Hey everyone,

While I have an '80 FLH that I'm rebuilding, I stumbled across an opportunity today to trade my '97 Wide Glide (fell on my brother's driveway, so it has a nice asphalt tattoo on the tank) for a Panhead. Engine & Tranny are numbers matching 1955, but has been put on a 1958 swingarm frame. Wide glide front end, lots of chrome, and the bike looks very nice. Has a leak between the tranny and inner primary when on the stand, but not when upright. Still a 6-volt system. I guess it's also missing a rubber bushing of some sort that causes the clutch cable to fall out of the tranny lever at times. Linkert carb, and the owner is having difficuty getting it started right now.

I know this is not a Pan forum, but I wanted to ask everyone since I've never dove into a Pan before and if I decide to trade I want it reliable enough to do around-town runs, etc. I have a Street Glide for the long-distance duties.

Thanks for any comments, suggestions, things to look for, etc.

Hobo

 

Didn't we all tell you to trade ? HaHa

 

i had a 53 pan that i put into a 58 duo glide frame. it ran great, and it was a sweet looker too. if you get rid of the linkert, you can install a later model keihen off of a newer harley, they're available cheap. you'll have to make an intake manifold adapter, easy if you got a drill press and access to aluminum plate. perhaps easier to just put an old s&s carb on it. when you ride up on the streetglide, it's cool, but for round town, that pan would be really unique. ya see lots of sg's, i got an 08, but you see few pans anymore. they're that cool. those leaks and clutch cable are both not big fixes. at all. 'sup to you, but panheads rock. not really strong powerwise, but they got the cool factor goin on.

 

Thanks guys. The crews over at the Shovel forum (I have an '80 FLH as well) and the Hydra-Glide forum all said the same, so I pulled the trigger. No regrets, and I'm in the process of working up a CV/Adapter combo that is very popular with guys who like to actually ride their Pans and Shovels rather than let them sit in a garage.

Stay tuned...

 

Congrats on the new bike. You won't regret it. I run an S&S on mine. converted over to the o-ring style. CV is a good carb. That leak on the transmission is a common thing. leaking out around the mainshaft. winter project. Good to see another pan being used the way it's suppose to be. Put about 50 on mine yesterday.