Right side shift
Novice
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 18
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RE: Right side shift
How about a '68 XLCH? I swapped out the front end for a late model dual disc unit, upgraded to a Bendix carb. I've rebuilt it from the ground up twice since 1984. I found some nicely curved XLR pipes to replace the original shorty duals. Still sounds tuff enough! Hasn't had much road time since the Buell invasion, the Ducati event and with a Street Rod on the horizon, it may become a permanent garage ornament...
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 498
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From:
RE: Right side shift
When I was 17 years old, I resurrected this ’58 sporty from a pile of parts. After a few swap meets and a couple months building and painting, I fired it up. I rode it to school my senior year. I felt pretty cool. No other kids had a Harley at my school. Unfortunately things got real tight when I first got married, and I had to sell it. (My wife told me not to sell it) It took ten years to get back in the saddle. If I remember right, the shifter on the right didn’t bother me that much. The manually adjustable distributor did though. Forgetting to retard the timing before kicking it over, hurts.
[IMG]local://upfiles/2043/CD524D759B3A4FC589297CE342677EC2.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/2043/CD524D759B3A4FC589297CE342677EC2.jpg[/IMG]
Novice
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
RE: Right side shift
Nice Old Skool chop!
On the latest rebuild I used regular 7/8" bars instead of the two piece unit with the magneto advance/retard on the left grip. I moved the choke assembly for the carb down to the cases and made it work as the retard/advance for the mag. I can easily adjust the choke on the carb by hand.
When the '68 was a primary ride, there were always ice packs in the freezer...technology is a friend indeed!
'02 900SSie Ducati
'96 S2T Buell
'68 XLCH
On the latest rebuild I used regular 7/8" bars instead of the two piece unit with the magneto advance/retard on the left grip. I moved the choke assembly for the carb down to the cases and made it work as the retard/advance for the mag. I can easily adjust the choke on the carb by hand.
When the '68 was a primary ride, there were always ice packs in the freezer...technology is a friend indeed!
'02 900SSie Ducati
'96 S2T Buell
'68 XLCH
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2005
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From:
RE: Right side shift
Man,
I remember when the rice burners had left side shift, 1st gear down, and the Brit bikes had right side shift with 1st gear up. Talk about confusing!! Hitting the brakes when you wanted to shift. Downshifting when you wanted to upshift. Upshifting when you wanted to brake. Glad the bikes didn't go too fast back then!
Kar
I remember when the rice burners had left side shift, 1st gear down, and the Brit bikes had right side shift with 1st gear up. Talk about confusing!! Hitting the brakes when you wanted to shift. Downshifting when you wanted to upshift. Upshifting when you wanted to brake. Glad the bikes didn't go too fast back then!
Kar
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 44
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RE: Right side shift
ORIGINAL: SKJOLD
Just bought a 1975 Sporty here. I hope I can get used to the right side shift LOL.
Just bought a 1975 Sporty here. I hope I can get used to the right side shift LOL.
'75's & '76's are unique in that AMF changed the shifter/brakes setup by using a cobbled-together bunch of linkage for the shifter, and a just-as-badly-cobbled-together cable-activated rear brake pedal setup that mounted to the original pedal post. The final cobble was the brass plug inserted into the cam cover's shifter boss (rather than cast NEW covers)
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,092
Likes: 1
From: St. Petersburg Florida
RE: Right side shift
Well ,
My Ironhead is a right hand shift. It is probably an early '75 model. The engine case has a date stamp of mid '74. So probably the first few '75 models were left-over '74s. Or perhaps one of the previous owners changed it to a right side shift (Why I don't know). All I know is that I shift whith my right foot and brake with my left, and both serial numbers on my engine and frame match indicating a 1975 XLCH. (4A15413H5)
My Ironhead is a right hand shift. It is probably an early '75 model. The engine case has a date stamp of mid '74. So probably the first few '75 models were left-over '74s. Or perhaps one of the previous owners changed it to a right side shift (Why I don't know). All I know is that I shift whith my right foot and brake with my left, and both serial numbers on my engine and frame match indicating a 1975 XLCH. (4A15413H5)
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 198
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Right side shift
back in 1975 when they switched to left side shift it was done so poorlly that most 75 models were switched to right hand shifts more direct right into the transmission an easy switch i have done that too 1975-1976 models many times u just had too too sloppy the way it came.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,092
Likes: 1
From: St. Petersburg Florida
RE: Right side shift
ORIGINAL: lennyeagle
back in 1975 when they switched to left side shift it was done so poorlly that most 75 models were switched to right hand shifts more direct right into the transmission an easy switch i have done that too 1975-1976 models many times u just had too too sloppy the way it came.
back in 1975 when they switched to left side shift it was done so poorlly that most 75 models were switched to right hand shifts more direct right into the transmission an easy switch i have done that too 1975-1976 models many times u just had too too sloppy the way it came.
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