new guy with knuckle questions...
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new guy with knuckle questions... - 12/10/2005 2:36:44 AM
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doctorcliff
Posts: 4
Joined: 12/10/2005
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hi folks, dr. cliff here. brand new to the hdforums. looks like a nice place to be.
i'm a gearhead and dentist from new orleans who lost a lot of sh*t in katrina, including a nice 64 lincoln. but that's a different story, and it requires many beers.
i'm here because after the hurricane, looking at all my losses, i'm surprised at how many things i had that i just didn't give a piss about.
i don't ever want anything in my driveway or garage again, that isn't full-on precious to me. no more junk, 2 wheels or 4.
i want to build a knuckle bobber, because i think knuck motors are beautiful pieces of machinery. i'll have the resources and the facilities as my home is being rebuilt in the next few months.
i know a lot of the styling cues i want- a girder springer, solo seat, low-rise stretch tank, etc. but i dunno a dang thang about knucks except they're crazy stupid expensive. as i said earlier, i'm only gonna have stuff around that i really dig, so the cost isn't a big issue.
i have some questions about knuck motors that hopefully some forum vets can answer. bear with me and be halfway kind if i'm embarrassing myself.
1. does anyone make brand-new knuckle motors? are they worth a damn in your opinion?
2. can you bulid frankenstein motors with knuckle top ends? i ask this because i'd consider making a hybrid knuck with electric start. stop throwing things! i have a trick knee and about the biggest thing i can kick over is an RD400.
3. I'm vaguely familiar with shovels but not knuckles. Is there anything in particular that has to be done differently when building & riding a knuckle? i'm unfamiliar with its strengths & weaknesses- i just want one b/c they're freakin' beautiful.
thanks in advance for your input.
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RE: new guy with knuckle questions... - 12/10/2005 7:56:05 AM
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pilot1996
Katrina Fund Contributer
Posts: 8984
Joined: 12/8/2004
From: Havelock, NC
Status: offline
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Glad you found us, and sorry to hear about your loss...
Now that you've introduced yourself, take the time to check some of the other forums, and post this in the Tech section or General HD Chat...I would recommend the Tech section, you'll get better answers for your questions down there, as the audience is a bit more appropriate.
Mac
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RE: new guy with knuckle questions... - 12/10/2005 10:21:04 AM
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Terry1955
HDF Administrator
Posts: 14254
Joined: 2/23/2005
From: Charleston,IL
Status: online
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Hey Doc,
Welcome to the forum. Wow a Knuckle huh? The problem your going to run into are many. Finding a decent motor in the first place. Finding parts and someone that will even work on one and dependablity. Many people in the 70's made Pan/Shovels but I can't remember anyone doing it with a knuckle. I'm pretty sure I've seen (recently) someone that is making knuckle and panhead motors with modern updates but I can't remember where I've seen them. I'll check the web and get back to ya.
Try this site. It may lead you to something you will be interested in.
http://www.buymotorcyclehelmets.com/knucklehead-motors.html
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RE: new guy with knuckle questions... - 12/10/2005 11:20:39 AM
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pococj
Outstanding HDF Member
Posts: 7285
Joined: 12/8/2004
From: Texas! Ya mean there''s someplace else?
Status: online
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Gotta hate it when you get all the stuff together and then hit the wrong button and it all goes into the netherlands of computerdom!
I'll try again...
Here are sources for modern Knucklehead engines. They are available in sizes from stock to way big. Any of 'em can be made to fit later primary drives with an electric foot. There are also some primaries now available that look like the old "tin primary", but have an almost hidden electric starter. These motors are engineered with new internal designs and are reliable daily riders.
www.accurate-engineering.com
www.flatheadpower.com
www.cyborgcycles.com/revkit.html
Front ends: I've run springer front ends and girder front ends. They're not the same, though here's a link to a couple places that make a repop Indian Leaf Spring Girder, that would make your knuck bobber really stand out.
www.youngchoppers.com
www.kiwi-indian.com
For a traditional springer front end:
www.paughco.com
Someone was making a new version of the old Smith Brothers & Fetrow girder recently. Try contacting Don Smith of heavy Duty Cycles:
www.heavydutycycles.com
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Chrome sucks.
Patch holders are people, too!
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RE: new guy with knuckle questions... - 12/10/2005 11:32:12 AM
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BikerInTheDesert
Posts: 1007
Joined: 10/29/2005
From: Baghdad, Iraq
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Welcome!! Glad you found the forum. Sorry for the trouble and loss from Katrina, and glad to hear you're getting things back together.
It's wrong, and I freely admit it, I even apologize in advance but...
quote:
i'm a gearhead and dentist
Do you do a lot of chrome plating??
Enjoy the ride.
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There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
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RE: new guy with knuckle questions... - 12/10/2005 1:56:30 PM
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doctorcliff
Posts: 4
Joined: 12/10/2005
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quote:
ORIGINAL: BikerInTheDesert
quote:
i'm a gearhead and dentist
Do you do a lot of chrome plating??
aw, yeah. you should SEE the kind of grill work i can do- in the office AND in the garage! i've often thought of calling my office Kustom Dental Werks, but not too many folks would get it. wrenching and toothing are about the same, except toothwork is smaller and sometimes it bleeds.
thanks, guys, for the warm welcomes and the useful links. i'm off to do some more homework!
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RE: new guy with knuckle questions... - 12/10/2005 4:35:56 PM
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hoosierhog88
Posts: 1318
Joined: 11/22/2005
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Hey Doc,
Sorry to hear about your losses. But glad you are here with us!
Post often and enjoy the forum. Lot's of good folks to hang out with 'till warmer weather!
Ray
2005 FLSTSCi Softail Springer Classic
SE Exhaust
SE Stage1 DL
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RE: new guy with knuckle questions... - 12/10/2005 8:06:52 PM
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pococj
Outstanding HDF Member
Posts: 7285
Joined: 12/8/2004
From: Texas! Ya mean there''s someplace else?
Status: online
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quote:
ORIGINAL: doctorcliff
quote:
ORIGINAL: BikerInTheDesert
quote:
i'm a gearhead and dentist
Do you do a lot of chrome plating??
aw, yeah. you should SEE the kind of grill work i can do- in the office AND in the garage! i've often thought of calling my office Kustom Dental Werks, but not too many folks would get it. wrenching and toothing are about the same, except toothwork is smaller and sometimes it bleeds.
thanks, guys, for the warm welcomes and the useful links. i'm off to do some more homework!
Doc, a long, long time ago there was a bike in EasyRiders mag that was built by a dental tech. He used his skills and tools to polish every nook & cranny on that bike. It was a beautiful machine with only one flaw - he used a VL frame and didn't rake it, so the front end was at an rather steep awkward looking angle. (But I digress with an opinion oozing from from a definitely non-dental orifice!) The bike was a Pan, IIRC. It was a very classy almost creamy or ivory pearl white.
I think you orter keep us up on your ideas and progress. Might be best if you put off rebuilding your house and concentrate on the bike. Priorities!
_____________________________
Chrome sucks.
Patch holders are people, too!
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RE: new guy with knuckle questions... - 12/10/2005 9:03:16 PM
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Horses_N_Harleys
Posts: 2703
Joined: 11/9/2005
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Hi Doc....A big hearty welcome from Southern Virginia. Glad you decided to join in on the fun!!! Great Forum....Great Folks!!!!
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RE: new guy with knuckle questions... - 12/10/2005 9:24:42 PM
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cmorris48
Posts: 737
Joined: 10/8/2005
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Welcome Doc and good luck with your project.
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RE: new guy with knuckle questions... - 12/12/2005 7:20:39 PM
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Grover
Outstanding HDF Member
Posts: 3872
Joined: 1/17/2005
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A warm welcome from out west in Walker Basin, California.
I don't know anything about knuckleheads, but I am confidant you have come to the right place.
Get out you check list and check book and enjoy yourself.
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RE: new guy with knuckle questions... - 12/13/2005 7:09:20 PM
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lennyeagle
Posts: 198
Joined: 12/7/2005
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i hear that flat head engineering from sweden has moved too either texas or louisiania they can build u a brand new knuck motor. also see shovel below that had a knuck motor in it with a 5 speed electric start softail. the guy that built that bike is very good and on long island. he builds many bikes. if u want too contact him about a build call off line and i can set u up with him.
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RE: new guy with knuckle questions... - 12/15/2005 3:46:46 AM
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doctorcliff
Posts: 4
Joined: 12/10/2005
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Thanks, folks. Your repsonses have been helpful and encouraging. I've followed links and talked peoples' ears off, and now i have a real solid outline of the knuckle bobber project. Now I just have to build a new garage to buld my new scoot in! Patience.
Turns out the flatheadpower.com folks are my neighbors- in morgan city about 50 miles from new orleans! they can build knucks up to 120 inches. i'm going with what doug calls an 'alternator/generator' case- it's old-school on the right, new on the left. that way i can have an electric foot, an alternator, and i can mate it with whatever frame & tranny will bolt up to an EVO. maybe everyone already knew this, but it's new (and good news) to me!
i'm going hardtail, chain drive, slightly fat rear, and prolly that stylin' kiwi leaf spring front end. moon oil tank, solo seat. there's time to flesh out other details, but i can already picture this scoot in my mind.
thanks again for the warm welcome and useful advice. i'll be back around in a few months with a new toy to show off.
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RE: new guy with knuckle questions... - 2/11/2006 7:16:28 PM
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hdsneegas
Posts: 179
Joined: 2/5/2006
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Don't have much experience building knuckle motors Doc but I have owned several in my time. I have a friend do my motor work and have been very happy with it. This is my 47 that I rode from Kansas City to Canon City Colo. and then up to farmington Minn. on last summer. They are great if your not looking for performance type speeds and are willing to just cruise around on. The biggest problem I've had is the rocker tins leaking oil onto the heads and cylinders. I don't push mine much faster that 65 going down the road. One of the big weaknesses of an original motor is metal fatigue with the cylinders. I blew a front cylinder apart once. Good Luck! Let me know if I can help with questions about original parts. 
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RE: new guy with knuckle questions... - 3/17/2007 7:02:35 AM
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alongrider
Posts: 8
Joined: 3/8/2007
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If you want a REAL knucklehead I would save up and pay the price,they can be bought for not too much if you know where to look.They DO make aftermarket Knucklehead motors but any real HD rider that knows his stuff will be able to spot a fake a mile away.Go for the gold and get a Harley NOT some knock off.As far as Knucks go they do things differently when to comes to the oiling system.Pan and Shovel motor push the oil thru the motor with the oil pump.The Knuclehead motor sucks to oil thru the motor by creating a vacuum which sucks the oil up into the rocker tins and down thru the pushrod tubes.
Anything can be done,I have put a Evo top end on a Pan lower(god only knows why,but he wanted it so I did it),I have built a 45 magum which is a 45 lower end with a K model sportster top end.I also have a Pan lower with a Shovel top(very smiple to do).I would be careful of how big you make any motor the bigger the motor the less dependable and the shorter the engine life.Biggest motor Harley ever made was a 80ci and that is plenty big enough for long distance crusin',the rest is just braggin' rights.
The Knucklehead is the best motor Harley ever made that is why they are still out there on the road today,they will last forever.(And that is probably why HD quit makin'em,couldn,t make money off of rebuilds and parts,lol.)And of course the Knuclehead is a beautiful motor to behold!AND what a sound,with that 1:1 rocker arm ratio you can count the strokes as it fires.
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