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First summer I had my Shovel project....tore down the jugs....pics are in my own garage.
Second summer...pulled rear end out to change belt, 'n swing arm bolt 'n bearing swap...
Swapped out front forks.
Sold her a little over a month ago, just picked up current bike to start my next upgrade "stuff" on....gonna ride her for a bit and tear her down as I come across swap meet stuff I like.
I have no wrenching experience but decided to start. Over the last month I did the front turn signal relo, exhaust, intake, tuner. I will do all I feel I can do. I may start saying "f*uck it" for things I don't think I can do. I guess the worst that can happen is ill need to spend money to have my mess up fixed.
I do a lot of my own work since I made the mistake of letting a local dealer work on it when I first got it. As others have said before me, the service manual is mandatory. I read it over a few times to see if there is something I don't understand before I start. Then I look for videos of the project and there is always a video to look at that will help. Last, I research it here and if I run into a problem, I ask on the forum. I have always gotten the help I need. The people on here will gladly give you answers to any question you may have. Last winter, my son and I rebuilt a 1983 bike.
The best advice I can think of is to take your time and if you have a question, ask it. Walk away when you get frustrated. I have made some mistakes when frustrated only to look at it later and easily spot what I was doing wrong. This place is a great resource, I would not have attempted many of the things I have without it.
I wouldn't let a dealer or their transient 'techs' anywhere near any of my bikes. If it's something I've never done before, which isn't really much anymore, I'll by the gods learn how first before I'd drop so low as to take it in. No one will care for my bikes like I do...
after reading all the horror stories about the incompetent mechanics that Harley dealerships hire, I wouldn't trust them at all with my bike
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.
