Both have their advantages and disadvantages. Nothing wrong with AMF, they saved HD with their deep pockets. No AMF, no HD.

 

The first few years of AMF, quality control was poor. Anything that has survived til now will most likely have the problems ironed out. Also, a cone shovel is a LOT cheaper than gen shovel.

Depends on the individual motor, really. If it's been well maintained, or thrashed.

 

I think we can all agree that genny shovels look better

-Chris

Not me. I love the looks of a cone shovel.

 

Not me. I love the looks of a cone shovel.

Me too. I love the look of the cone, and I love the look of the panheads. So I went with both and run a cone shovel with panheads. Best of both worlds (looks wise) for me

Sixball

 

generators look great have never been the most reliable charging system, On a genny bike it's best to run a magneto so you can just get it home when the lights go out.

 

Genny are nice and if you set em up right they are pretty reliable,i have electronic ignition,and a cycle electric 1 wire genny with regulator built in ,You set it and forget it 14k miles later still running mint no problems mags are nice but way over rated.Its all personal preferance..I have both a Cone and a Genny and Love both.My Pan 3/4 kick everytime hot or cold so lovely...Most the time i just use the electric leg though..But when i show off my mechanical abilitys I give her the 3/4 dirt bike style kick and Wham everytime.No Crazy Ballerina Dance on the kicker with Leg in the air and a Triple linden landin on the kicker for a power kick....hahahahah

 

i run this setup on my pan. 1 dirtbike kick almost always,but i do have a cpl on cone shovels that i love.1s a 88. the others a stock 74.

 

I like them both. on my 2nd cone. Cant afford a genny.

 

Now that this has turned into a poll, I'm one of the cone weirdoes too. I like the nice symmetrical V shape of the alternator motors, that funny kidney/baby bootie club foot shape on gennys looks goofy to me.

 

Now that this has turned into a poll, I'm one of the cone weirdoes too.

Well - if it's a poll, I'd say Flatironmike's Mule knuckle/cone combo has to be the prettiest motor, but I'm not wearing my "purest hat" when it comes to that.

 

I don't think Jason would mind my posting this link...bottom most pic.
Sexytime.

http://www.jasonmcelroy.com/wrenching.htm

 

That's the sexxxiest motor I've ever seen... Thats the new wallpaper...

 

That's pretty damned cool.

 

it's only a matter of money..............

 

Not really. Some people flat out prefer one over the other. I'm working on my own personal second cone Shovel right now. I could've easily bought a Pan or a genny Shovel by now, but I enjoy a good cone Shovel and plan on finishing this one before I even consider buying something else. I do think that I'll build a Pan next, but money was never the mitigating factor, it was just preference.

I can say it would be money in a world where everyone thinks and acts the same, much like the majority of the "chopper" scene, but that's not the case across the board.

 

I had a pan for a long time (rode the hell outta it) When i couldnt afford to rebuild it the right way, i Traded straight up for a fresh cone shovel and havent looked BACK

 

There's beauty in simplicity and by having the charging system run right off the crank, the cone motor has fewer moving parts. I still like the look of a genny motor, though.

 

You can always use a Sputhe cover - cone electrical in a genny motor..

 

Even in a perfect world, Generators have rolling, rubbing and wearing parts and need to be serviced after a time. Alternators do not. In reality, with shorts, bad grounds and dead, batteries, alternators still have the edge in reliability.

Plus there are other updates through the years that make newer engines in the same family better. Deeper spark plug threads after '74, cam timing gears with tighter clearance for less noise, better oil pumps, stuff like that.

And you couldn't do this with a generator shovel:

 

I don't think Jason would mind my posting this link...bottom most pic.
Sexytime.

Nope. Not at all. Thanks.

That's the sexxxiest motor I've ever seen... Thats the new wallpaper...

Thanks, man. It has treated me well over the years.

Build story/pics here:

http://www.jasonmcelroy.com/lowerrebuild.htm

http://www.jasonmcelroy.com/upperrebuild.htm

Jason

 

Nope. Not at all. Thanks.

Thanks, man. It has treated me well over the years.

Build story/pics here:

http://www.jasonmcelroy.com/lowerrebuild.htm

http://www.jasonmcelroy.com/upperrebuild.htm

Jason

Is there any chance there are more pictures of this motor or bike? I saw this picture some time ago and saved it, its had an influence on the direction id like to go with my bike since getting back into riding.

Looks like a 58-64 frame, which is what I used with my knuckle when I built it in about 1980. Not as practical for electric start, but sure looks good.

Edit: I just realized the links in the quoted post had more pics, I thought they were the other links Id already seen that didnt have bike pics.

 

I could be wrong but isn't the Cycle Electrics set up an alternator with a built in regulator/rectifier and not a D/C generator?
That would make sense of why it works better than a generator.

 

Cones not clones rule

 

Thanks for the input fellas. I was looking through some threads on the shovelhead.us forum and I guess a few people have also used cone/genny case setup where it looks like a genny but has a cone charging case half. In place of the genny is a remote oil filter setup. Looks like that might be an option as well. Get the best of both worlds. Does anyone know if you can use a early tin primary setup on a cone?

-Chris

 

Yes you can. Paughco makes a set up but you have to use a narrow belt primary drive. Not sure of the price, but thats what im gonna run :-D

 

Awesome. Thanks man.

 

all dressed up and ready to go

 

This thread is a stupid as asking what woman is better than another. And as far as I'm concerned, if you go by what someone else says you are as stupid as they are! Make your own choices, and grow the balls to back them up!
Robbie

 

im not much for the mismatched heads, but this one with the cut off camcover/case caught my eye

i totally agree that the generator is an inferior setup when compared to the alternator, but if you ask me, the 69 and older motors are worth more because of the paperwork.

 

I believe I have photos of that case:

 

that cone/pan is gorgeous!

 

i have seen a hand full of the "cone-pans", but what intrigues me about this one is the shovel style intake. how did you do that?

 

Don't know if there are other companies that make em but STD made (maybe still do) shovel heads that look like pans. They have the shovel intake and exhaust setup but look like pan heads.

-Chris

 

I dont know what so unreliable about generator motors.. I rode my 47 knuck from Minneapolis to Tennessee in May, to California in June as well as Yuba wisconsin in June, and then to Milwaukee and back twice in July, and to sturgis this month...never had any problems

 

well, teach us then, share your secret!

 

Cone 4 me!