New Paint Project - '41 Flathead
New Paint Project - '41 Flathead
Hey Guys-
A friend of mine has a flathead HD in his possession that came from his father. It is apparently what he calls a 'swap meet bike' having been built over many years by gathering the parts, no idea where he started on his journey. I believe the frame is from 1940 and the tins are from 1941 but I cannot confirm any of this. What I do know that is that the bike has a Krylon paint job on it and my friend would love to see this thing made to look sharp and shiny prior to his father passing away, so we are getting started in about a month. Once we get the tins off it should be pretty straightforward in terms of getting them to look nice, metal is metal for the most part. He has chosen Skyway Blue from HD's 40's color offerings.
Any gotchas or anything I need to be aware of when we go to take this thing apart? Obviously this is an antique so extra care and time must be taken, plus who knows what kind of fasteners and other tomfoolery we are going to run into given that this thing was built over the years with spare parts. I'll see if I can get a current pic uploaded.
Any input/opinions are appreciated, thanks!
A friend of mine has a flathead HD in his possession that came from his father. It is apparently what he calls a 'swap meet bike' having been built over many years by gathering the parts, no idea where he started on his journey. I believe the frame is from 1940 and the tins are from 1941 but I cannot confirm any of this. What I do know that is that the bike has a Krylon paint job on it and my friend would love to see this thing made to look sharp and shiny prior to his father passing away, so we are getting started in about a month. Once we get the tins off it should be pretty straightforward in terms of getting them to look nice, metal is metal for the most part. He has chosen Skyway Blue from HD's 40's color offerings.
Any gotchas or anything I need to be aware of when we go to take this thing apart? Obviously this is an antique so extra care and time must be taken, plus who knows what kind of fasteners and other tomfoolery we are going to run into given that this thing was built over the years with spare parts. I'll see if I can get a current pic uploaded.
Any input/opinions are appreciated, thanks!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 8,055
Likes: 8,080
From: Canada
I'd ride it as it is.
If you want to know exactly what it is buy Bruce Palmers Harley Restoration book set. It goes through almost every minute detail. I say almost because I know it does leave things out like mirrors and in my case there was nothing about pushrod tubes for a 62 Pan.
If you want to know exactly what it is buy Bruce Palmers Harley Restoration book set. It goes through almost every minute detail. I say almost because I know it does leave things out like mirrors and in my case there was nothing about pushrod tubes for a 62 Pan.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 8,055
Likes: 8,080
From: Canada
The last early frame I saw the butcher of Appleton sell got just shy of $9K. 41 had a steeper neck and an inline front end, that was the time they were working out wobble issues so the neck angle kept changing and changed again in 1946. Lets see more pictures, more angles.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 6,154
Likes: 2,562
From: CT/FL
One more thing - 1941 paint technology was nothing at all like today's products. Your quest for new and shiny may make it less authentic looking than the krylon that is on it now.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 9,562
Likes: 7,917
From: Long Island, New York
Good looking bike right there. Before I worried about the paint, I would get a proper pogo seat and year correct saddle bags, or no bags. A bicycle pedal for the kicker would be nice as well. A bunch of little things in lieu of paint could make that bike real nice, good luck.