'27 JD Cut Down Project - SWAN

[RichO]

Steve, I didn't want to say any thing before this but since you brought it up, I like the rack. It flows better now and helps the TALL tail light blend in more. Like it was always designed that way. The same with the front with the smaller light, horn, and toolbox. The visual is more pleasing to the eye and more functional. Rich P.S. Spot on!

[Steve Swan]

I love the bike just the way you completed it.

Thanks Paps for your kind words and following my thread. For what i was working with, i think it turned out good. In terms of ancillaries, i knew i didn't want to pay the prices asked for original parts such as headlight, horn, etc. and i wanted it to be something a little different from what i was seeing with other "custom" jobs. So, i ended up with what we see. I'm a little concerned about the longevity of the all brass headlight (actually a spotlight) i'm guessing it's at least 100 years old, but has quite a bit of vibration going on at speed. i guess we'll see. i intend on putting on at least 1,000 miles on Frank next year, then take it all apart for new paint winter of '21-'22.

[Steve Swan]

Steve, I didn't want to say any thing before this but since you brought it up, I like the rack. It flows better now and helps the TALL tail light blend in more. Like it was always designed that way. The same with the front with the smaller light, horn, and toolbox. The visual is more pleasing to the eye and more functional. Rich P.S. Spot on!

Rich, i don't mind at all your comments, in fact i welcome them. That larger tail light is a bit hidden by the "STOP" light which is what Dad had on his '27 and from a "safety" standpoint the larger diameter is more visible along with the LED bulb. i still have mixed feelings about the luggage rack, but i am staying with it. That 11 inch headlight and Model T horn was striking to say the least. i have always been a restorer, doing my best to be as exacting in my efforts as possible, so "doing" Frank was a big leap out of my what i'm used to doing. I figured all along that horn /headlight combination was going to be more than i wanted, but i had to give it a try since i had the "T" horn already... i do like the "tiered look" of the toolbox/headlight/horn as it is. As i mentioned in my reply to Paps, i'm a little concerned how the brass headlight will hold up against the vibration, time will tell.

1927 Dad's trip home upon awakening.jpg

[RichO]

Can you isolate it with rubber washers sandwiched with flat washers to help takeout some of the vibration like rubber mounted motors in H-D's and Nortons?

[Steve Swan]

Can you isolate it with rubber washers sandwiched with flat washers to help takeout some of the vibration like rubber mounted motors in H-D's and Nortons?

probably definitely something i need to consider over the winter months; thank goodness we have winters...... heh, heh.....

[aumick10]

You might want to consider putting some type of spring load on it as well as the rubber isolators. It will still vibrate at a different frequency with rubber mounts only.

[Steve Swan]

You might want to consider putting some type of spring load on it as well as the rubber isolators. It will still vibrate at a different frequency with rubber mounts only.

Excellent suggestion, thanks Mick!

[Steve Swan]

It's been a while, but have continued adding bits and pieces to 'ol Frankie Boy. Medium weight, excellent quality goat skin saddle bags from India, 6 inch Edelmann "Rex" spotlight and an actual ignition switch replacing the push pull invitation to "steal me." Note the 90' 1/8" brass plumbing fitting to position the mirror. My creative and emboldened good 'ol Nebraska farm boy genius at work. This sort of ingenuity would make Dad proud.

20210215_113018.jpg

[Steve Swan]

If anyone has a 6 inch Edelmann "Rex" spotlight you'd sell, I am interested. Frank now leans heavily to to the right and I'd like to have another Rex to balance things out.

The policeman in this 1926 picture, i can't get his 3 S&M spotlights out of my head ever since i found the picture a few months ago...

There are some interesting details in this picture... The sign in the dealer's showroom says, "The new 1926 Harley-Davidson with 16 new improvements." the fenders on the policeman's bike are not 1925. the dealer sign says "The new 1926 Harley-Davidson..." Although we don't and will never know, it seems unlikely the policeman is astride any model later than 1926 nor is he astride a model earlier than 1926. looking a bit more closely at this picture than anytime i have in the past, drive ring gear for speedometer is bright, so it must be nickle. and there is clearly a small box of some sort mounted on the front of the crossbar that would normally hold spotlights. Also, behind his right thigh, there is definitely a lever with a ball on the end of it pointing backwards and there is a rod with a clevis at the top connected to the lever which goes to the bottom and appears to attach to the exhaust cut out. also interesting, there is a huge loop of spark plug wire leading to the front spark plug wire. on the light side, the rear stand is not fully clipped into the latch, but is held at the very bottom of the spring clip. The entrance to the dealer's front door is terrazzo-like tile and very marked up with tire prints. Finally, the RH pocket of the cop's coat appears to have what could be a ticket book and a rather business-like look on his face with the hint of a sinister smile with a determined and purposeful gleam in his eye.

Jeeze, i sure do miss "sidecar" and his wonderful "Old Shops" thread that was on CAIMAG. One of the things i really dislike about cyber world; when CAIMAG went tits up, we lost thousands of wonderful pictures to cyber space. As ""sidecar" does not seem to be on this forum, i can only surmise he is not an AMCA member...?


1926.jpg

[T. Cotten]

...Jeeze, i sure do miss "sidecar" and his wonderful "Old Shops" thread that was on CAIMAG. One of the things i really dislike about cyber world; when CAIMAG went tits up, we lost thousands of wonderful pictures to cyber space. ...?

How did we lose pics to cyberspace, Steve,..

If that's where they were snagged in the first place?

Here's two more of the Frank J. Murray dealership..

Frank J Murray Agency 2.jpg

Frank J Murray Agency.jpg

....Cotten
PS: Notice these are different storefronts.

[Steve Swan]

Tom, good point on lost in space. Maybe the FBI could track all of them down... I'm guessing the Frank J. Murray dealership outgrew their old space... Do you know what municipality the Frank J. Murray dealership resided in? And... Look at all those Kay Bee spotlights; I'll take 2 pair please!

And, Tom...! Thanks again for the craftsmanship you put into the DLX38 and the PEEK manifold work that makes 'ol Frankie BOY purr! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNRB...nnel=steveswan

[T. Cotten]

Well now that you point it out, Steve,..

The 'back door' must be where Kay Bee spots only were allowed,. No headlamps.

(I didn't know their brandname, thanks!)

Frank Murray display.jpg

....Cotten

[Steve Swan]

Tom, thanks for the magnificent picture!

[T. Cotten]

Tom, thanks for the magnificent picture!

Its just another 'snag', Steve...

Wonder where 508 J Street was?

(Did they name the street after the motorcycles?)

....Cotten

[Steve Swan]

Tom, they probably didn't see the "J" coming when they named the street!