2006 Softail Springer Classic Project/Build
 

** Completed Pictures Post 57 **
** UPDATED June 9, 2014 **

I recently purchased a 2006 Softail Springer Classic. Having had a 2003 Heritage Springer previously, I was just plain old hung up on this style bike.

This time around, I wanted to try things a little differently. I wanted the black springer forks which will come to set the tone for the entire bike. I'll have more black and less chrome on this one.

Anyway, the hunt started a few weeks ago in December 2013, and I soon found a low mileage, near virgin canvas. 8200 miles, some slash cut slip ons, and a goofy air cleaner was about it. Oh, and there's the obvious unfitting paint. It's a shame too, because it's in pretty good shape for it's age.

The first wave of parts will be arriving in the next few days, which include several items needed by the painter to help with the new paint scheme. The goal is a nostalgic feel that fits the style of the bike, but doesn't mimic an earlier produced model.

The C&C seat arrived today too. It's always a pleasure to work with Chuck. This one is Mercedes leather, white diamond tuck, white side band, and white piping. It's more flashy than I normally would have chosen, but it's flat out awesome.

Here are some pictures so far, beginning with the day it was delivered.

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Update 21 March 2014:

Did a little more tear down you could say! Having a lot of things powder coated by Joe @ The Powder Pro. I've got one more shipment to send to him to take care of and then it's all back together.

One thing I really try to avoid is assembling the bike only to take it back apart for some other mod/maintenance. I also try to avoid adjustable pushrods. So, while the tank was off and the rocker boxes were removed for powder coating, along with the cam chest cover (and pushrods removed), this was the perfect time to update the cam chest cavity to current parts. New components should be here soon, and I'll be installing a set of Andrews 21N conversion cams. New bearings, new support plate, hydraulic tensioners and roller chains inside and out will be installed, as well as a new oil pump.

And, since the oil tank is off now, I am really leaning towards having it painted with the rest of the bike. I'll have plenty of black stuff on it, and to be honest, I think having it painted would be awesome. You don't see that too often.

Anyway, I have a pile of parts stocked up, including new bars, jockey shift, and waaaay too much more to list.

I really have been having fun with this one. I love to tear these bikes down like this almost as much as riding them!

Enjoy the pictures. More to follow shortly I hope!


This is the clutch perch cut off and finished with a file and several rounds of sanding. No need for the lever anymore with the jockey shift, but this piece is critical to keep the control housings from spinning.
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A fresh La Briola Jockey Shift kit! These things are so much more fun to ride with a jockey.
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Removed oil tank to pull the transmission top cover, and also will be having the inner primary cover coated gloss black.
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Open cam cavity...that's still the old style tensioner and Morse link chains. Bad parts in the long run!
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Updated 24 April 2014.

I've finally gotten to a stage where I'm putting stuff on the bike instead of just taking stuff off! I had received my first batch of parts back from The Powder Pros. It was a pretty big run, of mostly small parts.

Even though the some of the parts were already black, some of the stock parts have casting marks, and I also didn't want to mix and match satin, flat, and gloss blacks on the bikes. I wanted all gloss black.

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With these parts back, I was all set to begin assembling the front end. With some new turn signal brackets, I was able to move my turn signals where they should be - under the passing lamps.

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In order to run regular risers, and ultimately any handlebar, I replaced my top plate with a Fat Springer Adapter Plate 2 from Carlini. It is chromed billet alluminum, but I had it PC'd black. I also chose a set of Biltwell Thunder black risers. The FSAP2 allows the use of regular risers.

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The handlebars are 16" 1.25" LA Choppers Nice Curves. They came black already. Internally wired, with Magnum Shielding Black Pearl lines. I also had the front brake MC recoated after I sanded down all the castings. Additionally, I removed the ball end off the brake lever and installed a CruiseMate Throttle assist. The star wheel from HD is useless.

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Updated 24 April 2014.

With the springer front ends, there is no nacelle or headlight trim that will allow for hiding the wiring. It's all out on display. So, being the detail oriented person I am...haha....I covered everything in black heatshrink to make any colored wires inconspicuous. After that, each wiring bundle was consolidated where possible, and covered in black braided cable sleeving. It's basically a cut to length product. Just make sure you melt the ends together or it will fray.

Each wiring bundle is meticulously ran to appear as clean as possible and then the bundles are tied together. It's clean, and I am pleased with the results.

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Wanting to stay true to a Heritage Springer, I attempted to locate a horn from that bike. Usually I just source new parts, but some were not available. After visiting on the Heritage Springer forum, I posted a want ad, and quickly received responses from some of their members. No one would accept any money, so they donated to my project! That site really does have an awesome community!

Once I got the horn cover, it was in good shape, but it had seen some better days. I have no way of knowing, but if it came off a 1997 model, it was almost 20 years old! So, off to Chromemasters in TN with the cover, and they stripped and replated it. It's in new condition once again. I also received a horn from one of their members too, again as a donation. The bucket and bracket were recoated in black to look fresh again.

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Alas, the front end is mostly complete. I need to install my mirror and brake line, but the front brake can't be installed until the fender is in place - since it's DOT4 (corrosive to paint) I may do that part before I install the fender just to be safe.

I also had a pre-teddybear 5.75" Daymaker that I removed from a previous bike which was sold. To match, I picked up a pair of Daymaker passing lamps. Every light has the HD styled visor trim rings.

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Last but not least, my original reason for removing the primary housing was to rotate the shift lever back one tooth. This, combined with relocating the coil, allows me to run the jockey shift lever with a set of true duals, when the time comes. Not sure which direction I'll go with exhaust. I want Samsons, but they're customer service lately isn't so great.

While rotating the shift lever back, it's a good time to install a Cometic shift shaft double-walled gasket. The stock one is garbage.

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Updated 24 April 2014.

Final update for today - a sneak peak at the paint. I'll be visiting with my painter tomorrow to come up with our final layout on the tins.

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Took some time to hook up the new speedometer since all the wiring has been completed. I didn't do anything with the wiring for the speedometer during my project, but with everything else being disconnected, and the battery being removed, I couldn't really test it.

This is a replacement speedometer from HD, and is the nostalgic face speedo. I ordered it from Kutter, and it came with the mileage programmed already in it. When you order this from Kutter, their website asks for your current mileage, and the speedo comes with a reinstatement sticker showing the mileage it's been programmed with from the start. Keeping the original will validate any concerns with potential buyers, should I ever sell the bike.

It's going to look great in a black Cat's Eye dash...

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Updated 2 May 2014.

This is shaping up to be a busy weekend! Got lots of parts back, and lots to get done.

This week was productive. I had a Shotgun Shock that I had installed on my 2009 CVO Springer for about 400 miles. When I sold that bike, the shock came off to be used on this 2006 Springer Classic. I found out when I went to install the compressor that the 06 needed tapped holes in the bottom of the transmission housing and a new bracket/clamp. A call to Shotgun on a Friday afternoon, and all was taken care of. The tap, new heat shrink, new air hose, and new bracket were at my house the following Monday. All at no cost to me - JD/SS really do live up to their reputation for excellent customer service.

So, the Shotgun is installed, and tested. It's so much easier to do without a rear wheel, rear fender, rear slash guard, etc installed on the bike. This past week I completed the coil relocation as well. I had the kit from another bike, so on it went. As for the coil wires, they've been extended to the proper length, and then run through the stock wiring casing, which included the wiring trough on the backbone of the frame. Retaining the factory heat protective sheath, these wires look like Harley put them there when the bike was built.

My last batch of powder coating arrived today from Joe at The Powder Pro. I know some may think the cost of sending heavy parts to get coated is an unnecessary expense, but The Powder Pro does MC stuff all the time. I would recommend them highly.

In this batch, I had the following shot to a gloss black as well:
Rear fender strut covers
Inner/outer primary housing
Complete Rocker boxes
Starter Cap/Cover
Top/Side Transmission covers
Cam cover

The finish is excellent.

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Last Friday, my painter invited me to visit him to help lay out the final design for the accent color. After many much considerations, we had it all figured out. For those that think it's as simple as picking a design, there are many things to consider - tank badges, tank badge angles, what objects do you work around, angles of the body work, etc. Don't pay attention to these details, and the paint could easily look 'off'.

Anyway, a couple pictures of the works in progress. I should have them back tomorrow. With the Pure Pearl White shot, all that remains is a 1/8" black pinstripe, clear, sand, and buff. It goes without saying, these pictures do little justice for this paint.

The first few shots show the base coats. The color is Pagan Gold, and it's an HOK kandy over a metallic silver base.

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Updated May 9, 2014

It's been a productive couple days. Beginning with the transmission top and side covers, I started in on the main drive components. Once the inner and outer primary covers were installed, it was time to add the oil tank.

I've never installed an oil tank, but with the bike as stripped down as it is, it was cake. Of course paint is less forgiving than chrome, so I decided an ounce of prevention was better than a pound of cure. The entire oil tank was taped up, along with the top of the primary housing. Additionally, the starter, transmission top cover, and top of the primary were all covered in microfiber towels too.

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The Andrews 21N cams, updated cam support plate, oil pump, hydraulic tensioners, bearings, etc have all been installed as well. I wanted to keep the pushrod tubes and the tappet covers chrome, to tie into the engine fins and other various chrome accents.

Everything is buttoned up and the engine is once again sealed, even down to new spark plugs!

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The La Briola Jockey Shifter has also been installed. I was supplied with their new pedal design, but already had plans to use my own shift lever with the old La Briola foot peg.

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Lastly, the paint has been completed and picked up. Until I get to the point (hopefully this weekend) to install it, it will be all nestled up in my spare bedroom.

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Updated May 12 2014.

More work completed this weekend. It finally looks like a motorcycle again. The tins have been fully installed at this point and all that remains are a few little details.

Items remaining:

• Cat's Eye Dash - Need to fab up a special bracket to reposition the mounting stud.
• Front Brake Caliper - Pending Chrome Banjo bolts from Kutter.
• License Plate Frame - Really at a loss for this one. I want something that looks good and will fit with fishtails, when that time comes. Most likely going with a Kury frame for the swing arm.
• Intake - Pending Heavy Breather with cover from Kutter.
• Shift Knob - Should arrive today; I decided to not use the one I made from one of the old camshafts - too heavy.

So, here are some pictures. Questions/comments welcomed and appreciated.


The colors are Pagan Gold and White Starfire, with a Vivid Black pinstripe.


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