So this was delivered to me yesterday. It origionally belonged to my brother-in-law; it now belongs to my niece. Hasn't been run in at least 15 years. The last time I had it in my garage was somewhere in the late 90s/early 2000s when I removed the e-start that Michael had initially asked me to install (figured he thought he was just too cool for anything other than a kick start). He, my sister and their daughter relocated from California, to Arizona and to Florida. Somewhere along the line he checked out on life, on my sister, their daughter and his grandson. He rode the bike exactly twice in Florida and parked it. He is now in a full on care home (***** him).

What really bites is the he never drained the tanks (gas or oil).

When the bike was last here I also went thru the top end, brakes, wheels, tires, clutch, carb, vlave adjustement...the basics to get the bike up to par. Michael is/was not a mechanic. He was good at profiling and talking $hit, he could change fluids, and polish, but mechanical skills on a Panhead were not his strong point. I was cool with that and helping him maintain the bike.

So my sister has asked me to bring the bike back to life. It will be a bit of work. When I last had the bike it was a 3-kicker. Michael on a good day might get those results, But I have to say that in all the 20+ years we rode together, he always struggled to get the bike started (I awlays figured the bike just did not like him and his bull$hit macho attitude).

In addition to all he basics that it will need I am adding an e-start from the company in Germany (I believe John uses these folks as well). My niece is not the stoutest person so this should reall help her out.

Florida beach weather has not been kind to the bike. When the bike last left my digs it was all bright and shiny. This will be one of those threads that starts, stops and probably has long pauses before starting again since I still have the 96 to complete as well as finishing the 65 and the hack.

That said when it was delivered I told my sistser that just as before, the bike speaks to me. I sat on it, took it off the jiffy stand, righted it, and it was like reacquainting with a long lost friend.

The bike has good bones.

 

I love it. Can you take better pics of the seat please ,the pattern on it is what im after.

 

Florida is tough on bikes, good luck with the process.

 

Good story - hope in the end you end up with it - it has the old visual of a best friend machine

what i see is time and some good old knowledge -

take a picture of a cardboard box to send to canada not the jewel on the machine -

earlier then what you did i assembled a shovel pan top chopper a tribute to Stevie ray vaughan after his death in 1990 ended up in a mag back then when they still did that - not a new hose and go with bolt ons they call a built custom bike today - the man we did it for passed and we are going to get it Saturday have not seen it since the 90s and it will be refurbished and sold - will picture up in another post

 

I think we all have run across guys like your BIL. Now it’s back in a good home and back on it’s way back to road worthiness. Good luck with it.

 

 

Looks like another cool project for you.Good luck.

 

A great looking Panhead that needs some TLC.

 

Thanks for the seat pics (rather than a cardboard box haha)

 

Well, at least for now I am on the redo of the 50 and not the start up of my 65. Have room in my garage to spread out and get some work done...finally. And of course my compressor took a dump on my. Waiting for a new pressure regulator for it. Hard to complain tho. Bought it in 1986 along with my Handy Lift. First 52 bucks I have had to put into it.

Going to take the 50 down to the frame, split cases and such for a complete redo. Should be like a new build when done.

Before I tear it all down I am fitting the Cannonball starter so that I know where I have to notch the rear fender (it is getting new paint as well, same 80s design tho).

This is the wiring diargram provided. There is a single heavy duty wire that is part of the unit and that goes from the starter motor to the regulator. All fine and good. The green arrow shows another Heavy duty? wire runnning from the unit to ground.





First question please...

1. Why is the heavy duty wire needed. I understand the ground. My 65 has one running form the mounting stud on the starter motor to the frame, but it is just another 16-18 ga wire not some super duty copper wrapped ones like those running off my solenoid.