Paul, haven't started it yet. Got my 3-1/2 gallon tanks back 3 weeks ago but I have been working in the year yard since. Squirrel proofing the underside of my Trex decking to make sure they cannot dig under it (18 bags of cement later), and just finished digging out old cement posts and resetting 10 new posts on the back side of my property (I back up to open space). The fence sections are steel, so those have to get new powdercoating (one section at a time to keep coyotes, turkeys, and deer out of the yard). After that I need to redo 7 posts on the left side of the house before the summer heat wave arrives to stay (at least 104 today so no yard work, but it should cool off by Monday).

Tomorrow I am going to visit my grandkids for a long weekend, so Tuesday I will probably start on the fence.

So long story short, no. That said I will split my time between yard work and the bike because at 74 I just cannot work in the afternoon heat like I once could once the temps get into the 90s.

When I do get back to the bike I am going to mount just the left tank so thatr I have a good view of everything once it starts.

On a side note, I have a template for the sidecar windshield (came from an AMCA member). I will let you know how it works out, and if the fit is as good I believe it will be, I will send you a copy of it for your 48.

 

Finally some time to spend on the bike. Left side 3-1/2 gallon tank mounted, also shifter parts (3+R).

I have several different shift *****. Think the hardest part will be making sure that someone doesn't decide to walk off with the shift **** when I park it (which probably means eyes on the bike at all times),

Also just realized I never posted pics of the tranny rebuild. 3+R has a couiple of different parts, so that's coming as well.

Waiting on a crossover exhaust pipe (out for chrome) that I found that is in much better shape than my original. 2-4 weeks before it comes back tho.

Theoretically, the pipe comes back, gets mounted and mufflers assembled, the next step is gas line from tank to carb, battery, oil gas and supposedly ignition....but we shall see. And with just the left tank mounted I can keep a close look at the electrical as well as the engine components. Told the wife that I am going to vidoe the bike running for the first time in 20 years.

 

Looking good Dave.

 

Looking great!

 

Major droolage!!

 

Truly awesome, that machine is beautiful. Question, should not the handlebar clamp cover be fastened with Phillips head 1/4- 20's ? Only asking as I haven't observed older machines with Hex heads.

 

Correct, from the factory they are 1/4 - 20 self tapping phillips head. The right hole in the nacelle was stripped out. Welding the aluminum on these old parts can be really iffy, so I opted to tap for 5/16-18 and used 2 OEM bolts instead. Haven't got around to locating 5-16/-18 phillips head screws yet and then sending them out for cad plating.

 

I though a time sert outside is 5/16 X18 — inside is 1/4 X 20 thread

will look in the morning

 

Thanks

 

Damn, just realized it's been months and months since I've posted anything related to the 65.

Wife and I had saved enough to finally redo the front yard completely. Hired the same contractor who did our backyard to do the front. Impossible to work in the garage with any hope of keeping anything clean in the garage. The dust and dirt found a way in (even with all the doors closed). They started in late September.

While they were doing that I ended up completely rebuilding the fences and wrought iron on the B, C and D side of the house. Along with that came squirrel prroofing my back yard (I back up to open space and those little rodents decided to dig under parts of my shed and my trex decking). Had to completely remove the decking in order to find three burrows, and had to tear up the tile and sub-floor on the portion of the shed (I built the extension on pier blocks some 20 years ago; didn't pour a slab in order to save some money). Road flares and water work amazingly well. Next came cement poured around the exposed areas of the frame for the decking and also enclosing the pier blocks (basically a foundation around the pier blocks).

Once the front was alll tore up I hired a plumber to redo alll my house pipe (galvanized to all copper), along with all new sewer lines and clean outs (last thing I want is to be digging up new cement and pavers). With that going on I laid in the new watering system for the yard (no grass tho, just the fake stuff).

The biggest delys were getting the supplies and materials due to all the COVID crap and restrictions. By the time they were done it was already Fall. Next came the house paint (at age 75 my last time for getting on tall ladders). We only had one month of actual winter tho. But it sure as Hell was damn cold. Took longer than expected to patch, prime and paint. And of course staining fencing, and pergola.

Late February came time to add plants and trees. Needed to avoid the spring frost for planting the new perennials.

Front yard before the tear down. Been living with that since we bought the house in 1991. There were plants but I let them die along with the lawn once i knew we had the money to get the work done.



New cement and pavers, paint, front door, and winter plantings.



Spring planting and trees.



Paint and staining backyard along with fencing.



On the plus side of things I did manage to get the sidecar tub finished being repaired. The siding is a slightly heavier grade of sheetmetal. Thanks to Paul (hellownewman), I have the template for drilling the holes for the stainless trim as well as for the windshield mounts. No pic but he also welded up some holes in the sidecar fender.




Next I need to drill some holes for the spare tire carrier, and then I can get the tub and fender to my painter.

I have two sets of OEM saddlebags for the 65, one set with the cut out and one set that are smooth sided. Everything I have read re: saddlebags and runnig a hack says that in order to avoid damage to the right saddlebag it is necessary to remove the right bag when the sidecar is attached. The rear swing arm mount clearly will interefer with the bag as soon as the swing arm moves up. There is no such thing as a smooth road surface here in California.

What I found was an OEM right side bag that had been altered. So, I will take that to my painter. Means running smooth side bags, but this bike will not be an AMCA bike anyway.




Lastly (and I know this is a Panhead section), I finally decided to enter the modern age and picked up a low mileage EVO bagger (just under 16K). Came from the east coast and tho it has low milage it needs some serious TLC. So before I get back to the 65, it is my intention to focus on this 96 FLHT Standard so that it is ready for late Spring riding. Means going thru and replacing gaskets, seals, fluids, top end (leaky cylinder base gaskets, pulling primary, new rubber, brake pads, carb rebuild, front motor mount and anything else I can figure it needs. Ignition module will be changed out due to the brown goo. Only non-functioing component is the radio, but I am goihg to pull the front fairing anyway tgo inspect the electrical so I should be able to figure out the radio (it's the only aftermarket part on the bike that I have found).

There will be a second non-OEM part tho. I am rebuilding the swing arm and added Progressive 412 rear shocks. Once I get the *** end back together I will tear down the top end.



Once the EVO is back up and running I will finally get back to the 65. Just don't have the space to do multiple bike projects unfortunately.