So, my wife picked vivid black for her new bike. She wanted a custom paint job someday. Well, she has found a painter and decided on the design and color. I will wait to reveal her choices for when the tins arrive in a few weeks.

It ain't a Sporty, but the people here helped me gain the confidence to tear it apart with the help of the manual. The dealer wanted $300 to take it apart and put it back together. While not out of line, I decided to tackle it myself.

So, here is the "before" on the day she brought it home:
http://langner.home.insightbb.com/before.jpg

Here are a few of the dis-assembly. It really went well:
http://langner.home.insightbb.com/rear.jpg

http://langner.home.insightbb.com/rfender.jpg

http://langner.home.insightbb.com/notank.jpg

http://langner.home.insightbb.com/tank.jpg

http://langner.home.insightbb.com/tins.jpg

Finally, here it sits. It should be three weeks for the paint job. Putting it back together is going to be a lot more time consuming and nerve racking, but I took good notes and lots of pictures.

http://langner.home.insightbb.com/during.jpg

Now that is a chick bike!

They look so cool all tore apart! Can't wait to see how it turns out. If you have any spare parts when it's all done, I'll take them off your hands. I'm collecting them! :doh

:laugh

Gawd, I hope there aren't any spare parts.....

That might mean I didn't get it put back together right....

But, yes, she is deciding which parts she wants to eliminate and replace. Should be fun.

Cool. Can't wait to see what she chose paint-wise.
Putting it back together is going to be a lot more time consuming and nerve racking, but I took good notes and lots of pictures.
Yep; scratching the new paintjob would be a major major crime.... not to make you more nervous or anything :p

Cool, good luck!

Now that is a chick bike!

I understand that the Heritage is the "single biggest selling model" that Harley builds! Must be a hell of a lot of "Girly" riders out there:banana:banadanc

My wife is "girl" enough to ride a Sportster. She learned on one and loves it. But, her legs just aren't long enough, even with it lowered.

The Heritage has done more for her confidence than I would have ever thought. Her low speed handling skills have improved. Her cornering skills have improved to the point that she is more confident coming out of corners. She could always "pitch it in there".

For the money, it is hard to beat the Heritage. It ain't a Sporty, but it is a nice bike.

I can't wait to get it back together.

Smart move on practicing your dis-assembly technique on that bike and NOT the Sporty........LOL! Now tell her you're going for a ride!

My gawd - you know what I just thought of?! When the tins do come back and she gets antsy for you to put it back together, do you realize you can hold that over her head for ANYTHING you want?! :spank:love1

Unfortunately, (or fotunately) she is pretty handy with a wrench, was present for much of the disassembly, knows where the digital photos are stored, and is on a first name basis with the local dealer's son.

So, if I drag my feet too much, HE is likely to be getting anything HE wants!

Today, I replaced:

* 16 windshield torx screws with chrome Allen screws.

* 8 Zinc Torx bolts on the fender struts with chrome Allen bolts.

* One Torx tank bolt with a hex head bolt.

* Four Torx sissy-bar screws with Chrome Allen screws.

* One Torx tank-bib screw with Allen screw.

By my count, we are now 30 torx fasteners closer to a more perfect world!

I hate them bastards. I think there are still a few dozen more (Derby Cover, Foot Board Mounts, Sprocket Screws, Brake Disc Bolts ...) Someday they will all be gone, that's my goal!

Can't wait to see the tins,I'm real curious.

Went and picked up the tins in the fog and YUCK tonight. We took some pictures at the shop, so they aren't the best.

http://langner.home.insightbb.com/100_2412.JPG

http://langner.home.insightbb.com/100_2413.JPG

She wanted her name on the back of the rear fender:
http://langner.home.insightbb.com/100_2414.JPG

He shaved the rivets off the front and rear fender.
http://langner.home.insightbb.com/100_2415.JPG


Now the fun part begins.

http://langner.home.insightbb.com/during.jpg

That's not apart... take the engine out and it will be apart :D

The tins came out nice. I like the striping on them!

Gazza

So, it is no longer apart. My wife and I assembled it today. It was a little cold, but it needed to get done so we could get the garage back in order.

I can't wait for spring! :tour

http://langner.home.insightbb.com/backtogether.JPG

Awesome. Looks fantastic!

The bike looks GREAT. I like the paint. ( No scratches ? )

The bike looks GREAT. I like the paint. ( No scratches ? )

Thank you. I am very happy with the way it turned out.

And, NO SCRATCHES!!

All the lights come on, and it should be good, but I need to fill the tank and start it. Brandi says "Don't get cocky until it goes 'Potato' 'Potato' 'Potato'."

Thank you. I am very happy with the way it turned out.

And, NO SCRATCHES!!

All the lights come on, and it should be good, but I need to fill the tank and start it. Brandi says "Don't get cocky until it goes 'Potato' 'Potato' 'Potato'."

Awesome! Looks great.... how many days till spring?

loving that paint its awesome

looks good!

Nice job !!

http://langner.home.insightbb.com/during.jpg

Looks mean all naked like that! But the new tins look great. Nothing like a new paint job. Congrats :tour

VERY nice,just liek mine i have tribal "flames" or waht you wanna call it, sweet look!

By the way i cant tell for sure form the license plate but looks like Illinois plates to me by the color of the numbers and shape of them.. but i could be mistaken

Thanks. Yes, painter calls them tribal flames.

Good guess on the state. I am in Sterling, about 1.5 hours Northwest of your hometown.

The tins were painted in Loves Park, near Rockford.

Good luck to you!

So, it is no longer apart. My wife and I assembled it today. It was a little cold, but it needed to get done so we could get the garage back in order.

I can't wait for spring! :tour

http://langner.home.insightbb.com/backtogether.JPG

Bike paint job turned out awesome! Great job you and the wife did tearing the bike down and putting back together!

Yep know sterling been up that way plenty of times, played them in high school sports have buddy here with me in my unit from dixon!

does the painter have website, i need to get mine repainted and wanteing to get my paintjob just recreated mayeb diffrent colors, btw how much did it run you to paint the tins.

No, he doesn't have a website. The name of the shop is Paintworks. He has been in business for a long time, but no website.

She paid $1500 for the paint job, remove the rivets, shave the tank weld, and extra clear to make it flat (no ridges).

it looks good. its not done till you start it up and ride

Looks awesome man!

Gawd, I hope there aren't any spare parts.....

That might mean I didn't get it put back together right....

But, yes, she is deciding which parts she wants to eliminate and replace. Should be fun.

Yeah, like when you rebuild a carburetor and you end up with three or four teeny weeny screws or washers left :)