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[Dan_Lockwood]

Steve, I concur...Nothin like the sound of an ole' shovel 

I was able Sunday to put about 100 miles on this ole beast.





I get lots of looks with this.  A LOT more than when I ride my '09 SERG.

It's stock 1976 74" and still a 4 speed, although a 5 or 6 in a 4 speed would be a great improvement.  Now I shift into 4th at 35 mph and just keep revving it until everything is vibrating so hard I can't see out the mirrors.  I'll be honest, it does run quite smoothly at 60 to 65 mph.  As I've been told, a 45 V-twin can really only be balanced perfectly at just one rpm.  Most of the time they try to balance at around 3500, so I've been told.

But hey, when my wife isn't my BSR, this is my bike of choice right now.  I do have it for sale though, but at my price, I'll probably be buried with this beast... 

[Rooster]

Riding is fun that's a fact. But I can tell you , when I ride the shovel all whopping 48 hp worth I love to hear the engine.. It does have a 6 speed so I can pretty much ride it any where at today's hwy speeds with over spinning the engine for long periods of time.. But just the sound it makes , even thinking about it makes me smile..

That's because a shovel doesn't just start. It comes alive, especially with 1" 3/4 drags

[Dan_Lockwood]

Its amazing how different series of V-twin motors have different sounds, or rhythms etc.  Just like a V-8 Flathead sounds different that an overhead V-8 of the same displacement.

[Ridgerunr]

Nice looking bike Dan. 

Is it out of oil?..........No spots on the driveway! 

Couldn't help myself.

[Dan_Lockwood]

Nice looking bike Dan. 

Is it out of oil?..........No spots on the driveway! 

Couldn't help myself.

HA HA HA...

Actually for right now, it doesn't leak anywhere that I know of.  But that could change tomorrow, you know the AMF bikes!

I thought because I installed new front Progressive spring, rebuilt the cartridges (or whatever they claim they use in those old front forks), new bushing and seals along with new rear shocks, I really thought it would ride fairly well, but it still rides like a dump truck.  Because the steering head bearings are behind the fork tube etc, it feels like it's SO heavy in the front end that if I let loose of the bars it would just plain tip over. 

It really is a beast to ride compared to the '09 SERG.  The newer frames, any of the frame from probably the mid 80's or so, would be a major improvement over this thing.  But even as bad as it rides, it's still a blast to ride.  It gets so many looks and comments at local hangouts.  It feels small too compared to the newer bikes.  They are so low even my wife at 5'-4" can flat foot this thing.  It was going to be her bike when she learned how to ride, but that didn't go well.  She had a broken wrist to prove that she is never going to ride again.

Got to get it to the dealership for an inspection Saturday so I can get new plates.  Man I hate living in MO with all the inspections and Personal Property Tax.

[Ridgerunr]

For sure the old iron needs constant attention, but your passion shows, that is the cleanest Shovel I've seen in 25 years. A few years ago I sold my Panhead, loved the bike but it needed constant wrenching to keep it oil tight, and with a new house and property to work on time was at a premium. Thanks for the pictures.   

[Yellow09SERG]

Beautiful bike Dan, and the sound just can't be beat.

[trahog]

Heck with the 117 kit.lol

[trahog]

Got my full refund today on the kit,only took almost four weeks.No more buying Harley parts for me,After the bs I went through with Harley moco .Hope the rest of you that have done or are doing this kit has  good luck in the long haul.

[Yellow09SERG]

Got my full refund today on the kit,only took almost four weeks.No more buying Harley parts for me,After the bs I went through with Harley moco .Hope the rest of you that have done or are doing this kit has  good luck in the long haul.

Glad they took care of it. You would sure have expected a dealership that would have liked to have you as a customer to have eat that one for you and have worked it out with the MOCO later.

[DCFIREMANN]

Got my full refund today on the kit,only took almost four weeks.No more buying Harley parts for me,After the bs I went through with Harley moco .Hope the rest of you that have done or are doing this kit has  good luck in the long haul.

Glad they finally gave you the refund. The problems you were having made my decision going 117 very easy. I have the kit but it has never been opened. I have it sold to a friend who is going to do the top end when he returns form Daytona. I am going with a 113 build with 10.5 to 1 pistons. The way I see it with the added compression there won't be much difference if any with the added 4 cubes and lower compression. The 113 is a proven build and again Harley dropped the ball in product quality when they released the 117 big bore kit.

Be Safe

THE DAWG

[MrSurly]

I'm glad you got the refund AND that we all learned of the potential issue with these cylinders.
(and with the MoCo's response)
I'd assume the "jury is still out" on these steel liners in the over all view.
We know from all the internet chatter that a large amount of them are being installed, mostly at dealers....and it is very likely (IMHO) that a high percentage of the jugs are never being checked, just wiped and bolted. How What percentage may be OOR? Anyone have real world data that might reflect on this?

[DCFIREMANN]

I'm glad you got the refund AND that we all learned of the potential issue with these cylinders.
(and with the MoCo's response)
I'd assume the "jury is still out" on these steel liners in the over all view.
We know from all the internet chatter that a large amount of them are being installed, mostly at dealers....and it is very likely (IMHO) that a high percentage of the jugs are never being checked, just wiped and bolted. How percentage may be OOR? Anyone have real world data that might reflect on this?

A lot of builders I have talked to have no real issue with the steel liners. And yes most of these kits are being installed at the dealers. I would bet that 90% of the cylinders NEVER get checked and just get bolted on. Now that the issue has come up about the cylinders we will see how the MOCO handles the situation. I for one threw in the towel and decided not to install my 117 kit. Oh and this kit has a one year warranty. So I guess when these bikes start using oil or has excessive piston slap we will see how the MOCO handles the problem.

Be Safe

THE DAWG

[MrSurly]

Well, of course, they'll just change the official tolerance for oil consumption.
The old adage will be altered a little.... "They're all allowed to do that"

[KC2GIW]

A lot of builders I have talked to have no real issue with the steel liners. And yes most of these kits are being installed at the dealers. I would bet that 90% of the cylinders NEVER get checked and just get bolted on. Now that the issue has come up about the cylinders we will see how the MOCO handles the situation. I for one threw in the towel and decided not to install my 117 kit. Oh and this kit has a one year warranty. So I guess when these bikes start using oil or has excessive piston slap we will see how the MOCO handles the problem.

Be Safe

THE DAWG

I would bet you'd lose that bet.


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