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[Dan_Lockwood]

The wife was gone over the weekend and she hates riding the old '76 FLH Shovelhead.  So when she's gone or not wanting to ride, I ride the ole '76.

Okay, rode this weekend both days and put over 300 miles on the ole '76.  Got home yesterday evening and took out the '09 SERG and some how someone must have worked on it while I was out of the garage, it sounds whisper quiet...    Unlike how I remembered it from last weekend with all the valve train noise etc.

So the cheapest way I know of to quiet down your new 110" is to ride an old POS that the motor almost drowns out the exhaust...

It was a great nice and easy riding weekend.  63 mph is its sweet spot. 

I actually think you can buy an old Shovelhead cheaper than you can rebuild your 110" motor.  So get the Shovelhead and forget about the 110" for a while and just enjoy the scenery and noise!

[JCZ]

 

[jpswino]

Hehehehehe agreed!

[Dan_Lockwood]

I wish it rode and sounded as smooth as it looks...     

[110tHunDer]

Ha!  Probably totally happy with the transmission, suspension and brakes on the 110" bike now, too!

That Shovelhead sure is purdy, though!

[Dan_Lockwood]

Yes, there's SO many howls and whines in this drivetrain that it makes my SERG feel like I'm sitting in a Cadillac with ear plugs in.

Talk about tranny whine.... You've never heard trans noises until you ride one of these bombs.  I'm in high gear at 35 mph under normal street riding.  Anything below 63 mph in 4th or above it vibrates and puts a smile on my wife's face... 

[1Fordman]

I wish it rode and sounded as smooth as it looks...     

That sir is one beautiful Shovelhead.  I'm restoring a recently purchased 72FX and will take your advice on quieting down my CVO RK by riding the shovel when done! You're more than welcome to park your shovel in my garage should you grow tired of it.

[Dan_Lockwood]

That sir is one beautiful Shovelhead.  I'm restoring a recently purchased 72FX and will take your advice on quieting down my CVO RK by riding the shovel when done! You're more than welcome to park your shovel in my garage should you grow tired of it.

Are you familiar with http://www.shovelhead.us/?  They have tons of threads and the guys are really great with newbies.

I've learned a LOT from that site.

Good luck with your FX.  I believe the frames are pretty much the same as an FL, but the front forks are setup a bit differently angle wise.  Should be a fun ride when done.

[Lars]

Just brought the '83 FXDG home that I bought a few weeks ago and looking forward to firing it up and experiencing what you explained in your post. I'm sure it will give me a new appreciation for my SEUC8, but you gotta love that old HD Iron.

[Dan_Lockwood]

That looks nice.  The FX's probably handle a LOT better than the FL's do.

Hope you have a great ride there.

[Lars]

Imagine this,
Before I fire her up, I've got to replace the starter solenoid and fix the oil pump check valve problem.
Who wudda thunk??

[Dan_Lockwood]

Imagine this,
Before I fire her up, I've got to replace the starter solenoid and fix the oil pump check valve problem.
Who wudda thunk??

During the winter or other long periods of downtime of the bike, I put a clamp on the oil line from the tank to the oil pump.  If not, it will gradually flow through the pump and wet sump the crankcase.  I have it vented to the rear and just behind the trans.  I have an old spark plug rubber boot on the end of the hose to direct the venting downward.  But if it's sat for over a few weeks, I always place a cookie pan under the vent area just in case it pukes out some of the very expensive straight 60# dino oil...

[ltank]

I grew up on Shovelheads. I have had several.

[1Fordman]

Are you familiar with http://www.shovelhead.us/?  They have tons of threads and the guys are really great with newbies.

I've learned a LOT from that site.

Good luck with your FX.  I believe the frames are pretty much the same as an FL, but the front forks are setup a bit differently angle wise.  Should be a fun ride when done.

It appears the website is not taking new registrations and most of the topics are private.

You're correct, same frame for the FX and FL.  Mine has a dual disc wide glide on it, looks very similar to the front end on Lars' bike.

That offer still stands, you're more than welcome to park your shovel in my garage!  Yours looks to be show quality.  I have something to aspire to with the FX.  If all goes according to plan it should be up and running late August/early September.

[Dan_Lockwood]

It appears the website is not taking new registrations and most of the topics are private.

You're correct, same frame for the FX and FL.  Mine has a dual disc wide glide on it, looks very similar to the front end on Lars' bike.

That offer still stands, you're more than welcome to park your shovel in my garage!  Yours looks to be show quality.  I have something to aspire to with the FX.  If all goes according to plan it should be up and running late August/early September.

Good luck and post when you're up and running.

I did my tear down of my '76 FLH in early '05.  So what you see in the picture is 12 years old with about 10k miles on it since then.