Since I have been bugging y'all with questions, I figured I would start a thread to show progress. I am not a fabricator, so you can call it build or assembly. I don't really care. For some background, about 14 years ago I built a softail. It had a kraft tech frame, 113" motor in it, extended fenders, highish apes, and a bunch of other stuff. It was beautiful and ran great. I rode it for a while and life took another direction so I sold it. But, I had fun and learned alot. Fast forward to last year and I decided to do it again. To be sure it makes no financial sense whatsoever to build a bike. I have wayyyy more in it that I could have bought one for. But, I love the process and making it mine. This one will be used for cruising around town and back roads. I plan on buying a Road King (1996-2008 or so) in the next couple of years to go cruising long distances on after my youngest graduates high school. So far in my life, I have owned a Honda Shadow in college, a 2006 FXST, 2006 FLHT, 2008 FLHTCU, and the custom I built.

For this bike, I learned my lesson on insuring the last one and I purchased a 1999 FXST frame that is in perfect condition. I am trying to use as many genuine HD parts on this as possible. I never knew before I started this about the shops that buy EVOs and part them out. I have acquired alot of parts from a few of those. I am using a bone stock 80" EVO out of a 1996 Road King with 18k miles. The transmission is from a 1999 Fat Boy with 1,500 miles. OEM HD inner and outer primary. Tins are off of a 1995 FXSTC.

The aftermarket stuff I am using is the following:
TC Bro's springer front end with the shock added and their brake setup (much beefier than the other aftermarkets and I couldn't afford a Paugho)
TC Bro's LED headlight insert inside of a stock looking bucket
TC Bro's black and chrome spoke wheels (sealed for no tube running)
BDL enclosed belt drive
Hill Country Custom Cycles 12" all black apes with all internal wiring and they supplied the SS cables for the throttle, front brake, and clutch (I used them on the last build and really like their product)
Thunder Heart micro wiring harness (used this on the last one also and it worked great)
Autometer combo speedo and tach.
Bike will be painted a dark shade of teal with metal flake in it using House of Kolor paints.
Shinko tires
Some various other small bits and pieces.

Everything else is OEM HD off of various bikes. Lots of the hardware is coming from the local ACE Hardware to me. They are awesome and have a great selection including chrome.

I have remembered a few lessons so far. First off, I am not a fan of Colony bolts. I have bought a good number of complete hardware setups from them and I am getting tired of having to rethread stuff because they over chromed the bolts or something. It's a pain. Second, the FSM manual makes stuff sound easier than it is, but I guess that is part of the fun.

Here are some progress pictures and where I stand now. The whole thing got way slowed down when my wife of 25 years decided she wanted to leave last year. The divorce was finalized and judgement rendered last week so that is done and I am moving on. I should be finished with is in April or May depending on if life gets in the way. I am working two jobs right now to meet child support commitments so I am pretty dang busy. I hope to make somewhat steady progress and will try to take pictures. Last night is the most recent pictures. I lined up the motor, transmission, and inner primary per the manual and got everything torqued down. Set the rear wheel for proper belt tension and aligned it using the HD rear wheel alignment tool and the FSM. Front brake line is on loose and no fluid is in it. Hope y'all enjoy.


Right after putting on the Springer

This is how is set for quite awhile







Progress as of last night.



Love these wheels and brake setup.

 

Looking good, I like the black and chrome look. Keep the pictures and questions coming!

Have fun, experience tells me having a major bike project kept my head straight after divorce.

 

Yep. It keeps me busy on nights off and out of a bottle and being stupid.

 

It's coming along nicely.. When you jack the bike up try to keep the rear pad off of the shock housings.. It ain't good for the shock seal and I believe it's what led to my 422's leaking..

 

Great advice. I moved it last night and I will need to check it this evening to make sure it is not on the housing. I am thinking about taking a couple 2x4's I have and putting some rubber mat I have on them. Then I can put them perpendicular to the lift pads so the frame rails can sit on them and be secure.

 

It looks like we have the same motorcycle lift, a craftsman. What I did was I cut the center supports out of the two pads (the connecting bars).. I then purchase some 6-in 12.9 heavy equipment bolts nuts and lock nuts and move the pads to the outside of the lift arm. Then drilled everything out to 17/32's.. By doing this you can get a lot more separation and better balance of the bike and not put the pads on the shocks.

 

That is a great idea. I will have to look into that.

 

Have fun. It's definitely a process to source parts these days.

 

It definitely is that. My local HD dealer closed down, so I do not have one locally to go pick up easy stuff.

 

Did something similar for my dyna. The perfect spot for where I wanted to position the jack was right where the oil drain plug was in the way (Dyna's have an oil pan below the trans), only had to move one of the support rails for a perfect fit. Nice mod.