My ("new") Ironhead build thread

[lttlleindsey]

*****UPDATES CONTINUE AT THE END OF THE THREAD****

Hello,

I'm new to the board. I have a long history with prewar hotrods but I just purchased my first bike. It's a 1977 Harley Sportster XLCH with some serious alterations.

I am a tiny lady and so I am doing some customizing for sure. I am 5’ 1” and just over 100lbs. I have plenty of respect but no fear. I can and will do this. Any way the bike I purchased has a bolt on rigid that has lowered it considerably. The changes I will make immediately are as followed and mostly aesthetic.



Remove fenders front and back.
replace tank with original peanut
6 inch z bars
Springer seat
fabricate small beaded rear fender
replace ugly ass huge oil tank
relocate a much smaller battery~ I want a (forgive me if I don’t know the name) horseshoe oil tank/hide the battery



Of course this entails a lot of re wiring and what not. I look to minimize as much visible wiring as possible. This is the scariest part as electrical is my weakness.
Also aside from the aesthetics I’m draining all the old fluids before I start her. I hope to do a compression test Thursday. I purchased the bike from a friend of a friend and was told that before the bike sat she was doing 105mph on the freeway so she better test with flying colors.

This is all new to me. I hope I can use this board to learn as much as I can about my bike to better help my choices. I have done lots of research and know about the kick start problems for this model. Luckily I have an electric start.

This is going to be a blast. Let the schoolin begin!

Here are some before pics…










.

[lttlleindsey]

I've already ditched the fenders. They were gone the first day. Next on to the gas tank and oil tank.

[lttlleindsey]

We have completely striped her down. I have also purchased all the parts I will need for her initial remake. Mike bought me my seat and grips and all that mounting hardware. He also threw down for the z bars. We basically bought all the parts each other needed to finish each of our bikes. It is really exciting.

The bike looks so different already. I am really able to check out the lines now that all that crap is off it. This bike has so much scrap junk it was silly. I'm talkin random.

Tomorrow we are going to start on hacking out that big old knuckle on the bolt on rigid. We are going to weld her solid. What an undertaking Mike has decided on. I'm thrilled. I was willing to oversee the joint but this is much better. Exciting! This will give me more options for placement of my single springer seat. Furthermore it will thin up that area considerably which should make it much more comfortable for me since I'm vertically challenged.

I can pick up my tank next week if it all goes as planned. I need it all here to really mock it up right and I can not wait!!!

[lttlleindsey]

I'm workin' on starting a blog to document all of this but in the mean time here's an update.

I removed the battery, gas tank and oil tank. I could not get over how huge the battery case was. She looks naked now.

Mike has braced the frame and cut out the top knuckle on the bolt on. He is working on mending her now. Here are a few pictures before the cut.





Also I am starting to really like my rear drum brake... Does anyone have an opinion?


Keep in mind this is my first bike and my first project. Monetarily I will not be able to make all my dreams come true but hope I can find that middle ground. Besides this is the first not the last!

[lttlleindsey]

one more! Here is a pretty one on the new lift I bought Mike for X-Mas.

[crebo]

hell yeah! keep posting pics... Is that a craftsman stand? looks just like the one I got from a guy at work... makes life so much easier...

good luck to you...

[lttlleindsey]

Yep that's a craftsman. Bought it at Sears for a steal while on sale over the holidays. He kept bitchin' about how hard it was going to be to trade out his front end and how it was going to take up so much room and be imobile during the process all the while I laughed knowing that the lift was under the bed. tee hee

Was a bitch to wrap Blah ha

[crebo]

yeah I really like mine got it for 50 bucks from a guy that won it at an auction and never used it... good luck and keep us updated...

(here is a link to my '78 tranny from hell build if your interested https://www.jockeyjournal.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=52573 not hijacking the thread or anything... )

[tobiism]

You're off to a good start. As far as that rear drum brake goes, it won't stop for shit unless you find someone who knows how to set it up properly!

[model-a-fan]

I think I'm in love! Good work and keep the pictures coming!

P.S. This isn't helping my itch for another project!!

[lttlleindsey]

Originally Posted by tobiism

You're off to a good start. As far as that rear drum brake goes, it won't stop for shit unless you find someone who knows how to set it up properly!

Good to know. I'd like to be able to stop. I'll check out your thread.

[keithb]

Good to see another IH build underway
________
butt Cams

[lttlleindsey]

I was just reflecting on a reason why I was moved to buy this bike and thought I would share. I know this sounds goofy but I was born in 77 and I found the bike a month before my birthday and decided it was fate and I would buy it for myself as a gift. You know what they say, if you want it done do it yourself. Time to man up.

It was truly liberating. I've wanted a bike for so long. I couldn't wait anymore. There was only one way to make it happen and that was to step up and buy her. It has been nothing but sheer joy since. I can't sleep. I lay in bed wide awake at wee hours daydreaming in a furry. I can not wait to ride this bike.

I am truly lucky to have Mike. He put in a LONG day yesterday fitting the pieces that will pull this girl together. I understand that time is money and knowledge is priceless. I am grateful he is willing to invest in this project. I am a lucky girl.

[keithb]

Originally Posted by lttlleindsey

I can't sleep. I lay in bed wide awake at wee hours daydreaming in a furry. I can not wait to ride his bike.

Glad to know I'm not the only one.
________
Halfbaked

[crebo]

wow, you got it bad!!! welcome to the club....

[Richharr]

I like drums if theyre already there. my style is get it running and ride it, figure out what needs attention. your light and so is the bike so it will either work fine or lock up (depending on how it is set up)

[undead]

keep going looks great

[ironhead bobber]

I agree, great to have another Ironhead build going on. I should start my own thread, but my progress is so slow, it wouldn't be worth it.
Lttl, you have a 77 for the same reason I am wanting one.
I am interested in the front brake on your bike, looks like it may be a bit more effective than the stock one on my 74.

[Fastlane]

My wanting a 77 reason is that it's the year I graduated high school! Now I feel old....

Enjoy your project and enjoy the results!

[michaelbarry]

I would've left it just like it was and got it running and rode the shit out of it...but that's just me. Excited to see what ya do with it though..