Back yard mods and paint complete
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,960
Likes: 26
From: Sonoma County, CA
Well, there's something to be said for knowing your limitations and still making the bike "yours". My only suggestion would be to start gathering tools and a manual. Each project only requires a few tools. Before you know it you'll have what you need and have gained some knowledge about your bike. Ride ON!
Thread Starter
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,584
Likes: 918
From: coast to coast
Thanks for the encouragement. I'll need it for my next project which will be a blacked out FL front end. Actually, I am going to enlist some quality help for that one...If could, I think I'd go back one step and unpaint the rear shocks....one black piece too many...oh well. Eventually I'll replace them with some aftermarket shocks. Hard to stop once you get going.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 12,359
Likes: 74
From: WI
I'm liking it - especially since YOU did it yourself, and all with basic tools. And like you said, if it didn't turn out, try again or go to a pro.
My thought on why things turned out so well is because of all the prep that went into. You cleaned everything and took care of it up front.
My thought on why things turned out so well is because of all the prep that went into. You cleaned everything and took care of it up front.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,572
Likes: 5
From: Templeton California
Your masking skills are awesome.If I had the patience to mask like that I'd have painted my wheels years ago.And it IS a pain in the *** to take the wheels off and get them back on right and do it in enough time to paint them and get them back on in time for work the next day.Every time I take mine off I forget which spacers go where and I usually have to make a couple attempts to get it back together right.Also maybe re spray the shocks a gloss black epoxy it'll match the front end a little better.
Last edited by SPECIAL ED; Jun 20, 2011 at 04:20 PM.
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,584
Likes: 918
From: coast to coast
Thanks for getting it guys. Exactly Punch, I just wanted to go for it and I'm glad I did. It really increased my enjoyment of the bike. HD Street Bob, you're right, prep matters. It's almost like the old rule of thumb that to avoid work can often be more work than the work itself would have been, such as just remove the wheels in the first place. The work we give ourselves though can come with its own rewards as you said, like a job well done. Special Ed, you said exactly what I was worried about as far as dealing with remounting the wheels correctly. I really liked eyeballing the "problem" and coming up with a solution based on what made sense for me and THEN having it actually work. Priceless. Gloss may be a good solution to the shocks. All that flat black was really making the rear look muddy, losing it's definition. I wil try it in the next few weeks. Thanks for the suggestion.
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Tourer
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 252
Likes: 1
From: Weston, MO
Thanks for getting it guys. Exactly Punch, I just wanted to go for it and I'm glad I did. It really increased my enjoyment of the bike. HD Street Bob, you're right, prep matters. It's almost like the old rule of thumb that to avoid work can often be more work than the work itself would have been, such as just remove the wheels in the first place. The work we give ourselves though can come with its own rewards as you said, like a job well done. Special Ed, you said exactly what I was worried about as far as dealing with remounting the wheels correctly. I really liked eyeballing the "problem" and coming up with a solution based on what made sense for me and THEN having it actually work. Priceless. Gloss may be a good solution to the shocks. All that flat black was really making the rear look muddy, losing it's definition. I wil try it in the next few weeks. Thanks for the suggestion.
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
From: Eldridge, MO
I really like how you did everything yourself. I am blessed to live by a poweder painter that doesnt charge big $$ for small jobs. I gor my 21" wheel sprayed for $13. I have painted parts myself like the signals and brake light bc like you its my daily rider and I didnt want to have to wait!
Like you I didnt trust myself to take parts off my bike like a wheel or the gas tank but I didnt want to pay HD big $$ to put my bars on so I went in head first with basic tools and my service manual. I was shocked how easy half the stuff was to do yourself. Before I knew it I had my whole front end and tank off. I was going to black out the front end while I had it all apart but I realized I needed special tool once I had my upper tree and forks off. I guess I should have read a little more into it first but I had a hell of a time doing it! Once I got it back together I was sure I forgot something or screwed something up but not one issue! BIG confidence boost. Get the wrench out and have fun... thats what I did and I was glad
Like you I didnt trust myself to take parts off my bike like a wheel or the gas tank but I didnt want to pay HD big $$ to put my bars on so I went in head first with basic tools and my service manual. I was shocked how easy half the stuff was to do yourself. Before I knew it I had my whole front end and tank off. I was going to black out the front end while I had it all apart but I realized I needed special tool once I had my upper tree and forks off. I guess I should have read a little more into it first but I had a hell of a time doing it! Once I got it back together I was sure I forgot something or screwed something up but not one issue! BIG confidence boost. Get the wrench out and have fun... thats what I did and I was glad