Pardon me for being nosy, but what's with the thumb nut on the O/P sender?
Math meets meth (aka shop built isn't always a good thing?)
Figured it's been long enough, I really should just start a build thread for my 1978 Shovel. This may at times be random and rambling, but that's pretty much how I go about bike building, and life in general š
My brother got a 2000-something Softail, so I needed to get a bike to keep up. Got on Craigslist, and stumbled on a Shovel almost as old as me. I never really believed in it, but this was love at first sight. Knew in my heart that this was my old lady, and immediately called the dude. Set up a date to look at it, and of course, boss man sends me out of town on that day. Nothing stops true love, so after a white knuckle drive down a mountain (sorry, coworkers!) I made it to check it out.
She was even prettier in person! Since it had been years since I was on a bike, and had never ridden anything as finicky as an AMF Shovel, I told the dude "Yeah, looks good. If it fires up, and you make around the block, I'll take it". She fires up, first try. Oh my God, what a sweet sound! He makes it back, and I'm sooooooo sold. Check the VIN with my "What fits what" book. The bike has FL bodywork and an electric start + kick, but the VIN says it's an FX kick. And the engine number matches the frame!
![Tire Wheel Land vehicle Fuel tank Vehicle]()
Sounds good to me, let's do this!
He hands me a folder full of receipts from professional shops, so I figure, wow, must be totally good work (more on this foolish assumption later!!!). I let my brother ride her home, because I trust his riding skills ore than mine. And that is where my adventure begins...
My brother got a 2000-something Softail, so I needed to get a bike to keep up. Got on Craigslist, and stumbled on a Shovel almost as old as me. I never really believed in it, but this was love at first sight. Knew in my heart that this was my old lady, and immediately called the dude. Set up a date to look at it, and of course, boss man sends me out of town on that day. Nothing stops true love, so after a white knuckle drive down a mountain (sorry, coworkers!) I made it to check it out.
She was even prettier in person! Since it had been years since I was on a bike, and had never ridden anything as finicky as an AMF Shovel, I told the dude "Yeah, looks good. If it fires up, and you make around the block, I'll take it". She fires up, first try. Oh my God, what a sweet sound! He makes it back, and I'm sooooooo sold. Check the VIN with my "What fits what" book. The bike has FL bodywork and an electric start + kick, but the VIN says it's an FX kick. And the engine number matches the frame!
Sounds good to me, let's do this!
He hands me a folder full of receipts from professional shops, so I figure, wow, must be totally good work (more on this foolish assumption later!!!). I let my brother ride her home, because I trust his riding skills ore than mine. And that is where my adventure begins...
61 - 80 of 88 Posts
I like details and I like brass.
This bike has a few brass pieces I made and some brass fasteners here and there.
Cosmetic.
Jason
After a few days of riding my oil pressure still seems to worry me a bit. As far as how it is running, it doesn't seem different than before I added the remote filter.
But starting up cold (around here, temps in the low 50's), the pressure on my Arlen Ness 0-60 psi gauge goes right to 60, and stays there for several minutes. While riding it's in the 30-40 range, and when up to temp and at a stop light, it's around 10. The gauge is in a port just above the oil pump (see pic). I am using VR1 straight 60 weight oil.
Besides adding the remote filter, I changed the oil sleeves on the hardlines from the block to the head, and from head to head. Not sure how worried I should be. It's running ok now, but I dont want to cause any long term damage! Thoughts?
![Wheel Tire Hood Automotive tire Automotive lighting]()
But starting up cold (around here, temps in the low 50's), the pressure on my Arlen Ness 0-60 psi gauge goes right to 60, and stays there for several minutes. While riding it's in the 30-40 range, and when up to temp and at a stop light, it's around 10. The gauge is in a port just above the oil pump (see pic). I am using VR1 straight 60 weight oil.
Besides adding the remote filter, I changed the oil sleeves on the hardlines from the block to the head, and from head to head. Not sure how worried I should be. It's running ok now, but I dont want to cause any long term damage! Thoughts?
worn rocker bushes, that where it starts most of the time butt 10 psi at idle sounds okay .
To get a fairer view or to monitor i would split the oil feed line to the rocker boxes, place your arlen ness at the far end of the rocker box so it will be the last in line, the pressure in the bottom end depends on the pressure in the top end .
I provided the valve that opens to the crank with a nail or rivet upside down so it indicates on the outside wether the valve opens , with a engine on temperature a 3mm lift is okay.
All it takes for me is to have a look at the nail every now and thenā¦not every minute ofcourse.
(The lift on the nail showed in the pic is while warming up, it will hold a steady 3 mm after a while), the other pic is in cold condition)
To get a fairer view or to monitor i would split the oil feed line to the rocker boxes, place your arlen ness at the far end of the rocker box so it will be the last in line, the pressure in the bottom end depends on the pressure in the top end .
I provided the valve that opens to the crank with a nail or rivet upside down so it indicates on the outside wether the valve opens , with a engine on temperature a 3mm lift is okay.
All it takes for me is to have a look at the nail every now and thenā¦not every minute ofcourse.
(The lift on the nail showed in the pic is while warming up, it will hold a steady 3 mm after a while), the other pic is in cold condition)
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there is really not much to it but itās pretty functional , just find a nail, washer and o-ring that match the pump parts .
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Continuing my archaeological dig into Frankenshovel, I pulled the front wheel as I get ready to do fork seals. Wasn't really expecting what I found! Definitely some weird meth machining? I'm going to guess they used a sportster axle
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for the 21" wheel, but made some funky sleeve spacer things, including one that was brazed to the chrome dog bowl? Crazy! But now I need to need to figure out what axle exactly was on there, what size good spacers I need to make, or what bearings and new axle I need to go into the wide glide. Lot of research to do!
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Pretty sure this axle is a one-off job. Looks like raw stock on the big end, transitioning into turned and sanded portions. The threads are sharp, and end abruptly like you would see from a die. Gonna start looking for a new axle, because I'm not keen to believe that Johnny Choppashoppa made sure to use good grade steel instead of the first cheap drop he found at the salvage yard š
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61 - 80 of 88 Posts
