I just picked up a 71 FL The bike is complete but hasn't run in 25 years. The bike is at a shop now, having the motor opened up to see what I'm in for. I'm looking for a guide to help me out with this restoration and I've come up empty. I own a paint/powdercoat and polishing shop so the cosmetic stuff will be easy. I just would like to know how the bike came from factory so I can duplicate that

Andy

 

i posted this picture in your other link about this - this is a real restored one we did

 

John, that's a good looking scooter. Nice job.

 

Nice looking bike John Mine is a Police Special so I'll keep it black Any guidelines on what to Polish what to Chrome etc. I saw that it came standard with black rims and a 2 into 1 exhaust I'd like info on tires, whitewalls or not. Did it come stock with heat shields etc?

 

good find, randyn; we need more people dedicated to saving the old iron. (nice job jz, as usual !)

 

This is what i posted in the other link and you need to join the AMCA - antique motorcycle club of america and get the mag they put out lots of suppliers with OEM stuff you cant find

in my shop i did a 1971 last winter and after National judging with the AMCA it was invited to motorcyclepedia for a years stay in the winners circle exibit and in sept they asked if it could stay for another year as it is the highest scoring AMF restored 1971 FLH

the link http://www.motorcyclepediamuseum.org/

restored a a costly item every part on the bike is an OEM out of the box we had changed it started as a 58,000 mile one owner

NOW i will say this i would do a freshen up it could be original paint ( lets hope it is ) and just wrench it as an original i would not restore a police bike to new ever -- they have more collector value as a taken out of service used piece - sitting accross from the shovel FLH i did is a unreal restored 1948 Indian chief NYC bike, with documentation dont do this you cant get your money back i have a picture in another lap top wil post later

 

I have a 72 FX 1200. Chech out Shovelhead US forum, there are. Lot of very knowledgable guys on there and can be quite helpful. Also the HD Museum can help with some info, possibly being a Police bike they may have better records than they did for my FX. Good Luck with the restoration.

 

Just got the engine back from the shop, I'm gonna clean it up and powder coat the cases,primary and heads and cylinders. The cylinders are black but I have a brochure from 1971 and the cylinders are silver in the photos. I assume that's the original colour? The tappets are black now. Would they have been polished or engine colour from factory?

Thanks

 

They were painted silver like the cylinders. The inner primary, cases and heads were raw aluminum. The outer primary was polished.