The Chopper Compendium

This is a trial run with some new software, wanted to post some of the early stuff on this project, but didn't get it ready, so will have to add it later.

The story is I have a lot of panhead parts hanging around in my shop and storage shed, and now that I'm retired from the daily work schedule, can see what I can do with this.

The boys here in Hawaii in the 60's and 70's evolved a style for their knucks, flatties and pans called 'Local Boy', and I've decided to go ahead and build one.

Here's one example


Anyway, I have a cherry set of recently rebuilt '60FL cases, and a pretty full set of internals out of a low mileage '59FL, plus the '59 jugs and heads.

Decided to split the wheels apart, see what the rod bearings and crank pin look like....


The crank pin looks great, got the micrometers out and it measures smooth and stock, no wear that I can find.


The rods, however, mic'd out a bit strange, the races were undersize, what the heck???


So went and mic'd a whole bunch of the rod bearings, and guess what, they are a set of one thou undersize bearings, never heard of that before!!


Considering the undersized bearings, the rods were worn slightly out of acceptable range, and the vertical wear was half a thou more then the side to side wear, so time to hone them.

I got a set of standard size bearings and honed the rods up to standard spec, it all fits like it should now.


More later...
Aloha,
Willy
PS:
If you want, take a peek at my new software's web page I just put together this morning. It's a work in progress, but you'll get the idea
Willy's 60 FL Project Page

Added an "early page" too....
Some Pix From When We Started Thinking About This...

Added quite a bit to my personal project page:
Willy's 60FL page

Here's a few things:
Using a dial indicator to check out rod side to side clearance:


The galling on the pinion shaft, wonder what caused this???


More later,
Aloha,
Willy

A couple of pix from the"Early Page", there are more pix there....

The frame I want to use, a '59 drop seat swing arm. Mostly "unmolested", need to open up the seat post for a pogo stick.


Stacked the jugs and heads on the '60 cases, and put them and the 4 speed in the frame, my wife says I get excited way too easy, I tell 'er "hey, with me it's bikes, not women, I'm "true to you".....
But I sure am "easy" for the old bikes....


Aloha,
Willy

I've had this VL springer hanging on my shop wall forever,
I had figured it was beyond repair, but am reconsidering that,
Will take it apart, sand blast it, and take a close look at what I've got here....


It's pretty rusty, thin in places, that scares me....
There's parts missing, don't know if I can find replacements or not,
Might have to machine something custom for the top piece....


One of the springer legs has been welded, will have to cut that open
and take a close look at it....

This is a long term project, it will take awhile....

may take a while, but i can tell you're having fun. i'll be looking forward to watching this one, too!

-dan