Pretending to know what I am doing - 1947 FL

[govmule84]

Looks great Liam. The end is in sight!

Why not use the original timer? It will start easier and look better, and run just fine!

Thanks, Robbie!

The end IS in sight! I'm getting very excited. With respect to making the bike more original... I'm with you. Sort of. I still have the timer. Going to rock-stock is definitely a possibility, but as I progressed with this bike, I realized that there were a few things that would never be "right." (The trans, the carb, some other bits and bobs.) I certainly am not out to make it a chopper, but since I have some original pieces and they can be swapped easily, I became more OK with the idea of making a few reversible changes. I doubt it will ever be all-'47 under my ownership. Hell, I don't even know enough to make it "right." But I made it better and it's almost roadworthy again, so there's something to be said for that, I guess.

The main reason for the mag is simplicity. No battery to go flat, no wiring harness. Some day I will find a siren and the electric speedo lock thing and pull the handlebars apart and wire everything "correctly," including the ignition switch, but for now that stuff is all just non-functioning bolt-on decoration as it was for the last fellow who owned it. Since none of those items are close to being in service, it just seemed a bit simpler to slap a magneto in it, run a wire from the genny to each light, and call it a day.

I'm not ruling it out totally. I want to get it rideable for the time being.

But since you asked, let me return fire on a question... does the timer care if it's 6V or 12V?

[vph-d]

The timer doesn't care what voltage battery you have.
VPH-D

[govmule84]

The timer doesn't care what voltage battery you have.
VPH-D

Good to know... thanks!

[Rooster]

.........No idea what the hell this throttle arm is. The "right" one don't work. (Carb is M74B)

...

If I'm not mistaken, that' an aftermarket direction-reversing bracket for use with a 'pull' spiral.
Does the inner wire push or pull when you twist the grip? Perhaps the spiral has been changed to a 'pull' spiral, which often happened in the chopper days when running 'alternate' carburetors.

[govmule84]

If I'm not mistaken, that' an aftermarket direction-reversing bracket for use with a 'pull' spiral.
Does the inner wire push or pull when you twist the grip? Perhaps the spiral has been changed to a 'pull' spiral, which often happened in the chopper days when running 'alternate' carburetors.

It pushes. I would like to see the correct arm just for reference; nothing in Palmer's book looks like it would work to me. I can't really find a photo of anything that looks about right. Maybe I have the cable routed incorrectly.

[nuklhd]

it is turning out very nice. a video of startup would be cool. I know the pics and documentation are a bunch of extra work so thanks for that.

[govmule84]

Thanks! Documenting isn't that difficult; my phone has an awesome camera and all my pics upload to the cloud auto-magically. It's more work to remember to take the photo than it is to shoot it!

I'll see what I can do about a video.

[govmule84]

I got a strange package in the mail today.

Turns out Dick, the oldtimer who had the bike before I did, always wanted to find a 48-star flag for the flag holder. I told him I looked for them, but they were too much money.

So he sent me something he bought from ebay.



I'm super-stoked... it was one of the most thoughtful gifts I could have imagined. Sunday is startup day. I have some stupid little stuff to install (Air cleaner element, replace worn shifter linkage, add fluids, replace seat toggle pin), and then my buddy is coming over to help me take it down off the table.

Stay tuned...

[Rubone]

Very cool Liam. I have a large '48 star flag to go with my 44UL.

[govmule84]

Very cool Liam. I have a large '48 star flag to go with my 44UL.

That's rad! I noticed how "off" the flag looked, but I didn't think too much of it. Now the front fender looks juuuuust right!

You got pics somewhere of your UL so's I can go ogle it?

[govmule84]

Well, startup didn't happen as planned. I put fluids in the old girl, and we got her off the table, and when I went to kick it, my kicker stops here:



I tore into the cover, and I think this might be the problem... this ditch in the ramp is pretty deep.



I think the gear teeth are going into the ditch, but are unable to come out. Does anyone have any thoughts for me on this? Advice on what brand of aftermarket piece to replace it with?

[govmule84]

Alrighty. Got me a new kicker gear from the Good Old Motorcycle Parts Co. They're kind of close to me, and they actually have parts on their shelves, so they don't drop ship from V-twin and make me wait forever. Plug for those guys.

Stuffed it in there, buttoned 'er back up, and now we're ready to go again; I got full stroke on my kickin' pieces. I'm gonna try and fire it off Saturday, but we may also be getting snow and rain and such, so that may be a no-go. Anyone want to come over and drink beer and watch and laugh?

[1950Panhead]

but we may also be getting snow and rain and such, so that may be a no-g

Snow and knuckles were made for each other, give it some gas, you'll have the thrill of a lifetime

[govmule84]

Snow and knuckles were made for each other, give it some gas, you'll have the thrill of a lifetime

Man, that thing's pretty.

[govmule84]

Finally made a little turnout to finish off the exhaust.



It's six degrees here. Six.

Feel like I'm never gonna ride this bike.