1966 FLH Restoration
#1
1966 FLH Restoration
My dad handed down his bike to me, after over 30 years of owning it. The bike has been sitting a while and it has seen it's better days. There is some rust on a lot of the bike, but the frame seems pretty perfect. I've decided to start with the engine first. The motor in the first pictures is actually a '65 panhead motor. The original '66 Shovelhead is in the shop waiting to be picked up. I had a harley shop here in town who is very highly recommended rebuild it completely. Yeah, it was a lot of cash to do it, but I wanted to make sure that this thing was done right. I'm picking up the motor on friday or saturday and I'll post pictures of it when I get it.
So here is what I'm starting with...
[IMG]local://upfiles/46748/E3C89733AC88486F9C531D93EE23C20B.jpg[/IMG]
So here is what I'm starting with...
[IMG]local://upfiles/46748/E3C89733AC88486F9C531D93EE23C20B.jpg[/IMG]
#2
#3
#6
RE: 1966 FLH Restoration
My friend who owns a 67 just started updating the bike. He has owned this bike for a few years. The bike has been fully restored and took that long to straighten out the bike from all of the bad mechanics over the years. My friend (a non-member) just bought that 05 Softail complete front end from our member kmh54 on thread RE: FRONT END - 1/29/2008. The stock drum brakes, when working properly suck. If you plan on keeping the stock drum front brake, buy a lot of shoes. This bike is not practical in settings such as Fort Lauderdale in it’s stocks configuration and brake specifications. I will post photos when completed also.
#7
Trending Topics
#8
#9
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Santa Klaus County, Cali
Posts: 7,280
Received 3,230 Likes
on
1,487 Posts
RE: 1966 FLH Restoration
jarrette, keep the front end.Owning an old bike in stock configuration (and from the looks yours appears pretty much that way) is not about jaw-dropping speed. I live in Kalif and driving conditions are probably near to equal your area. Owned and ridden the same 65 pan since 1970. I just plan a little ahead and do not do some of the things my other friends do on their evos and twin cams.
These bikes are pretty easy to maintain. Hell, the front end was the same from 49 to E77 I believe so parts issue are not a problem. Hubs for the wheels are easy to service as well.
Couple of quick recommendations...flush out oil tank, if its been sitting awhile sludge will have settled in the bottom of the oil tank. Have your gas tanks pressure tested to make sure rust hasnt eaten through. Pin hole leaks are hard to see. Take your carb apart for a thorough cleaning.
Since you got the motor out take a good look at your clutch basket and inspect both the friction and the steel plates. Look for signs of warping and excessive wear on surfaces and if holes that over the hub studs are out of round. Check the hub to see if the studs are grooved as well.
Have you popped the lid off your tranny to inspect the gears?
Gotta say overall, your pop gave you a nice piece of history. Make sure you keep all of here posted on your progress.
These bikes are pretty easy to maintain. Hell, the front end was the same from 49 to E77 I believe so parts issue are not a problem. Hubs for the wheels are easy to service as well.
Couple of quick recommendations...flush out oil tank, if its been sitting awhile sludge will have settled in the bottom of the oil tank. Have your gas tanks pressure tested to make sure rust hasnt eaten through. Pin hole leaks are hard to see. Take your carb apart for a thorough cleaning.
Since you got the motor out take a good look at your clutch basket and inspect both the friction and the steel plates. Look for signs of warping and excessive wear on surfaces and if holes that over the hub studs are out of round. Check the hub to see if the studs are grooved as well.
Have you popped the lid off your tranny to inspect the gears?
Gotta say overall, your pop gave you a nice piece of history. Make sure you keep all of here posted on your progress.