'27 JD Cut Down Project - SWAN

[TechNoir]

Looking good Steve. I was just wondering the other day how this project was getting on

To mis-quote John "Hannibal" Smith: I love it when a plan starts coming together!

John

[Steve Swan]

its been a while since i last posted, i haven't been able to free myself from not going down the cut down road and have actually been kinda busy goofing around with the project. attached are a couple pics of what i've accomplished and what lies ahead... i have my trans completely rebuilt; the new shafts/gears; thank you Bob Luland. the clutch pack is finished, Bob is doing the riveting work on the sprocket and race. i have rebuilt a '29 type generator, rear brake assy, and rear hub; for finishes, i am Parkerizing much as i go along. i have no frame or fork yet, but hope to at a not too distant date. it might sound a bit audacious, but i have decided to go with a 1926 tagged Sparton Model T car horn and have a 1915 "forked" Model T 8" headlight with a Spreadlight lens and fork on the way. i intend to mount the horn and headlight in somewhat the same manner as factory. i can get all new guts for the headlight from Lang's Old Car Parts. whilst i plan to run an original rear brake, i do fully intend to make the bike one that can be ridden on the streets in Fort Collins' lunatik traffic, so i'm either leaning towards a very nice two leading shoe front brake off a 1965 Yamaha YDS3 250 or am also considering going with a modest disc front brake, something off a modern dirt bike; i figure as long as i don't clamp on the brake lever excessively and have the mounting point well reinforced, i shouldn't rip things loose. for rims, i am leaning toward 21" drop center with modern tires, i am thinking a 21" rim with a modern tire should get me pretty close to an overall diameter of 28" but i need to do some checking to make sure my thinking is right before i pull the trigger. i have about 99.9% decided i am going to go with a whole new lower end, i.e., Carillo rods, JIMS pins, T&O flywheels and probably panhead pistons, maybe Venolia. too much to consider before i throw anchor; we shall see. a local buddy has a set of sport solo repro tanks, speedster handlebars but this is my overall rough plan, will be a sort of "Frankenbike" built up with era parts such as a poor dumb boy such as myself would have done back in the day but with some newer goodies such as more modern front brake brake and rims/tires. any thoughts anyone has i welcome with open arms. realizing i can't afford to go down the original ancillaries parts road, the idea struck me to use car parts; i got the Sparton horn for $35 off ebay, just serviced it this afternoon AHOOGA! and the Model T headlight parts for $180, so a helluva lot less than what i have in the Sparton and original headlight (Thanks again very very much Tommo!) on my restored '27. the 14" T horn and 2" larger headlight might look a bit rowdy, but what the hay, huh?

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[Steve Swan]

It's nice with a JDH but with JD also.

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Eric, that's a very nice JDH there!

considering i don't know anything about cut downs, i realize i am going to have a number of questions coming out of the starting gate.

are these cut down frames originals or are they being reproduced? or, are there more than one type of cut down frame being produced by different people and if so, who?

considering i don't have a front fork (or frame) i am considering for the price a later EL/UL front fork such as a Samwel; wondering if the stem is same diameter and length as JD? and, is an EL/UL fork wider? also what is offset vs. inline? maybe the most relevant question is, is a fork like the Samwel worth considering or more modifications than worth the time/expense?

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as i said before, at this point, i'm just trying to identify chassis options including up to pre-war era.

i can imagine a kid, back in the day, getting a JD with a wrecked front end and finding a later front end and making it work with a JD frame, but then my imagination may be fantasy or simply unrealistic...

[Eric]

It's nice with a JDH but with JD also.

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[Steve Swan]

Steve, Finnegan worked for Dudley Perkins in S.F. before moving south. He and his brother also manufactured frame straightening tables with updated fixtures as models changed. I'm glad some one sent you the link to my very old articles #1 and #2 I wrote for Occhio Lungo. I wanted you to have them when I first read your new thread but I still use a flip phone, a pencil, stamps, and sealing wax. Hope they help you. Rich

Thank you Rich! i did not realize cut down's were such as they are, some pretty sophisticated modifications and so popular back in the day. i can only imagine a JDH was the real outfit to have and all the engine mods these guys did on their own to make their motors really run. It's really great to see period pictures of these machines and an era within an era of how these machines were modified. The gas tanks (and frames) are particularly interesting; definitely a departure from factory in there efforts to give a sculpted, jaunty and lowered sleekness to the entire machine. i just printed off your 2011 article and as i am in the early very early stages of deciding what direction i am going to go, your article will provide grist for the mill. I don't have the "push" for a dater i would like to see this project finished like i did when i restored my '27 while i was still working (when i had earning power) and before i knew of more resource then than i know of now, so it'll be interesting to see where the project takes me as i take it. since my basis will be a JD, in comparison to a JDH, i may be coming for an angle of a poor man's cut down. we shall see......

[RichO]

Steve, Finnegan worked for Dudley Perkins in S.F. before moving south. He and his brother also manufactured frame straightening tables with updated fixtures as models changed. I'm glad some one sent you the link to my very old articles #1 and #2 I wrote for Occhio Lungo. I wanted you to have them when I first read your new thread but I still use a flip phone, a pencil, stamps, and sealing wax. Hope they help you. Rich

[Eric]

Here another link : https://harley8valves.wordpress.com/category/cutdown/

[Steve Swan]

Thank you for that fantastic link!

[sswaney]

Ha! I'll look for Finnegan when my time comes to go where he went!

May that be far far in the future Steve
Here is some more cutdown stuff
https://occhiolungo.wordpress.com/20...objobs-part-1/

[Steve Swan]

He's long gone Steve
The Speer brothers were the HD dealer in San Bernardino, CA

https://www.harley-davidson.com/us/e...story-feb.html

Ha! I'll look for Finnegan when my time comes to go where he went!

[sswaney]

He's long gone Steve
The Speer brothers were the HD dealer in San Bernardino, CA

https://www.harley-davidson.com/us/e...story-feb.html

[Steve Swan]

who is Finnegan Speer? Contact info?

[Eric]

JD frame cutdown Finnigan Speer

JD frame cutdown Finnigan Speer
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[Steve Swan]

Hey Will ! thanks for your reply, exactly the sort of info i am looking for. i hope i don't disappoint as i am on a budget and can't pay off credit card debt like i used to before i was retired so the project may go in slow motion or fits and starts.... sucks getting old, but then i am grateful for my good health, my freedom to not have to show up for a real job, so i can't complain one bit nor wish that i had to work for a living to be able to afford my whimsy... i dd not know Matt Walksler was building frames and have not heard of Justin Walls. Do you have any weblinks or contact info?

[whp]

Steve, we are on the edge of our seats now! Good to see you take on a cut down. I’ve seen a J shoehorned into a VL frame, didn’t look right though. If you’re looking for unique and great, Matt Walksler and Justin Walls build amazing frames for cut downs.