I just finished my first rebuild, couldn't have done it without your advice. Being a broke millennial, I ended up just using a long bolt and a socket to pull the wrist pins, it was a frustrating experience, but it worked. I was a little surprised to see that just a little engine oil on the rings and cylinder wall is all that is needed to prevent start up wear, I was paranoid and coated every surface with graphite assembly lube, the more you know! Thank you for what you do Mike, thanks to you another old Shovelhead got a new lease on life.
The importance of the wrist-pin keeper ring is VERY IMPORTANT!! Been there with one that was NOT seated all the way. It was an '82 shovel that ran nicely for a SHORT time until the keeper ring decided to eat the cylinder wall and the piston...new barrel and piston and lots of labor!!! Ouch in the pocket!
Mike, I am truly inspired by your shovel-head story and how you bought it new and all the cool things you have done to it to make it yours. So many cool modifications and great history and great ideas from all your videos on all the different bikes you work on, very cool! Thank you for sharing!
Staggering as per Harley Davidsons directions (see the diagram in an Evo Service manual) is the habit I've been following for years. Have a look at it.
Hey Mike. I discovered your videos a couple of months ago and I've watched practically every one of them. Very informative and entertaining. I'm 65 years old and sold my bikes in the mid 80s. You have encouraged me to build another one. Thanks buddy! Please keep the camera rolling!
Oil cooler, and dual plug coils. That road bike should be capable, and not let you down on the road. It's looking good,and coming together nicely! Thanks for sharing!
I asked a friend of mine why you haven´t post your work with the old flathead.He told me that you have lost some close friends/family in covid 19,so thats why you have more important things to take care of.I´m so sorry for you Mike. Who is the best sharing your knowledge about these old Harleys. Take care Mike,and I follow your old flathead buildt when you have time for it!
Thank You. There's been a lot of things. Some are things I've promised I had to stop and do. Some things are things I just had to catch up on. I've lost a few friends, basically from old age and hard living. Just the way it is. We'll be back on the Flathead soon. I've also been affording myself some riding time. That Flathead engine is really a passion for me. We'll get there.
FYI I have had a worn out bottom end pound out a wrist pin, so now every time I do a top end I check the condition of the rod bearings before installing the top end. Actually on disassembly.Again another excellent video.
at 10:20, I'm hollerin' at the screen, 'gasket, gasket'. My eyes aren't the greatest, couldn't tell. My wife always says, you know they can't hear you. And I say, of course they can. Thanks for the video, I'll check out some more!
Mike, just to show you how old school I am when I graduated L.A. Trade Tech in Los Angeles back in the mid 70's right out of high school we rebuilt many engines. Back then we were told to place the end gap of the rings directly over the wrist pin because of "piston flex" I never really understood how that was possible and over the years I didn't see anybody still doing that....Thanks for another fun video.
Not over the wrist pin. The end gaps are bsically in the "corners. Have a look at the diagram. The diameter of the piston is smaller at the wrist pins.
First they make us nice & round, then give us little grooves. Carefully snap our hat bands on & shove us up some tubes. Then they set our scalp on fire, so we fly up & down, & smooth things out with liquid rock that gushes out the ground. We like to start on thinner stuff, for the 'cold & screechy' dives, but it does it's job & soon burns off, as the gooey stuff arrives . . . you hope. Have fun Mike & stay safe over there, we're busy composting England by the Pound! : )
Thanks Mike. I have made a ring compressor from a beer can and a pair of vise grips. I have also seen some mechanics put the piston and rings in the cylinder and then install the wrist pin with the lock ring and slide the cylinder the rest of the way down. This is my first time seeing it done with a proper ring compressor. Good job
I was anxious a little when you were putting in the wrist pin and not having the crankcase opening covered up. Of course you have it covered when you were installing the snap rings. Back in the 60's when I used to rebuild VW and Porsche engines we did not have a nice tool for the snap rings. Used a needle nose plier that still had hash cuts on the jaws so the snap rings did not move. Always a pleasure watching your methodical way of working on the bikes. I usually never cringe but I guess it brings back memories when I dropped something in a crankcase and had to get my magnet out.
I watched this video before I rebuilt my shovel and it turned out beautiful . Im in the breaking in stages but it feels good, sounds good and is quiet. I counter bored the rocker shims as you mentioned and tightened them up and motor sounds real good. Motor was a little more loud before I made the adjustment and now sounds much better. I rebuilt motors in muscle cars most of my earlier years and now I'm enjoying my 73 FLH and messing with it. I like your setup with the foot pegs. I want to find the parts and pieces and do mine like that removing the floor boards. I think that would be much nicer than a crash guard with add on pegs... We appreciate all your vids and knowledge...
Nice, wish I had one of those back in 77. It would've made the job a lot easier. It may have not been around then either (?). Don't forget the dog goggles. Mike, my whole body is like mechanics hands. It happens when we get old. Great tip on those 2 head bolts.
Hi Mike, thank you for getting me through this difficult time of a "stay at home" order. I'm in East LA now, from East Coast since 1993. The last ride I was on in 1989 was a FXSTC. Many prior to that. I couldn't get on a scooter out here based on the crazy LA drivers and being a new father of two boys. Love your videos. Keep shooting. I think I'll be back in the saddle soon!
Old Mechanics Hands. I was working construction in my forties feelin my pains. I saw an older guy. I said how do you do it? His reply. "It takes me longer, to do less." LOL... You still have it Mike
It's great that you answer as many comments as you can. My daughter gets a kick out of it too. She's 12, when a little bit older she will be getting my 75 FXE. We really enjoy your videos & projects. Another great video & as always be well.
Hi Mike, I picked up 95 ultra classic for my 60th birthday. The rear cylinder has some smoke and tapping issues. Your evo disassembly & assembly series has given me the confidence to give it a try. I have some knowledge with shovel heads. But that was 40 years ago. Great channel.
I am so doing this to Old No7 right now. With 35lbs of compression I can't believe she even ran, must have been that good SU carb you helped me service Haha. You always seem post up exactly what I need, when I need it if it's not already here!! Thanks again Mike and keep the videos coming you are an asset to the community.
Had a 1973 FX with a loose wrist pin lock ring from the factory. The bike was just out of warranty when discovered. HD did the bore job and gave me the parts, but I had to do the labor. Was back in the AMF days where the first thing one bought was a service manual. Arthritis in the hands and wrists is no fun at all.
Yes, I am living proof, "Old Age Is Highly Overated." But, it's what we got and better than a lot of folks. So, although it takes a lot of time, and a certain amount of pain to get things done, when I'm done, I still get to go for a ride.
LoL bro.. flathead,knucklehead,panhead, shovelhead...I'd hit the ground if you had an Evo and Milwaukee 8 motors laying around,your a die hard Harley guy,I love your videos bro
A hundred and fifty years, maybe more. Mike you don't look half that old! LOLI don't know why Shovels get such a bad wrap. I presently have 3 and love them all.Thanks for another great vid.
I find it very funny. The "bad wrap" usually comes from people who just want to sound knowledgable. They rarely have sppent any time on one that was properly maintained. I love my Shovelhead.
Mike, Just curious if you might share with everyone your previous career path. I personally followed a machinist career which makes me appreciate your attention to detail as you work on your projects. I've always been a bike enthusiast and now own several of my own Harleys. I try to watch anything you do in reference to your shovelhead because I just purchased my 1st shovel. SO, I'm trying to learn all I can. I like to hear the stories that you tell about the specialty tools that you own that were handmade (By you or by one of your old friends). Anyway, if you have shared this info already, just let me know which one of your videos to look at / watch. Thanks! and see ya out on the road !!
Right on ; thanks fer the tips . Mines a 74 - 74 . S&S pistons and cylinders. Wish I would have went 3 5/8 but I was told to keep it 74 because of heat . I have 4 plug std heads . But only use two plugs . Guess I got a couple spares for the road . 😁 fuel line on today and petcock in tank . Well getting close too firing her up . Happy confinement: ✊👍🏻👌
@@pacificmike9501 thought you would have found some humor is that as we both worked in a service dept, where once something hits the floor, it's off to the next zip code for that part.
Hello Mike Excellent work my friend I am waiting for my next harley to be delivered a one owner low mileage guess what a beautiful electra glide sport 1992 Excellent condition I will upload a video when it's delivered I have had to wait awhile but worth it best regards Alan from the UK.
Nice Mike. Besides my current early twin cam i have only owned one new enough for a rubber band. Everything else was oring. I just spent an hour with a guy fighting intake leaks on a old iron head and i told him to take his heads off and re index. He swears its the right intake. He's had the intake off several times no joy. As much work he's put in trying to half ass it he could have fixed it right 2 times over. I told him he didn't need the fancy angle tool, to make sure he has the correct width intake and use it. I'm not sure but i suspect hell be riding one it cools off in 4 months with it still farting and popping and generally running like crap instead of doing it right. Pulling heads isn't hard so i don't understand why he is so afraid of it. I even offered to put it up on the lift but no. Too easy i guess. Oh well. Do the video and ill point him to it. Meanwhile I'm off to put in a new primary chain. 15 years. I got my moneys worth. Rollers are failing. I got lucky. Caught it before it broke on a fluid change. And its about to go on the dyno. Could have been very expensive if i had waited. The Harley Gods were looking after me. Be safe.
Tell him to pull the heads and reinstall them properly by fitting the manifold as he goes. Also tell him to install a support bracket to the carb and manifold or air cleaner, or the carb and manifold will certainly fall off. Okay, I tried.
What a lovely commentary. Only one thng wrong- you haven't got enough bruises on the backs of your hands. You can't have reached that stage in life (which I have) where every little knock you suffer causes a big bruise to appear. Either that or you are careful and I am clumsy! You reminded me when I was building engines: the intake valve on all engines is bigger than the exhaust purely because of air mass physics. Intake gas has to be sucked in whereas exhaust gas has the combustion power to push it out, therefore it doesn't need to be as big as the intake.
Exactly. The exhaust generally outflows the intake and it it becomes rather scientific to make it all flow through quickly and efficiently. And, more of it.
@@pacificmike9501 If you are ever in Southern Germany pay a visit to the Zeppelin museum in Friedricshaven. They have cut open examples of the huge Mercedes gasoline engines that powered the Zeppelins. You can marvel that the cylinder heads had 4 valves per cylinder but the single carburettor for 8 cylinders was fixed to a tiny tube with lots of right angles that fed the cylinder head. Clearly the head designers and the inlet manifold designers never talked with each other!
Hey Mike that is a Sweet Shovel. Ya man the temperature here in Winnipeg today was +24°Celsius that would be a scorching +75°Farenheit..The street sweeper's have been out cleaning all the winter road salt and sand up. Get your motor running..
I guess I really do need that piston circlip tool after seeing how easy it made putting them things in. I've been doing the grooved left thumb, assorted profanity and tiny screw driver method. :-P Looks like you used Cometic as the base gasket like you did on your head install vid. I just put my Shovelhead engine back together using that kit. Heard good things from others on these gaskets. Thanks for another great vid.
Always a pleasure listening to and watching you work. I'm getting more familiar with my bikes through your videos. Thank you for sharing your wisdom and expertise, once again. Nothing new for the project bike this time? Lol
Hi Mike. thanks for all your videos. I,ve got problems with my shovel. Don't really know who ask for. And i know you know this bike very well. My first gear jumps when i want to ride. It's easier to go in 2nd gear start a little and go back to 1st. Checked my clutch but i think everything is good. 2nd problem when i run and want to stop the motor stops like if there isn t any gas anymore. Got a s&s super e everything looks ok. Iddle ok... already thanks for helping
It really makes it hard when you don't tell me what the bike is. "Shovelhead" covers from 1966 to 1984. Do you have a ratchet top transmission or one of the "Astrodome" types? What's going on with your clutch? I need more information and desscription. I'm sure you'll need to see if the trans is going all the way into gear and if the forks are timed properly. I don't really understand what the running problem is like.
@@pacificmike9501 ok thank you Mike. It's a 1980 shovelhead with ratchet top 3 open belt drive. All gears are ok except 1st one so I think I have to check timing on fork. Just checked and saw that rear cylinder exhaust gasket doesn t seal good. Going to check it and i will see if it's going better. Thank you Mike
Another great video, i am a bit jealous about alm you speceial tools thought.... I stumled upon a old motorcycle safety video, with Peter Fonda and Evel Knievel, from 1973. Just search under " Not so easy - a motorcycle safety video". It is a bit ironical though, hearing Evel takling about safety... Gretings from Denmark. Tage Christensen
Im old school also,...nice to see a mechanic not afraid to get his hands dirty, most videos today, they all wear blue or black rubber gloves??? Maybe this new breed has a health issue with oil??? I dont know, maybe I like the smell of GOOP hand cleaner. H A G O Mike👍
I believe the show should be renamed “the joys of motorcycles” with pacific mike Here we’re going to place happy Pistons and don’t forget to add just a little bit of oil.
Ah yes, I see what you did there @Kevin Waldbaum, Pacific Mike truly is the Bob Ross of motorcycling! I’m loving your videos Mike and I don’t even have a Harley! 😂 (I do have a Buell though 😈)
