The restoration of 45LE1856, a barn-fresh bucket-o-rust
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The original 1945 Lights, Beehive & Fender Lamp463 viewsI decided to try and save the original lights, the Beehive is the original, the bulb socket is for an 1158 bulb with the pin lugs straight across from each other. Bottom of the cover was full of rust holes but sealed up fine with some epoxy, the fender lamp base was also VERY rusted but it cleaned up and will hold a bulb again, it has a couple of rust-throughs but I parkerized it after bead blasting and painted it with epoxy enamel, IT WORKS TOO!FlatHeadSixNov 16, 2010
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Pattern 1476 viewsMaking Patterns for the new panels and floor for the rusty tub. The floor was mostly gone but the side panels still have enough for a pattern, heres the right side.FlatHeadSixDec 14, 2010
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Squashing the clearance relief into the front pipe763 viewsThe front pipe needs a dent squashed into it for clearance at the front support rod, the big nut will not fit on the inside of the right sidecar loop unless you put a dent in the pipe.FlatHeadSixNov 13, 2010
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Welding the new tub together614 viewsThe patterns turned out well, the old top sections fit perfectly and the bottom is on. The original tub had leaded seams and the old lead which melted and ran out has been used again to seal the new seams. Not exactly the same construction methods used for the original in 1945 but it will look identical when finished, and you could also use the tub as a canoe!FlatHeadSixFeb 12, 2011
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45LE1856, starting to come together again480 viewsafter about 2 months of disassembly, bead blasting, sand blasting, powder coating, painting, parkerizing, and some blood, sweat and tears, the old chassis is back on the ground and rolling againFlatHeadSixNov 06, 2010
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Rebuilt & painted, mounted on original chassis 1945 LE718 viewsThe original top sections with new side panels and floor bolted to original chassis. Most of the hardware and accessory stuff is restored original; spare tire rack, windshield supports, foot rest, etc. Seat, cover, stainless trim, and windshield from L&W Body.FlatHeadSixMar 17, 2011
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H-D SideCar 45LE1856 Reclaimed from a cow pasture in Juneau County Wisconsin412 views"This is a pictorial summary of my "restoration" of a 1945 H-D LE Sidecar that spent most of the last 40 years in a cow pasture in Wisconsin. It was retrieved from the pasture and spent some additional time in a dairy barn before I acquired it, so, yes, it is "Barn Fresh". My friend John HD hauled it to Davenport IA on Labor Day this year (2010), it took 3 guys and 6 beers to load it into my truck for the trip home to Arkansas. With the help of a big Kano KROIL, and lots of patience, it all came apart. Most of the iron was severely pitted so everything was either sand blasted or bead blasted. The big pieces were powder coated, smaller parts were painted with Rustoleum Appliance Epoxy (tough stuff), and about 95% of the original hardware was bead blasted and parkerized, and put back on. I bought new ball studs and nuts, thats about the only things I have replaced so far, everything else is original. Here is what I have accomplished so far.
mike"FlatHeadSixNov 06, 2010
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Mounted the sidecar chassis to the 1949 FL for the first time460 viewsInstalled all the mounting brackets on the Panhead, you have to take a LOT of stuff off of the bike to get everything on; tanks, right saddle bag, front exhaust pipe, crash bars, etc., etc. It all went on very smoothly, may go for a ride today if I get the pan back together.FlatHeadSixNov 13, 2010
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Mounted the sidecar chassis to the 1949 FL for the first time555 viewsInstalled all the mounting brackets on the Panhead, you have to take a LOT of stuff off of the bike to get everything on; tanks, right saddle bag, front exhaust pipe, crash bars, etc., etc. It all went on very smoothly, may go for a ride today if I get the pan back together.FlatHeadSixNov 13, 2010
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Rebuilt & painted, mounted on original chassis 1945 LE674 viewsThe original top sections with new side panels and floor bolted to original chassis. Most of the hardware and accessory stuff is restored original; spare tire rack, windshield supports, foot rest, etc. Seat, cover, stainless trim, and windshield from L&W Body.FlatHeadSixMar 17, 2011
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45LE1856, back on the wheel451 viewsafter 2 months the chassis is ready to ride, now I have to seriously start on the rusted out tub.FlatHeadSixNov 06, 2010
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The original 1945 Lights, Beehive & Fender Lamp500 viewsI decided to try and save the original lights, the Beehive is the original, the bulb socket is for an 1158 bulb with the pin lugs straight across from each other. Bottom of the cover was full of rust holes but sealed up fine with some epoxy, the fender lamp base was also VERY rusted but it cleaned up and will hold a bulb again, it has a couple of rust-throughs but I parkerized it after bead blasting and painted it with epoxy enamel, IT WORKS TOO!FlatHeadSixNov 16, 2010
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