'27 JD Cut Down Project - SWAN

[Steve Swan]

sorry, i can't seem to figure out how to make the font larger.

[Steve Swan]

i am looking for an Edelmann spotlight to match the one i just installed on my '27. The one i have is in extraordinarily fine condition. Would like to find another in same or close to same condition.... Or one that has all the working parts that i can restore.... or pieces of one so that i can start looking for the rest of the parts. Can anyone help me...?

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[Steve Swan]

ok, here we are. as a person who likes bikes in factory trim with modest accessorizing, this is a big departure for me. i'm getting used to it, and it's growing on me. as i don't have equipment for welding, a local friend fabricated the mounts for the horn and the headlight for which the beam is adjustable up and down. i am thinking at this point the fenders, tanks, battery box and chain guards will be a light grey/blue such that one cannot tell if the color is grey or blue. the frame will be maroon, something maybe like Indian Red or maybe a color like the police blue. kind of thinking the forks may also be maroon or blue, the headlight light grey/blue and not sure what color the horn will be. striping will be either tri-color or tutone or some mix of the two. Thanks to a buddy on JD facebook, Rick U, the Flying J is now captive on the front fender.

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[aumick10]

Good progress Steve.
I will be interested in seeing how the fork dampers work. Does anybody have experience with them?
I tried to buy a set for my 29, but they were out of stock.
Cheers.
Mick

[Steve Swan]

Mick, one concern with these dampers, the outer "star" that adjusts tension is mild steel, not spring steel which i assume they should be, so when one tights the nut against the star it goes flat.

[aumick10]

They may not be designed to have the nut bottomed out on the step.
I would back them off until you ride it and get a feel for how much dampening they provide, the adjust as necessary.

[Steve Swan]

They may not be designed to have the nut bottomed out on the step.
I would back them off until you ride it and get a feel for how much dampening they provide, the adjust as necessary.

correct. i have them tightened just enough for minimal tension on the star tensioners. i am just surprised they are mild steel, would think they should be spring steel so as to provide constant pressure on the friction discs. if the stars were spring steel would retain its curvature. mild steel, they will collapse at least to a certain degree and provide less tension, so the tension is not held constant like spring steel would provide. kind of the same thing as the rear stand latch is made of spring steel.

[aumick10]

I also think they would have been made from spring steel.

[Steve Swan]

yes, i would think spring steel would allow the stars to retain their shape. unfortunately, my experience, this seems to be how Comp.D does some of their manufacturing.......

fwiw, i have one of "Deuxcam's" dampers i will never use if you are interested....... it is parkerized but can't accommodate the tool box..... looks like this......

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[aumick10]

Thanks Steve, but I much prefer the look of the rocker mounted dampers.

[Steve Swan]

Mick, i figured, but never hurts to put i out there.

[Peter Cooke]

Steve,
Bike's looking good. What brand of tyres if you don't mind?

[Steve Swan]

Thanks, Peter. Kenda Challenger K657

[Peter Cooke]

Thanks Steve.

[Steve Swan]

Since there's not much i can do at this point in time with the project, i decided to assemble essential engine parts so i can fit the hand pump oil pipe and the gas pipe. The gas pipe fitted without much tweaking, but the oil pipe is off by a mile. The tanks are repro sort solo's (NOT Tom Feeser's), so i am thinking the problem lies in one of two things, 1. Sport Solo tanks have different positions for the oil pump body (3551-27) or 2. These repro tanks don't have the oil pump body in the correct position. As i've said in the past, this project is a big departure for me as i have always liked bikes in factory trim with any modifications that don't prevent me going back to factory trim. i am going to stay the course until i have the bike motoring down the road before i decide i can't live with the headlight and horn. The tanks, fenders, etc will be a light grey/blue, however instead of a maroon frame/forks, i am now thinking them painted in police blue would look pretty nice and also give me some color options for decreasing the impact of the headlight and horn.

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