Turning a B motor into an A
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 454
Likes: 1
From: Micawber, Manitoba
Make sure you hard tail it and loosen up some bolts so it leaks. 
In all seriousness how much HP are you losing with the counter balance on there? I know a guy who didnt consider anything EFI a real Harley. Thats one thing that bugs me is even if you ride a Harley you arent riding what someone else considers a Harley. I would enjoy it since I enjoy a lopey idle and shaking car/bike but the work involved and what you get out of it may not be worth it.
.
In all seriousness how much HP are you losing with the counter balance on there? I know a guy who didnt consider anything EFI a real Harley. Thats one thing that bugs me is even if you ride a Harley you arent riding what someone else considers a Harley. I would enjoy it since I enjoy a lopey idle and shaking car/bike but the work involved and what you get out of it may not be worth it.
.
To the OP.. your wrench is messing with you.
Last edited by Ole T Sport; Jun 10, 2011 at 12:09 AM.
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 436
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh PA
I have often wondered why MOCO doesn't do that on a CVO RG or UC bike... To smooth I guess.
Supporter
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,714
Likes: 650
From: San Ramon, Ca
liquid cooled B motors.
Ok, I'm sorry . . . Someone had to.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 454
Likes: 1
From: Micawber, Manitoba
Truth hurts, HD bought softtail patent from private individual
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 7,882
Likes: 5
From: So California
Wonder what else they install that wasn't designed first by them? Crap, I'd bet none are real Harleys then!
I'm guessing most wouldn't use your definition to define their vehicles.
Most know the history of the Softail design by Bill Davis in the early 70s who then sold it to HD in 1982. HD then offered it in a revised version.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 454
Likes: 1
From: Micawber, Manitoba
Sorry.
- The Harley Softail design originated in the 1970s. Unhappy with the styling of his 1972 FX Super Glide, Bill Davis of Saint Louis, Missouri started on a custom version. It earned so much praise that he hired an attorney and filed US Patent 4087109 in March 1976.
- In August 1976, Davis met with Willie G. and Louie Netz of Harley-Davidson. While they liked the new machine, they did not buy. Davis continued to tweak his design and sold around twenty frames. He also worked on a version for the Sportster.
Davis entered into a business partnership with a person whom, according to Greg Field in the book "Harley-Davidson Softail," he still refuses to name. Six months later Willie G. wrote to express his interest, followed by a call from Jeff Bleustein. While Davis did meet with Harley-Davidson again, he did not like their offer.
- Davis continued to refine his work, realizing that he could put the shocks under the transmission. The old design had several problems such as the excessively high saddle, and this new "Sub Shock" design fixed them.
In August 1980, Davis and his partner rode to Sturgis, one each on the original '72 FX and the modified Sub Shock. The ride revealed a serious design flaw on the Sub Shock (the build-up of heat was breaking down the urethane cylinders and destroying the shocks).
The partner took home the Sub Shock and when Davis reached Deadwood, South Dakota he was robbed. He returned home without ever reaching Sturgis and experimented on his new design until it worked.
- Davis started a new company, Road Worx. The new frames were labor-intensive and required hand-building, so he hired another mechanic. While the frames were selling, they weren't covering the loans fast enough and the company's attorney advised a quick sale. The business partner left, and Davis was unable to find any takers among the established customizers or motorcycle manufacturers. RoadWorx failed.
Davis called Bleustein again and received a better offer--but his royalties would be subject to a lifetime cap. Davis reluctantly sealed the deal on January 6, 1982 and the first Harley Softail, the FXST, was introduced in the summer of 1983
Last edited by Ole T Sport; Jun 10, 2011 at 01:50 AM. Reason: Jumped the gun
Thread Starter
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 4,133
Likes: 125
From: Japan
Like I said, I'm not even considering doing it. It's just the first I heard mention of it, so I was just wondering what everybody here thought and wondered if it could really be done without being detrimental to the motor and/or bike itself, since Softails were all rigid-mounted b4 the B motor came out...
I'm personally very fond of the silky smooth ride of the current Softails. It'll be even smoother once I install the Shotgun Shock I just got, but that's a different thread.
I'm personally very fond of the silky smooth ride of the current Softails. It'll be even smoother once I install the Shotgun Shock I just got, but that's a different thread.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 7,882
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From: So California
The original owner of Lancaster CA HD, had his shop replace his old 1987 EVO balanced motor with one not balanced/not one made for a rigid engine mount Softail.
He said he missed the vibration of the older Harleys.
He said he missed the vibration of the older Harleys.
Account Closed
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 682
Likes: 1
From: In the World
Dang ... a Softail not a real Harley ... well then .. in the morning ... I'll ride my bike down to the Glades ... I'll get a can of gasoline and burn the fuxxer ... POSER BIKE BE DAMNED!
PS: of all the moronic shtt on this forum ... this wins the Bush Award for Stupidity
PS: of all the moronic shtt on this forum ... this wins the Bush Award for Stupidity