New Member, First Pan (Hope Choppers are OK...)

[JLeather]

I've wanted a pan for as long as I've been into bikes, but haven't been able to afford one. A couple weeks ago the stars aligned for me and I picked this up from a friend-of-a-friend. It's a chopper (hope that's ok around here) but it has good numbers and matching bellies and the engine top-end was done not too many miles (but 15+ years) ago with new standard-bore cylinders and forged pistons. Not sure the compression ratio but not significantly higher than stock. Engine is/was a '60 FL, frame is supposedly a '57 although as far as I can tell all the casting numbers are molded over.

Hasn't been on the road for 8-10 years. Immediate needs are carb cleaning (Super E Shorty), oil pump check ball (note the improvised shut-off on the feed line), new battery (still 6v), some wiring cleanup, etc. Before I put many miles on it I want fork stops, a front brake, and a better seat. Does anyone know if the '57 bearing cups are the same as the '66-'84? I want to use the Pro One internal stop kit (#103423) but for some reason it only lists fitment for '66-'84. I don't have a lot of options because of the way the girder trees are made. Only other option is to weld two stops to the sides of the existing lower cup and pin it in place and add a stop to the front/center of the lower tree as there isn't room for stops on the sides like you'd run on a typical lower tree.

This is by far the oldest Harley I've owned. I have an Evo (also a chopper) and I've owned a number of 60's BMW's so I'm not new to this vintage of bike, but I'm starting from square one as far as the idiosyncrasies of a panhead go...

60 FL Chop 1.jpg (156.53 KiB) Viewed 1128 times

60 FL Chop 2.jpg (156.32 KiB) Viewed 1128 times

60 FL Chop 3.jpg (162.77 KiB) Viewed 1128 times

[awander]

I'm not a "chopper-kinda-guy", but she's pretty!

Welcome to the site!

you can get a 6V battery at your local H-D dealer. They may have to order it, and they will almost certainly have to fill and charge it, even if they have it in stock, so call ahead.

Looks like your voltage regulator is missing as well. Or do you have one of the newfangled type that mounts on the generator? If so, you could take the regulator mount off of the rear engine-mount bolts.

Good luck with your bike!

[JLeather]

Andy, the generator has an integrated voltage regulator in the end cap (solid state I think). The regulator bracket now contains the ignition and headlight switches (literally just little toggle switches). It's not a bad setup, I'm inclined to leave it that way at least for now.

[awander]

Andy, the generator has an integrated voltage regulator in the end cap (solid state I think). The regulator bracket now contains the ignition and headlight switches (literally just little toggle switches). It's not a bad setup, I'm inclined to leave it that way at least for now.

Ahh, I didn't see those switches! Seems like a good spot for them-just keep your hand away from the pipe!

[Mongrel505558]

Nice bike! Choppers are OK with me! Good luck. How's the girder front end feel? Oh, and welcome to the forum.

BTW, better not ever forget about that shutoff valve on the oil pump feed line from the tank.

[Mongrel505558]

Andy, the generator has an integrated voltage regulator in the end cap (solid state I think). The regulator bracket now contains the ignition and headlight switches (literally just little toggle switches). It's not a bad setup, I'm inclined to leave it that way at least for now.

Looks like a Cycle-Electric solid state regulator. Good stuff. I'd leave that alone.

[RUBONE]

Welcome to the forum. Many of us here started out on choppers, some are still there. Nice looking project.
As to cups, all frames are the same size neck so any cup fits from '36 to the '80s with no issues.

My '39 Knuckle chopper built from a basket in high school...but that was 50 years ago.

[Scrap]

Welcome to the best panhead site on the internet. You wont be disrespected here no matter what you ride. I like your bike but I am a fan of a front brake. I used those fork stops on my previous build you see with the springer, worked fine. The current one is the same bike de-raked.

[Scrap]

JL, by the way if you need help with the mousetrap, this is a great video. Helped me (along with excellent help from the AMCA website )

[socalrider]

Welcome to the site! Very cool chopper, enjoy!

[RooDog]

The one thing Mike leaves out of his video, but it is covered in a previous vid, is to have the clutch itself properly adjusted for enough spring pressure as to not slip while kicking, or while underway. Then, and only then, may one continue on with adjusting the booster's functions.... They work great, when right, and I always used them with my 4-speeds....
....RooDog....

Poor assed picture from 1975

Nov '75.14.jpg (62.33 KiB) Viewed 1034 times

I had just stuck the outer primary on with a few screws for the photo op....

[Scrap]

Roo,
I'll bet you're still that skinny huh?

[RooDog]

Yah, right.... I didn't have enough money for food, so I had to make do with beer, very nutritious...

[Andygears]

Welcome, that’s a kool looking chopper for sure. Bet the paint was home done too, just got that custom-DIY look. I would advise riding it a bit as is and making a list of likes or not, then search up the change parts and tear it down. Riding a bit will show up new leaks from old gaskets and can be addressed when apart for other stuff.

Congrats on the new, old bike, be careful, your setup looks like a handful in a panic situation.

Andygears

[Hubbard]

Nice scooter! first and foremost a FACTORY manual, use a haynes to wipe your ass while reading the real one. Mousetraps are perfect if set by the book and they must be in line and have no binding anywhere. Ten bux sez the back wheel will need to be serviced with new rollers and grease. See the manual. Check to make sure the rivets in the sprocket are tight, if not let us know. STAY AWAY FROM TEDDS V-TWIN! There are plenty of good used oem parts around and reliable sources for other things. Ask here for help when needed. Panheads are rather picky about who they will get close too. If you're just a poser or not serious, forget it. Pour a 5 gallon bucket of love on it and you'll have a friend for life.