More missing parts

Ok, so theres more missing than I thought. Actually there's more missing than left. But hey, I'm an optimist.


Don't know anything about the frame, other than its not original. In 1961 HD put the serial number on the engine only. But this has the serial # handstamped under the seat. Must have been a custom build at some point.



Hacksaw, axe, grinder, hammer marks. Somebody with no clue tried hard to destroy the frame.



Tied up to see if it would line up & could be welded.


Found a custom bike builder in Sandy who fixed the frame. Slid a piece of pipe up into the tube and welded.

Just a few missing parts, & thats it.

So I looked at this project and thought how tough could it be? Only missing a few parts. With a little work and a few bucks, I'd be stylin.

I took a few pictures to the local HD dealer service dept manager & asked his opinion. What do I have? Is it a classic worth restoring to original? He laughed out loud and suggested I run away screamin. Said I should put it online "RIGHT NOW". Maybe some teenager will give you $500, and you'll be free of it. Otherwise you'll be into $10k and end up with a $4k bike". Bah, what does he know?

Next I went to a local infamous harley restoration guy for a second opinion. He drooled over the pictures, said his mechanic loved old ironheads & would likely give me $1k for it on the spot, as is. He showed me a dozen or so bikes in various stages of re-build and promised to build me a medium rough seventies chopper for only $7-8k. I think they saw me coming...

Third opinion was from a co-worker who built a 1969 XLH from scratch. "It's a simple machine, really".  He said. "Nothing to it, it's easy". That did it. I decided to give it a go myself.
In my trade as an electrician, "nothing to it, it's easy" can be said about many things. But, to an accountant, whats easy for me might as well be brain surgery to him. Same for me doing taxes for a Corporation. But hey, it's just a few missing parts. What could go wrong?

Before the demo carnage began

 Still trying to figure out what year/make/model the frame is.

Beginning engine tear down.

New project

I have an 84 year old friend that can (almost) outwork me. He has a youth center on 5+ acres in Magna. It's closed now; his age has caught up with him and he doesnt have the time to run or staff it. Some of it's features include a full size fenced in basketball court, full size fenced in (with sand) volleyball court, 7 or 8 emu's, alpacas, minature horses, and two ride on trains that circle the 5 acre property. One train is gas powered, the other electric. I got involved when he asked if I could work on the electric engine to get it going again.

 It was fun getting the train engine running and I continued helping him. It was (is) physical therapy for me, and he needed a break from caring for his elderly wife. He has a great collection of  'stuff'. Like a road grader. How about a bull dozer! Want to see what will go through a full size wood chipper? It's all there. Great place to go putt around on a Saturday. We've chopped  trees, repaired fencing, pulled weeds, fed the animals, work on machinery etc. Train track weed control is done by riding the train with a weed eater. OSHA would not be amused.  ( Quick disclaimer- been in construction all my life and safety is ALWAYS my first proirity! O.K. Chris?)

On to the point of the blog. He had an old Harley Sportster in the corner of his shop, been there twenty plus years. Given to him as security on a loan. The loan was never repaid and the bike sat. And it sat. I asked if he'd sell it, said he wanted $1,500.00.  He figured you could put $2k into it and have a $5k bike. But it was a serious basket case. Front end was mostly gone.Primary cover & clutch were gone. Half the engine gone. Been chopped & customized in the seventies, but not much was left. Someone had actually cut through the upper frame member. It looked like they'd taken an axe to the thing. I told him to call before he auctioned anything off and I might buy it.

One day he asked if I would back my truck up to the shop. When I asked why he said lets load up that bike, it's yours.  I said no, I didnt have $1,500. He being a salesman all his life, I figured he was in the mood to make a sale. But he gave me the bike no charge.

That was November of 2010. The bike was in many peices, and I've since tore it into many more. Hope to have it on the road within the next year or so. His estimate of $2k was ridiculously low!