Freewheeler "Chopper" Project

[Tucci]

Floorboards

I by no means have the expertise that you do. I "used to" do rebuilds on the "old" stuff when all you needed was fuel,spark and oxygen, no modules, ecm, sensors, maps, maff, cats etc. plus oil lines were external. I stuck on mine extended brake,shifter, floorboard mounts,cobra slip ons, mustang seat and some other no brainers. I truly miss the days of switching cams and different lifters, push rods, carbs in the morning and he riding that afternoon.

 

[Free Bird]

I by no means have the expertise that you do. I "used to" do rebuilds on the "old" stuff when all you needed was fuel,spark and oxygen, no modules, ecm, sensors, maps, maff, cats etc. plus oil lines were external. I stuck on mine extended brake,shifter, floorboard mounts,cobra slip ons, mustang seat and some other no brainers. I truly miss the days of switching cams and different lifters, push rods, carbs in the morning and he riding that afternoon.

:laugh: :clapping: I don't know my backside from a barn door on any of that either.... that is why I got into this forum. Any expertise I am developing is from guys and gals on this site posting things that help me make sense of the service manual (which is really expensive and not like the old FLH/FX ones... (Remember when Harley Big Twins only had 2-3 letter names). It is a great place to get an education and advice on all the crazy stuff these new bike have.... my favorite "What the Heck" moment in getting this bike was when the dealer asked me what I wanted my PIN number to be.... Cracked me up.... really..... I was laughing loudly

Like I have said before... when I was a teenager, my first bike was a rusty 47 G-Model Servicar basket case I got for a few hundred bucks and brought back to life. I did not even have a key...let alone a PIN number....

Anyway.... I relate completely to what you are saying.... and I love bikes put together with a gas ax, rattle can paint, and cobra seats....

 

[Tucci]

Old timer

In my 64 years on this earth (through Jesus Christ) I've become very cynical of someone's purported expertise. Some of the info on the internet is actually frightening. If some hapless person attempts to do what some whack job is telling them the only outcome is disaster. I've seen you tube videos showing automotive repairs that will ruin a major component. Guys randomly splicing into electrical wires to get power for lighting, using low grade metals (bolts etc) in high stress areas. Making a part fit.

 

[Jack Klarich]

In my 64 years on this earth (through Jesus Christ) I've become very cynical of someone's purported expertise. Some of the info on the internet is actually frightening. If some hapless person attempts to do what some whack job is telling them the only outcome is disaster. I've seen you tube videos showing automotive repairs that will ruin a major component. Guys randomly splicing into electrical wires to get power for lighting, using low grade metals (bolts etc) in high stress areas. Making a part fit.

This is exactly what is wrong with the information age we are caught up in

Anyone can post a you tube how to video, we have to sift thru a lot of good and bad info some times

 

[trikejones]

:laugh: :clapping: I don't know my backside from a barn door on any of that either.... that is why I got into this forum. Any expertise I am developing is from guys and gals on this site posting things that help me make sense of the service manual (which is really expensive and not like the old FLH/FX ones... (Remember when Harley Big Twins only had 2-3 letter names). It is a great place to get an education and advice on all the crazy stuff these new bike have.... my favorite "What the Heck" moment in getting this bike was when the dealer asked me what I wanted my PIN number to be.... Cracked me up.... really..... I was laughing loudly

Like I have said before... when I was a teenager, my first bike was a rusty 47 G-Model Servicar basket case I got for a few hundred bucks and brought back to life. I did not even have a key...let alone a PIN number....

Anyway.... I relate completely to what you are saying.... and I love bikes put together with a gas ax, rattle can paint, and cobra seats....

I have to laugh. 3 years ago I decided to get back in the saddle after almost 20 years and when I went to the dealership the salesman sat me on a bike and said "start her up". So I reach down on the left side of the tank searching for a while... and the salesman asked what I was doing. Told him I was looking for the fuel petcock and he turned his head like a curious dog and said " how long has it been since you rode?.... Fuel injection!" What do I know??

 

[Free Bird]

I have to laugh. 3 years ago I decided to get back in the saddle after almost 20 years and when I went to the dealership the salesman sat me on a bike and said "start her up". So I reach down on the left side of the tank searching for a while... and the salesman asked what I was doing. Told him I was looking for the fuel petcock and he turned his head like a curious dog and said " how long has it been since you rode?.... Fuel injection!" What do I know??

Ha! I know.... every time I get back from a ride shut it down I am reaching for the petcock!!! That is funny awesome! :clapping:

 

[dannymax]

This is exactly what is wrong with the information age we are caught up in

Anyone can post a you tube how to video, we have to sift thru a lot of good and bad info some times

 

[MDO]

This is exactly what is wrong with the information age we are caught up in

Anyone can post a you tube how to video, we have to sift thru a lot of good and bad info some times

I have learned the most from John Maxwell (HD Tech.) & the guys at Fix My Hog. It cost me $3 to join for a year, but they have videos on every item for the new M8 as far as maintenance & when I 1st got the trike it helped a lot. Now that I have the 1650 page service manual on PDF, I can figure most routine maintenance items out (so far). It answered questions I could not find anywhere else, like the exact procedure/order to bleed/flush the linked brake system.

Step by step directions in a Betty Crocker format I can't screw up, I like that!

 

[Free Bird]

I have learned the most from John Maxwell (HD Tech.) & the guys at Fix My Hog. It cost me $3 to join for a year, but they have videos on every item for the new M8 as far as maintenance & when I 1st got the trike it helped a lot. Now that I have the 1650 page service manual on PDF, I can figure most routine maintenance items out (so far). It answered questions I could not find anywhere else, like the exact procedure/order to bleed/flush the linked brake system.

Step by step directions in a Betty Crocker format I can't screw up, I like that!

Signing up tomorrow.... Thanks Mike

 

[Free Bird]

Finished working out the paint details. Tearing it down Thanksgiving week and sending it out to Crazy Horse Painting...JoAnn Bartles is an awesome flame paint artist

 

[trikejones]

Finished working out the paint details. Tearing it down Thanksgiving week and sending it out to Crazy Horse Painting...JoAnn Bartles is an awesome flame paint artist

View attachment 62832

She's going to look sweet. I'm having trouble uploading pics but I finished my wheel mounting. For starters I thank you for all the helpful info you provided me and I will and already have paid it forward. Discovered a few small hiccups along the way. Had to trim the wheel studs down about 1/4" so the second plate on the adapter can fit flush with first one. Also needed shallow 1/2x20 acorns for that because stock were too long. added another hour to the job but no biggie. Could not find any type of rings to take up the space where wheel mounts to adapter. Didn't need the offset washers because I bought the direct drill Cragar SS wheels. I might have calculated wrong regarding the the spacers. My space between the inside tire and trunk is around 3" so I could have gotten away with a narrower adapter but no big deal. Took some short rides and feel the softness in the tires. Will take her up to highway speeds on my day off and see if I another ring is needed. Next is sissy bar. Did you make your own or have a business that does it? I'll try again to post pics.

 

[Free Bird]

She's going to look sweet. I'm having trouble uploading pics but I finished my wheel mounting. For starters I thank you for all the helpful info you provided me and I will and already have paid it forward. Discovered a few small hiccups along the way. Had to trim the wheel studs down about 1/4" so the second plate on the adapter can fit flush with first one. Also needed shallow 1/2x20 acorns for that because stock were too long. added another hour to the job but no biggie. Could not find any type of rings to take up the space where wheel mounts to adapter. Didn't need the offset washers because I bought the direct drill Cragar SS wheels. I might have calculated wrong regarding the the spacers. My space between the inside tire and trunk is around 3" so I could have gotten away with a narrower adapter but no big deal. Took some short rides and feel the softness in the tires. Will take her up to highway speeds on my day off and see if I another ring is needed. Next is sissy bar. Did you make your own or have a business that does it? I'll try again to post pics.

DANG! I should have told you about the lug nuts. I ran into the same thing. I wound up using trailer lug nuts as they were shorter/shallower. You solved for the same thing though by modifying the studs. I had to make my wheel to adapter ring. So I understand. Off the shelf is hard to get. But remember their purpose is to center the wheel and keep it from vibrating so dissonant nodal vibrations from slightly offset wheels don't snap the lug nuts. You may want to look into getting something made up to lock it in. Call the guys at US Wheel Adapters and talk through the issue I bet they can help. Here is the link

https://www.uswheeladapters.com/

My sissy bar came from Ginz Choppers in CA. Gary is the shop manager. He is a great guy. You have to be patient though. It is a long lead item. Mine was 4 months. Well worth it. It plugged right in. Here is the link:

https://ginzchoppers.com/t/sissy-bars

 

[trikejones]

DANG! I should have told you about the lug nuts. I ran into the same thing. I wound up using trailer lug nuts as they were shorter/shallower. You solved for the same thing though by modifying the studs. I had to make my wheel to adapter ring. So I understand. Off the shelf is hard to get. But remember their purpose is to center the wheel and keep it from vibrating so dissonant nodal vibrations from slightly offset wheels don't snap the lug nuts. You may want to look into getting something made up to lock it in. Call the guys at US Wheel Adapters and talk through the issue I bet they can help. Here is the link

https://www.uswheeladapters.com/

My sissy bar came from Ginz Choppers in CA. Gary is the shop manager. He is a great guy. You have to be patient though. It is a long lead item. Mine was 4 months. Well worth it. It plugged right in. Here is the link:

https://ginzchoppers.com/t/sissy-bars

Thanks. Funny. When I googled the thread size for the studs on the Freewheeler the answer was actually on this site and you had asked the questiion and gotten the answer. So you actually helped once again. Thanks for the other info. When I can figure out how to upload new pics I will. For some reason the site won't let me

 

[Free Bird]

When I can figure out how to upload new pics I will. For some reason the site won't let me

Make sure you save them as JPEGS and not PNG or some other kind of format.... Then they should load

 

[MDO]

Make sure you save them as JPEGS and not PNG or some other kind of format.... Then they should load

Hey Free Bird, I was at Doc's today to schedule my repair for the clutch recall. I'm getting it done Nov. 14th. in the morning. I don't have any indication that mines having a problem .

I'm actually glad in a strange way, now I don't have to bleed it myself.

 

[Free Bird]

Hey Free Bird, I was at Doc's today to schedule my repair for the clutch recall. I'm getting it done Nov. 14th. in the morning. I don't have any indication that mines having a problem .

? I have not heard about a clutch recall.... to quote the famous beer philosopher... "Wazzzzzaaaaaaup"

PS...The trike is in the fab shop getting fenders.... when it comes out we should connect at Docs for a coffee and donuts on a Saturday morning...

 

[MDO]

? I have not heard about a clutch recall.... to quote the famous beer philosopher... "Wazzzzzaaaaaaup"

PS...The trike is in the fab shop getting fenders.... when it comes out we should connect at Docs for a coffee and donuts on a Saturday morning...

Sounds Good. The thread on the recall is in the Tri-Glide forum. Here is a link: https://www.triketalk.com/forum/threads/51421-clutch-recall

 

[Free Bird]

Ok.... things have been kind of slow lately on the project but they are spooling up....

The trike is at the fabricators getting rear wheel fenders made. Essentially they are frames that attach to the caliper reaction brackets in the back and rear fork (swingarm) at the front that are skinned in sheet metal



The guys at Jerry Haas Racing are building them for me as I don't have that kind of equipment anymore. Here is the pattern laying on the tires (The posterboard was kinda floppy...but you get the idea)... I want to show a lot of rubber. The fender will ride with the differential and be spaced ~ 1/2" off the body



The front end trees were finished today .... pictures forthcoming... and my 1 1/4" x 18" Smart Gimps from Nash are at the chromer



The other breakthrough was the discovery of an 11/16" bore Kelsey Hayse style master cylinder in Sweden! That enables a hydraulic foot clutch!!! So my next science project for the trike is a police style jockey shifter arrangement.... Here is the concept





We are machining a bracket that ties into the parking brake pedal mount and uses a new front arm on the shifter pivot to actuate the clutch and I am modifying an FLT Police Shifter set up to accommodate the 1 3/8" front tubes on the FLRT. I want to replace the round shifter arm with a MOPAR Hurst shifter stick as well.... I will keep you posted and will upload pictures as things progress.....

 

[Free Bird]

Front end is almost done!!!!!

 

[Free Bird]

The new fenders are on.....









In the pic blow it looks like I am dragging on the tire, but that is just the angle of the picture. I have about 3/8" Clearance everywhere. It is fun working on fenders that think they are on a hardtail orag:

 

[Tucci]

Wondering

In my home state you would have to be retitled as special constructed and Insurance would be astronomical. Any problems in your area?

 

[Free Bird]

In my home state you would have to be re-titled as special constructed and Insurance would be astronomical. Any problems in your area?

Not sure why they would do that, but accept that they would if you say so.

Nothing is being done to the basic vehicle. Only cosmetics.

In most states if the key VIN/Serial numbers stay aligned with the OEM... all is good. I have built many choppers. The ones that had an engine with a different VIN than the frame VIN .... special titling was generally required. It can get complicated. But I have always kept the paperwork straight so that the Highway Patrol (for MO, they have jurisdiction over special/builder titles) has what they need to issue a builder title.

No need in this case as I have not changed the frame out nor have I hanged the engine cases out.

All EPA requirements still met, all engine/tranny warranty still good. Just havin a little fun with the chassis

 

[Tucci]

Retitled

Pa. Title 75. Specifically constructed veh.

the removal, alteration or substitution of any major component which would substantially alter its appearance, model, type or mode of operation.



That's the reason you can't get radical on customizing any veh in Pa without going through a ring of fire and outrageous Insurance premiums.

 

[Free Bird]

Pa. Title 75. Specifically constructed veh. the removal, alteration or substitution of any major component which would substantially alter its appearance, model, type or mode of operation.

Yep ...got it... sounds like PA. Fits right in with State Stores and BYOB restaurants....:laugh:

(Lived in Lancaster for a while)

 

[Sidecarbill]

Pa. Title 75. Specifically constructed veh.

the removal, alteration or substitution of any major component which would substantially alter its appearance, model, type or mode of operation.



That's the reason you can't get radical on customizing any veh in Pa without going through a ring of fire and outrageous Insurance premiums.

Thats interesting. So the bike in my avatar needs to be retitled in pa? Because old hondas didn't look like that when they were new? :Crap: Been looking at houses in pa.

 

[Tucci]

Titled

I've been out of the inspection law loop for a number of years. Laws change at the wim of law makers. It used to be if you were already titled in another state and then registered in Pa, you were grandfathered in. Insurance companies in NJ used to give discounts to their residents if they had their vehicles inspected and stickered in Pa

 

[Tucci]

Sidecarbill

If you're serious about the move check out.... https://www.dmv.pa.gov/_layouts/pa.penndot.formsandpubs/formsandpubs.aspx?dvs=1. And download --MV-426b-- It's an eye opener!

 

[Free Bird]

Thats interesting. So the bike in my avatar needs to be retitled in pa? Because old hondas didn't look like that when they were new? :Crap: Been looking at houses in pa.

This was my sidecar rig. 96 Heritage with a Liberty Sidecar. Like all of my bikes I did a lot of "stuff" to it. The Bike was bought at Doc's HD (like my Trike) and I started modifying it to look like a 50's Pan with a hack. Had it in Washington Crossing and Lancaster PA for two years. So maybe you will be ok...

 

[Tucci]

Spec constr

Like I stated, I've been out of the inspection business for quite awhile. I would suggest you take some photos or the bike to a Pa inspection station and get his "professional" decision . Mine is only speculation from years ago.

I personally don't see a problem as long as engine and frame numbers match. Pa used to register bikes by frame numbers, not motor. As if there was a big problem with frames being stolen and resold!. Guys would steal the motors and put delcron, s&s or other cases on them and buy a metal stamping kit to re vin.