex, is that a flux weld? Looks like a double shielded flux weld like we use to weld oil rigs with lol, then again could just be the pic playing tricks on me, that and it's 5am right now lol, looks good tho, shouldn't have any problems with it now. Lol