Finally ... bought my 1st Shovelhead
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,114
Likes: 67
From: USA
Great bike, good luck with her. Always dug the black w/red pinstripes.
based on that last picture, now's the time to pull the rocker box tops and polish 'em up. Yank the heads and get some new gaskets under all. I think I have pics in my garage of mine last years when I got her...the heads were super ugly...got a decent polish on 'em with a few hours of elbow grease.
based on that last picture, now's the time to pull the rocker box tops and polish 'em up. Yank the heads and get some new gaskets under all. I think I have pics in my garage of mine last years when I got her...the heads were super ugly...got a decent polish on 'em with a few hours of elbow grease.
Heads were removed and new gaskets installed a few years back. So if good results are proved from the compression test I may just leave the heads be for now.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2005
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There a lot of ways to do it and folks have thier favorites. I'm not a fan of wearing out my hands with wadded up pieces of neverdull, using stuff that effects painted parts or anything that takes forever to get results. For me, Flitz metal polish and a soft buffing wheel, made all the aluminum on my Iron head and Evo's glisten with the least amount of time and agravation.
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Joined: Dec 2007
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Compared to the EVO rocker box covers I am familiar with, the covers on this shovel are far more rough / coarse. Whats the best way to clean the covers up, and should they polish to a smooth finish?
Heads were removed and new gaskets installed a few years back. So if good results are proved from the compression test I may just leave the heads be for now.
Heads were removed and new gaskets installed a few years back. So if good results are proved from the compression test I may just leave the heads be for now.
BEST way would be to remove them, and have them professionally polished.
Polished aluminum is very nice.
Scott
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Michigan 15 Minutes East Of Hell
They polish up nice ... be careful if you're thinking of chroming them ... the covers are prone to have "acne" ( for want of a better term ) and unless the chromer takes his time they'll look poor, real poor ... chrome also retains more heat ...
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2012
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From: CT/FL
before you pull it apart squirt oil in the cylinders to see if it comes up. also check your pushrod adjustment.
The best way to polish aluminum is by cleaning them up with fine sandpaper - 320 or 400 depending on how rough they are, then 600. Then hit them with a polishing wheel and rouge. All that stuff is available at harbor freight pretty cheap and it lasts long enough for a hobbiest. Final polish with Mothers or something like that.
The best way to polish aluminum is by cleaning them up with fine sandpaper - 320 or 400 depending on how rough they are, then 600. Then hit them with a polishing wheel and rouge. All that stuff is available at harbor freight pretty cheap and it lasts long enough for a hobbiest. Final polish with Mothers or something like that.
Last edited by Joe12RK; Jul 9, 2014 at 10:51 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Along the shoreline in SW FL
Mine were horrible...looked like were on the bottom of the ocean for 50 years. Used a brass wire wheel on the drill....and then went to emery paper by hand, and then polish (any metal polish paste of your choice) with cloth wheel on the drill. Didn't take long, end result was very good. Still looks great a year later.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: USA
Not sure if the cam and push rods are stock, as the seller did not know. Hopefully I can determine this once the covers are raised to expose the lifters.
Also wound up with a large puddle of oil under the bike after the initial compressor test. That was a surprise, as the bike had just a few drips sitting on my lift the past few weeks, and did not leak when I had her running before. Oil was pouring from a breather strapped to the frame below the engine. My carburetor was completely off for the compression test, but do not suspect that had anything to do with it.
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Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2007
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This is the cheapest gauge you can find around:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/191097473408...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Pucking oil after the bike's been sitting is normal
http://www.ebay.com/itm/191097473408...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Pucking oil after the bike's been sitting is normal
