Big Fuel Tank Problems : The 1939 Harley RUSTORATION 

You know Matt, you may not realize it now, but these videos your making will most likely be just as valuable and treasured as the very vintage bikes in your museum for future generations to watch, learn and reference from down through many generations of motorcycle enthusiasts and future builders. So in essence, you are actually recording and documenting both verbally and physically historic American motorcycle history and we subscribers are literally witnessing this in real time. Matt, it may haven’t hit you yet, but what your now producing will be extremely valuable in centuries to come!

Matt, brother protect your eyes. I don't want to see you down and out due to unnecessary injury. You are too important and your eyes are the only way you can continue doing what you do. Keep up the good work and thank you for sharing your work with us!

When I met and talked to Jake back in the fall at the museum, I told him that he was the luckiest guy in the world because he had my dream job. I still feel that way. He was a fantastic wealth of knowledge too. Thanks again, y'all

I'm sure glad there are people like you who care about preserving old American iron. You're doing a great service.

in my opinion, to keep period correct, the old patina, you should have torch brazed those holes, not welded, let that brass/bronze braze be seen, because in it's day, that would have been how they fixed it

Great save on the tanks. Those are some pimped out bags , I can only imagine how the guy felt when he put them on his new bike back in the 30s what else did he have? Jewelled mud flaps maybe his jacket too? WOW!!

Big Thumbs Up Matt, I been welding dock levelers, edge mount dock bumpers and overhead doors for 22 years, mostly thicker steel. (No Weld School, On Job Learning Only) Never needed to do thin skin welding but still like seeing new stuff. Adding the bronze backer is a great idea. Thanks for sharing! 👍👍👍.....🤜🤛😉

Rusty , crusty , and absolutely beautiful. Can't wait to see it in person. Come on April !

Dr Matt. Surgeon extrodonaire. Born to die, Live to Ride. God bless you, brother. Blessed is the Lord.

Matt the saddlebags are absolutely beautiful and looks brand new it’s kind of a shame that you don’t restore the bike so that it match the saddle Bags I know a lot of people are into the rusty and crusty but there’s nothing as beautiful as a fully rebuilt And restored museum quality Harley Davison

I’m not in to that look . I’m sure the bike is going to look great anyways. Them rhino saddlebags are beautiful! I love the videos. Can’t wait to see it the rest.

Incredible 1939! Can't wait to see it rollin down the road....

Very cool to see behind the scenes of your work on the bike. Love the way you tackled the problem of welding but my next question is how is he going to keep or replace the patina/rust on the tank so the welds don't stand out like sore thumbs. Your secret sauce, ugggh. Ok I don't know need to know the sauce recipe but I sure do want to see the end result..................

I love when these longer videos come out. I save them for Saturday morning. I get up before the rest of the house wakes up, kick back on the couch, and enjoy watching them.

So sorry i am one day late on this AMAZING video....Thanks Matt....Matt i just turned 83 years old.....My first bike was an old Indian Military Bike,i think that was back about 1959 or 1960's..... Shoe🇺🇸

Matt, you seem like one of the most genuinely likable guys. I don’t know anything about motorcycle, but just started watching the last couple days. I’m hooked! Your skill blows my mind! I look forward to visiting your museum someday. ✌🏼

Absolutely amazing! We love watching and learning. Thank you for all you do!!

I've been welding since the early seventies, got schooled building up a "seat rail" on the back end of my early sixties 250 Ducati. One thing I've noted common these days is all sorts of mechanics welding with tig with no gloves. I've been dealing with minor cancers and skin problems that have all the appearances of being the result of "quick jobs" done without gloves. I now have several types of gloves used for light thin, work, and all the way to heavy high current work. Skin cancer really sucks!

I type comments during adds

I just came across this channel a few days ago after seeing Matt on the Bikes and Beards episode with the WLDR and couldn't tell you how many hours I've binge watched since. The Good Lord has blessed this man with not only an exceptional mind for his craft but also a personality that makes it very enjoyable to listen to when he speaks about his true passion in life.

Modesty & humility, dude thats why yourselves achieve so much 18:52

When I saw the holes my first thought was lead or silver. Your technique is good for the welding. A better fit on the backer would give you better heat sink. Welding is like raising a child. No one is always right.

Acid tank complete paint new chrome its to purdy to leave it a Rusty Skupper!! 👍🏻💯

It even looks good rusty .

My grandpop had the same bike. I have an old picture of him on it. That's an awesome bike.

Hi….nice old Harley. Are you going to nickel plate the tanks inside and out 🤔

Mat Big Hugs Big Love HAPPY FRIDAY you ROCK ON AMEN 🙏

@wheelsthroughtime I always heard that the motor company they would put a small hole in the end of the tank and spray some kind of anti-rust coating inside of the gas tank is it possible that pinhole is from that?

Are you guys think about the motorcycles museum in Newburgh NY

I restore old military vehicles and automobiles. You can't buy real patina. Love the old rusty iron!!

Nice job restoring the leather but considering the bike there going on I think he should have used less dye to keep them weathered looking.

Absolutely Gorgeous! 👏🤠

Not bad for not being a welder though. My brother and i are comin to visit this summer

A bazillion Brazilians can weld better than me.

I always enjoy these behind-he-scenes videos Matt, keep them coming. Those bags look great. That's an amazing job on those puppies. I'm thinking though, that they may be too nice for that bike now. Maybe it's just me, but I think they're a little too pretty now and don't really match the crustiness of the bike?? That's one asshole's opinion.

Matt no disrespect intended but why would you leave a knuck this good all rusty, would make a great raffle bike restored. I own 3 knuck's 2 37's & a 39 restored w/ the help of Harry Mollenar and some parts from your father. Dale was at Harry's one day and this is how we met, many years ago. Your father was one of the best most knowledgeable person i ever met. Harry was a good friend to me i miss him.

When your done patching the tank spay with vinegar

would have it not been a lot easier to take the tank to the welder and put the welder near the vice instead of running all over the workshop

Definitely leave those welds . It’s part of the story

Pretty sure that isn't a bullet hole but would make for one hell of a story if it was 😉

I really enjoy watching this video

Leave it just spray with vinegar to oxidize it

My dad since passed he had a1948 wish he would have kept it

Not crazy about the "patina" look, but it's not my motorcycle and interesting nonetheless. Keep the good stuff coming.

Welding gloves man......UV burns on the wrists are painful.

So much talk and so little work. Adios.

the u flathead has all my attention great sickles HAPPY TRAILS

best wishes from germany 👍 sad that you'r not right around the corner

Your welding is sufficient to do the job, farm welding look’s a lot worse, but it works, that’s what matters.

Have you thought about using half of a front rusted out petrol tank and cut it , and add to a better front half of a rear rusted out tank? Just an idea 💡

Was hoping to watch how you de-rust the inside the tank. Oh well. Betcha at some point in time a bullet went into that tank, Hope to get down to Maggie Valley this summer. Great videos. Thanks.

I'd prefer old school gas welding: Fitting in a peace of sheet metal and welding it together without filler rod. That' how did it in the 30ies...

Man I've been following you for awhile on here and Instagram your videos and post are always interesting keep up the great work man lol one day I'll win one of your raffle bikes lol 😂

..... I make this show an event at my house . I pop some corn, and chill off a couple then me and the dog we watch your channel and eat pop-corn.....

Matt, you are doing such a fantastic job . You are sure keeping your dad's vision alive to a great extent. I am almost recovered from getting run over o n my 1957 Panhead and nearly losing my leg. I have circulation back and I am walking without assistance. I was a chemical engineer for a large pharmaceutical company that I hated. I decided to start a small engine repair and restoration shop that specializes in construction equipment and air cooled motorcycles and Porsches. I definitely want to get in touch because I have some things I would like to discuss sometime. Oh and I am also building a machine shop that will be powered by steam and populated with equipment from the 1800's and 1900's complete with central belt systems and everything. Yesterdays technology with tomorrow's results.

Matt! We need Calendars... What would Dale do,?

Rust, dust and restored leather... awesome

If you wanted to eliminate or greatly reduce slag you could have filled the tank with argon gas before you welded.

Wow! Not just the bike (& accessories), but the stories that are remembered, & then built upon... All the hands, through the years, that have, & will touch this, perhaps builds the soul, of a lump of machinery?! Very Nice, Thanx !

Treat those bags with minik oil

Just a drop of brick acid rubbed over that cleaned area and in no time at all it will blend in to rest of the tank perfectly.

Dang cool stuff. Love those bags and the “as found” bike. My peepers always return to the old original bikes versus the shiny ones. Great job Matt! Love the history.

The leather that the bags are made of is horsehide.

You’ll get no critique from me man. From where I sit you are a genius.

Is it compulsory for yanks to have silly beards to appear on you tube lil

Man I really need to come to the museum. I cant wait to see the bikes. I love survivor cars/bikes it tells the story of them and in my option has way more personally

Looks great I might take those bags outside and shovel some dirt over them then shake em off ??

Mat if u find some thick copper stock, drill and tap it to put a handle on and use as a bucket to fill holes on sheet metal

I want to cry when I see what you do

Bags so cool. Glad able to restore

Digging the Buc-cees hat.

Man I love this stuff. Such a cool idea to keep it rusty. Sleeper build!

you just dont want us to know that you are going to PISS on the tank to make it rust. it isnt a secret.

Awesome stuff Matt thanks for sharing your love of these beautiful classics!! These bags are out of this world to

That was so cool Matt you are the man later man good job

Damn, guy's! I bought my raffle tickets online I don't know, three days ago? I already got my T-shirt, tickets, and DVD yesterday! I live in Nazifornia, too. Awesome job, guy's!

First time I’ve seen Matt with his sunglasses not on his head.

What a true Sweetheart.

Grind,file,d.a.180 grit .let it rust..😎

Aren't you going to check that tank for leaks?

Man, I'd work there for free for ya Matt. You NEVER see beauty rings on rims anymore. Maybe I'll machine me some. Put on my 72' build. Lol

How do you clean the inside of the petrol tank?

The holes in the rear of the RH Fat Bob tank were definitely caused by the fire, I can say that from personal experience. I bought a '36 VLH that was in a literal barn fire, and as the fuel vapor built up pressure from the heat, a hole blew open in the top rear of the LH fat bob & acted like a blow torch in carving out a nickel-sized hole in the tank. I still have that set of tanks over in storage as the RH tank blew into a really distorted shape that I could never figure out how to fix.

greatly enjoyed yout post....this rebuild is exciting. You need to post more often...at least once a week.Still miss Dale...enjoyed my too few and too short persona accounts;still hoping for improved health to allow a visit...will try to obtain a TA start....LOLi

Copper is the best backing plate by far.

Od leave the repairs as they stand keeping it to a minimum

again an amazing bike, looking forward.....

Я могу вам подмказать как зделать классный мото с пиимочками к мото каких нет неукого в мире

Howdy dudes

Hey Matt, Please keep making detailed rebuild videos. I have them on the whole time I’m building my dads EL and I learn so much from you. Thanks

Matt when's your birthday brother, I'm wanna send you a pair of Tillman gloves. 🔥

Leave it

Always enjoy your views

Thanks!

I want to know what the secret sauce is ,,,lol

I have plans for a visit this year. I love the work you do.

The red one in the background is good.

If only there was more appreciation for later model bikes and cars, so they don't become lost through time.

Matt, You have the best job in the world.

I'm guessing if you take some salt water and a spray bottle and just braids that specific area it would probably rest up and about a day or two