72 FLH going back together

Tomorrow I am going to start putting the shovel back together after boring the jugs out 0.060, installed new manley street valves and K & B lightweight performance pistons. The new kind with silcon should be an interesting start up, not sure but expecting somewhere in the 9-10.1 compression. Going to be a little tricky getting the solid lifters adjusted right but I figure after intial adjustment and then rechecking after warm up I should have them right. Thinking now maybe I should have rebuilt the S&S super E but it was find before dropping the valve so should be fine. Was up in the air about tearing down the bottom end for reblancing but considering it ran good with 0.040 over stock pistons only vibrating at high end of the rpm curve I should be okay. Anyone riding in the Gulf Shores area welcome to come buy and say hello.

saweet , shovels are kool , stealer here has a mid70's FLH on the floor , real clean , no price , which is a good thing for me ..

One Pan , One Shovel and a Twinkie keep me busy enuff

Can't wait to see you out and and about on the finished product. Sounds awesome!

sounds kewl! got some pics of that shovel?

wizeguy wrote:sounds kewl! got some pics of that shovel?

They are in the new to forum thread.

Sounds like you know what your doing, If I get to head that way, I'll let you know

The good thing about this teardown is finding some things I had problems with like the tank needs cleaned and resealed..blasted rust..a few wiring issues etc..shooting for early next week completion.

Sweet, do you ride in the cold or part it for the season?

Oh pooh. THIS is NOT cold season here at all.....I came from Illinois....nothing like sixty below wind chill to keep you alert on rides....

ride all year here in the north country

I ride year round brothers, but I am partial to staying on 4 wheels when ice or snow is on the road. I have a work project starting the last week of this month which will halt my riding until early December. one reason I am trying to finish early next week and ride as much as possible before that starts, my wife has been very understanding the last few weeks with the beautiful riding weather and my bike in the garage and me having that longing stare at others riding. But she still cannot understand when I sit alone and play a short video of my real love idling in the driveway with a big grin on my face!!

72shovelhead wrote:I ride year round brothers, but I am partial to staying on 4 wheels when ice or snow is on the road. I have a work project starting the last week of this month which will halt my riding until early December. one reason I am trying to finish early next week and ride as much as possible before that starts, my wife has been very understanding the last few weeks with the beautiful riding weather and my bike in the garage and me having that longing stare at others riding. But she still cannot understand when I sit alone and play a short video of my real love idling in the driveway with a big grin on my face!!

I had to park my bike because I had rotator cuff surgery. I went out and cranked her up once a week and let her idle...I cried the first time I did that. Seriously...I totally get what you said...

yepp I no what cha mean , but my wife understands , she's been there

Delays in getting the 72 back together, the orginal tanks were flacking off the liner and rusty...will clean and restore later. Found a new set of 5 gallon tanks, cleaned & finishing the inside and completed the liner lay up and should have them painted and installed in a few days.New goal is to fire the shovel up on wednesday!!

Schweet.

Sweet, still having good weather. You should be able to enjoy all that work.

The bike fired up on the third start after putting gas in the carb throat to get the fuel in. Still have to fine tune the solid lifters... and the timing has to be retarded due to the new K & B pistons run cooler. Hope to shoot a short video of the bike running tomorrow and post. Unfortunatly I have to start work again Sunday and will not get any riding time for a while, shooting for riding Friday and saturday if possible to try and get some miles on the engine.

Good Job Dude, Glad it Fired for ya!.

Thanks, Scadoole;


I knew it would fire up..just not that it would run good with just a little adjusting. I have never used these type of pistons before with the high silicon content and real close clearance, but wow what compression! Will shoot a video tomorrow and put on photobucket link.

Sweet, I'm riding to Grand Bay Saturday, is that too far to go till you get all the kinks out?

Yea, I want to stick close within 20-30 miles until I get the feel of how the engine is running. Once I get some short runs put in close by and everything looks good then venture out for longer runs.

Thanks for the invite, maybe we can make a ride another time, I should have plenty of riding time in December the way the schedule is looking.

Okay, i have shot a short video and uploaded to photobucket of the shovel running before going on 45 min ride. Still needs a few minor adjustments then should be good to perfrom the break in.Click the pic to see the video. Click the link for pics.
https://s1082.photobucket.com/albums/j369/72shovelhead

Embedded the video for ya.

Dude how's it going hope your getting some riding in? Again Great Job

Hayweed, thank you for embedding the video !

Put in about 80 miles Friday, ran great the gaskets sealed like they should, no different vibrations than before. Actually runs smoother?? of course I have only had it about 1/2 to 3/4 throttle for short spurts most riding only about 1/2 throttle or less until I get the miles in. hope to ride it again around turkey-day when off work for a few days.