I have a 1200 sportster at the moment, but have wanted an old big twin Harley for as long as I can remember. Being in the UK there are not many Shovels around, they do appear on Ebay but you need cash for them deals, but a company near where I live get them in from the states. Im seriously considering getting a shovel for myself and I have been looking into them here and other places.

I can appreciate that as an older model they need extra maintainance, like my Royal Enfield does maybe, it needs points and tappetts setting ect, do most shovels have hydraulic lifters? Do they have cb points ignition or mainly electronic? Is there a "golden age" of years that are good to look out for? I will try to buy one that has both types of starter but I do wonder, just how hard is a shovel to kick over? I kickstart my R.E but she's only a 500 single, the shovels going to be a lot bigger!

I dont ride more than around 6-7000 a year, dont go fast, dont use motorways but I do ride in all weathers excepting ice & snow. I do have ability when it comes to repair and service, not a genius but I can do most jobs and if I cant my good pal can and will! Bearing this in mind, what tips would shovel owners give to me on what models to look out for? I want the superglide type, FX models primarilly, I like the baggers but not so much.

 

I will take a try on this one. Shovels are great. I have ridden many bikes including all the new stuff. The shovels have way more soul the the new bikes. Yes, shovels have hydralic lifters. Some people change them out to solids, but I think stock they all should have been hydralic to start with. Shovels are more reliable then what many people think. I have a sportster as well. A shovel will vibrate much more then the sportys. The sportster are way faster.To me, the shovel is one of the last pure Harleys.They sound so SWEET andshake like a HD should.The new harleys are more like Hondas then many people would like to admit.The golden age...the AMF days. The AMF bikes are better then people give them credit for.

Thingsto look for.All of them leak some.This is not a big deal as long asthe leaks are slow and managable.Most shovels have been rebuilt by now.Mine isthe stock 80 ci with new pistons, cam and redone heads.The modern rebuilds are very good.(make sure you ask for receiptsfrom the sellerto show engine work such as a rebuild!!)Many people think shovels are high maintenance because of a few problematic things. Thestock carbs people had problems with. Many today you will see run S&S super E carbs which are VERY good carbs. They are factory carbson mostcustoms,super G for large motors. Solid lifters can also be more maintenance. The brakes are nowwhere near whatmodern brakes are.Almost all will have the top end done at a min. Mine is kick and electic start. That is what I recomend you look for. I ride it 5 days a week, IMO kicking is very hard.It is hard for me to kick itover and Iam 195 lbs. The old girl has some good compression.You will break a sweat! There is a lot of skill and technique to do it and I have not mastered it. I dont think I would ride it as much if I did not have the push button. I would look for a late model one so you get the electic start. The 4 speeds are geared low, so you cant run at a real high speed. I use mine around town and some highways and my sportster for long rides.

BTW, it is funny how many people will walk rightpast a new dime a dozen bike with $10000 in chrome just to see a shovel. They really draw a crowd and are great conversation bikes.

 

I recently bought a shovel (FLHT) off ebay and it has a few problems that wasn't disclosed but I will work them out. I have been around Harleys all my life but this is really the 1st I have owned. The one I got is an 83 with the 5 speed tranny. It is also rubber mounted so it doesn't shake to bad.It is about to loose it's bags. Best thing as the previous one stated is the sound, personally to me is the soundas it lopes at idle.Once you know it you can't miss thatshovel's sound.

 

Hi WB, thanks for that information! Im allways interested in specifics and I can see that the shovels really are very similar to my Enfield, they are based on 1950's tech, and have some really quite small maintainance issues which people blow out of all proportion old tech carbs, brakes and maybe valve adjustment.

Your post illustrates to me that the shovel's may come in for a similar treatment, they have issues but not too serious? Also, I take your point regarding brakes, I think it is common sense that old brakes aint as good, and they are atrocious on my enfield compared to modern stoppers, they are both drum brakes, but they are adequete if you use your head and keep alert and keep your distance, Im guessing the shovels brakes my be similar?

I feel a bit more confident to get one of these baby's and I believe that one will suit my needs, basically lots of low speed low mileage jaunts for fun! I cant wait to hear one, are they slow revvere's? I imagine they are. By the way, your bike is rock and roll!

 

The brakes do suck. You can grap as much brake as you want, you will not lock up the front wheel. My back brake has a modern duel piston caliper and it will lock the back wheel very easy. You can get opinions on this, but I like them to be as orginal as possiable. Another thing...find yourself a good local Shovel mechanic. The HD dealers in the US will not work on a shovel. There is a small indy shop by me, all I see there are shovels and evos. They do great work at a great price. In addition, HD does not support many parts for them(unless they are shared with modern bikes). Dont worry, the third party parts suppliers make a ton of parts for the old girls. You can buy almost anything and the parts are cheaper then HD stuff. Look for one in good shape that been cared for. Check for burning any oil, which could be a sign the top end needs to be rebuilt. Change the oil offten, 2500 miles or less. If you take care of them, they can really be good bikes. Good luck! I got mine off ebay, but in the US on ebaythere are only about 50 shovels for sale at a time. They are really becoming harder and harder to find.

 

I love my '79 Shovel. It's an FXE that I'm working on turning into an FLH, one bit at a time. It vibrates, leaks oil...and I love it. Wbogley was right, folks will walk right by show bikes to look at an old leaky shovehead.

Kent
'79 FXE/FLH "Jezebel"...my mistress, as my wife calls her.

 

My 1980 FXWG engine has small oil leaks. I think all shovels leak some.
I went back to the all rubber stock foot rests, and vibration is not too bad.
I still have the stock carb, I like the big 80 CU air cleaner. As long as I use
high octane and keep it clean. I don't have any problems with it
I have a narrow 21" front tire. There are a lot of small grooves in the roads in Ohio
Although the bike is stable hit one of these at 70mph, and slight the wooble
will get your mind back on the road if your day dreaming. I don't know what
the roads are like in the UK but I would consider this. I would try to get both kick and electric start.
My bike runs fine and will start with 1 to 3 kicks when cold. When it is hot kick starting can be a job.
I only weigh 175 and that is part of it. One year ago I weighed 260 and it was not a big problem.
Size does matter when kick starting. I think wbogley hit the nail on the head. The old shovels have
soul, I love mine. I went to a Yamaha open house with a friend Saturday. At one point there were
more people looking at the 28 year old Harley, than the new bikes including one of the salesmen.
Good luck I hope you find one that makes you as happy as mine has made me.

 

I have a chopped 1980 FXS, and I really love that girl!
It leaks no oil at all and that is rare I understand. I haveelectric and kick start and kick her all the time. I am not sure whether weight is an issue becauseI am 75Kg, and kick her in 1 or 2 running.

I have had other bikes but I've never had as much fun on a bike. Riding 140Kph, makinga lot of noiseand have a grin from ear to ear, sure she shakesa bit but the wife seems to like it and I do to.

If I where you I would look for one with an early tranny so you can add a 3" belt if you want and still have the electric option with starting the old girl.

When you take a look in the Netherlands you are sure to find a lot of shovels on www.marktplaats.nl. Or look for some local indy's I know some that are specialised in Shovels and always have some for sale.

I am planning on selling her shortly and then build a Indian Larry style chopper next from scratch, based on a modified Panhead or Early Shovel engine with 3" belt drive.

 

Iwas going to jump in on this one but it looks likebetween wbogley and the others, everything has been covered. I too was a sportster rider for years, and others, and this is my first big twin. I chose a shovel for the class and style. EVO's just don't seem to have "personality".

As far as issues, yes the stock carbs suck and I've been told it's just not worth the effort to try to correct the issues. An S&S "E" is on my list for the near future. I guess I'm lucky and my brakes, so far, are fine and I REALLY don't want my front brakes to lock ;-) . I bought this bike as is but who ever did the original build did something right as it's also a non-leaker.
Kicking it is not as bad as some make it sound. It's a getting the right combination kind of thing. From my experiences over the years it's usually a 1 - 2 twists of the throttle, key OFF and kick it through then key ON and most times one kick and she's off. Heaven help you if you flood it though...

I have to agree with the attention thing. It's an awesome feeling when you're in a crowd and folks are amazed at the age and that it actually has a kick starter. Even more awesome is the look on peoples faces when you actually fire it off WITH the kicker, first try.....

 

A couple of notes: 1) I highly recommend a belt primary, when the chain broke on my '80 flt it trashed everything including cracking the outer case. Loose a belt, no damage. Was able to fit the 1 3/4 kit from Primo and retain the starter and the repaired outer case.
2) Yes weight matters when kicking, I make groc. runs regularly using a back pack. A couple of 2 liter bottles in the pack make it easy, just push and it kicks over.
3) Hot starts are a bitch, I've found the best way is just don't touch the throttle, both my shovel and Evo flood immediately if you do. Just switch on and kick 1 or 2 times. If it doesn't start I use a flooded procedure, openning the throttle a hair with the thumbscrew throttle brake on. Keep openning the throttle a little at a time til it clears out. Might take a few kicks.
All in all, Shovels are great engines and a simple mechanically. Top ends are an easy weekend rebuild project, Bottom ends rarely need attention if reasonably maintained. The 4 spd trans if pretty bulletproof. Yea, you'll have leaks, but then again whatever gets oil coated won't corrode!
As a Enfield guy you'll feel right at home.