Diamond in the rough!!! Saving a FLHPI
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Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 534
Likes: 8
From: DeRidder, LA
thanks guys.
i've decided that i'm going to take the bike down to the frame minus the engine and trans. will be pulling the tank, front end, rear fender, battery box, etc. over the next day or so. i should be off work early thursday and friday. with the weekend off, i hope to have it stripped, re-coated and start re-assembly.
none of the rust is severe, however it is enough to bother me. so the grinder, wire wheel and sand paper will be put to good use. going to coat the frame with por-15 to ensure there's no more oxidation. then i'll just clean up what i can and put it back together. that will leave me with some small projects over the summer. like a new kickstand, foot brake pedal, add siren and mainly just be patient for some nice/used parts to replace my worn out ones (chrome stuff)
received my suppliment police manual today, hoping to get the flht service manual soon. also got my little 3in orbital buffer in. that black paint will be like new in no time
so be patient, hope for some solid updates over the next few days
mike
i've decided that i'm going to take the bike down to the frame minus the engine and trans. will be pulling the tank, front end, rear fender, battery box, etc. over the next day or so. i should be off work early thursday and friday. with the weekend off, i hope to have it stripped, re-coated and start re-assembly.
none of the rust is severe, however it is enough to bother me. so the grinder, wire wheel and sand paper will be put to good use. going to coat the frame with por-15 to ensure there's no more oxidation. then i'll just clean up what i can and put it back together. that will leave me with some small projects over the summer. like a new kickstand, foot brake pedal, add siren and mainly just be patient for some nice/used parts to replace my worn out ones (chrome stuff)
received my suppliment police manual today, hoping to get the flht service manual soon. also got my little 3in orbital buffer in. that black paint will be like new in no time
so be patient, hope for some solid updates over the next few days
mike
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 27,097
Likes: 4,676
From: Frozelandia, Minnysota
Glass bead blasting works good for surface rust, doesn't pit or rough up the metal like sand blasting. Would need to use a portable rig (lots of cheap ones, don't work great, but adequate usually), eye and breathing protection, dust gets into everything. And outdoors, wouldn't want that stuff in the garage. Gets into areas you can't reach or hard to reach with sandpaper or brush. Lot faster than sandpaper or brush, too, if you have enough air supply.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Mike, thanks for posting that photo, which is very timely for me. I am in the process of installing Police bags on my old Glide and moving the battery under the seat, beside my oil bag. I always assumed Harley put the engine oil under the trans to get the battery under the seat, but your photo shows there is room for both! I'm finalising a suitable battery tray and that helps a lot.
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 428
Likes: 35
From: Calgary Alberta Canada
Did same thing with a 2000 FLHP. Except I bought mine directly from the Police service auction. Was reasonably well maintained. Rode it for a month the alternator died. Figured it out. Replaced it. That winter I did as you did . I stripped it down to frame including engine and trans. Rebuilt engine to a 95". Rebuilt the trans to a 6speed Baker DD6. Redid paint in Cadilliac Pearl White (painted myself). Replace blonde aluminuum parts with Chrome. Installed cruise control (HD one). Replaced headlight, etc
Wait , its easier to tell you what I didn't replace. The Frame. The rims the engine cases and trans case. I later rebuilt engine with a new stroker crank and made it a 104" (actually HD screwed up and sent me .10 over pistons that were marked standard). That took me 4 years with about 20,000 kilometers (sorry we are in Canada) each summer. Now my son is riding it and I have a street glide i'm customizing. Doesn't end. LOL
Wait , its easier to tell you what I didn't replace. The Frame. The rims the engine cases and trans case. I later rebuilt engine with a new stroker crank and made it a 104" (actually HD screwed up and sent me .10 over pistons that were marked standard). That took me 4 years with about 20,000 kilometers (sorry we are in Canada) each summer. Now my son is riding it and I have a street glide i'm customizing. Doesn't end. LOL
