Original 1953 HD panhead-restoration advice
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Stage II
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2
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Original 1953 HD panhead-restoration advice
My dad just gave me his old 1953 Panhead that he had stored in his barn since the early 80's. I told him, I'd try to get it restored before he passes away. I am looking for some advice on good restoration services in the Washington DC area for this rare bike. I'm not really looking to make it perfect, but something I can show and something I can still ride periodically. The only non-original parts I'm aware of are a recovered seat pan (original) and a new speedo. The original leather saddle bags rotted away...unfortunately. The motor is not seized, but I've not tried to start it or do anything except research. I tried to attach a photo, but may not have done that correctly.
Thanks for any advice.
Thanks for any advice.
Road Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,031
Likes: 4
From:
Nice bike, I'd just find a mechanic to go over the engine and mechanicals for you and ride it as it is. Scrape some of the rust off and enjoy. If you try and "restore" it, you'll lose a lot of the cool factor of the old bike. There are a ton of restored pans out there but less and less nice old bikes that you can actually ride.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 7,490
Likes: 3,688
From: Santa Klaus County, Cali
It can only be original ONCE. So my vote is to clean it up, take care of minor stuff to get it running and ride it.
Get yourself a copy of Palmer's book on old bikes (not cheap but it is the bible for old bikes). Lots of useful information to identify what you have. Lot of time someone who you solicit to do these types of things have no knowledge or a very LIMITED knowledge of what is correct for the year of the bike being 'restored'. As a result parts are refinished incorrectly, nuts and bolts are replaced with modern day ones (CP bolts are hard to come by), fit and finish end up being poorly done replication.
Also check out www.caim.com It is a wealth of information of classic bikes. Lots of folks would be able to provide you with valuable input regarding your dad's machine.
A proper restoration is extremely time consuming and very expensive to do right (working on a 49 pan so I have a bit of first-hand knowledge on the money pit it can be). Lots of bikes on flea-bay are offered for sale with chrome this-n-that Taiwan Ted crap on them. They might look pretty but they are just a pile-o-parts nothing more.
I am biased, but you have a heck of a piece of history. Would be a shame to screw it up. Would have loved to have had something like you possess. Mine started as a Kentucky barn find that had been sitting for almost 30 years. Probably still a year away from having back together.
Get yourself a copy of Palmer's book on old bikes (not cheap but it is the bible for old bikes). Lots of useful information to identify what you have. Lot of time someone who you solicit to do these types of things have no knowledge or a very LIMITED knowledge of what is correct for the year of the bike being 'restored'. As a result parts are refinished incorrectly, nuts and bolts are replaced with modern day ones (CP bolts are hard to come by), fit and finish end up being poorly done replication.
Also check out www.caim.com It is a wealth of information of classic bikes. Lots of folks would be able to provide you with valuable input regarding your dad's machine.
A proper restoration is extremely time consuming and very expensive to do right (working on a 49 pan so I have a bit of first-hand knowledge on the money pit it can be). Lots of bikes on flea-bay are offered for sale with chrome this-n-that Taiwan Ted crap on them. They might look pretty but they are just a pile-o-parts nothing more.
I am biased, but you have a heck of a piece of history. Would be a shame to screw it up. Would have loved to have had something like you possess. Mine started as a Kentucky barn find that had been sitting for almost 30 years. Probably still a year away from having back together.
Tourer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 347
Likes: 1
From: Lexington, IL
More PICTURES!!!!! 
Extremely jealous. I'll be following what you do with it. I"m of the same school of thought in terms of going over the mechanicals and riding it "asis".
Extremely jealous. I'll be following what you do with it. I"m of the same school of thought in terms of going over the mechanicals and riding it "asis".
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Welcome to the forum..and you have a very nice scoot there..Check out Walnecks it will give you a starting place..
I have a 46 Indian in about that shape.rewired it, brakes,tires,a new float in the carb and drive it..Good luck on your project..
I have a 46 Indian in about that shape.rewired it, brakes,tires,a new float in the carb and drive it..Good luck on your project..
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