1972 Harley FLH

[jmorgan]

Hi guys. New to this forum, but not new to Harleys or Shovels. Live in Western PA, and recently decided it was time to buy another Shovel. My previous was a 73 FLH police bike that I over-restored back in 2006, and sold it to a friend when I needed money (and had problems with the wife). So....after years without, I wanted back in, and this time, I wanted to find a very original bike, and plan to keep it that way. I love the FLH bike, and Harley got it right.....no need for me to try and improve it. So....after a little time shopping, I hit the jackpot. Not only did I find a one owner 1972 FLH, I found it 35 miles from my house! The bike was owned by a welder from a small town near Indiana, PA, who died a few years ago. His son had some medical issues that kept him from considering riding a motorcycle,....so he put it up for sale. I bought it over a year ago.

What is really cool, to me, is that this guy bought this bike new back in 1972, most likely from Dubois Harley, did some period correct modifications, i.e. radio carrier, large tour pack, and some basic Harley add-ons, and then drove it over the 26,000 plus miles on it today. The bike is in really nice condition, but will need some cleanup and work from sitting the last few years. My plan is to return it to the factory floor condition as far as accessories....removing all the doo dads, tour pack, fairing, lights, etc that were not on the bike from the factory. I also want a police solo seat instead of the big two-up seat. I have no intention of modifiying anything to "upgrade" it. I want it the way Harley built it. And then......I will ride it....alot.

The picture below include the bike on the trailer at pickup yesterday.....AND, picture of photo the son showed me from many years ago.......the little boy in the photos is 41 years old today...so the photo was taken mid 80's. But it shows the exact bike, with most the accessories and mods the father made. I will plan to post updates on this thread as I progress. I am pretty excited to have this bike, and plan to honor the original owner by carrying on the life of the bike.....and finally, I am a shovelhead owner again. IMO......the Shovelhead is THE definition of what a Harley should be....everything else takes second place.




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[jmorgan]

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[jmorgan]

I bought this bike a over a year ago, and now that I am on this forum, I will have to do some catchup on the project.

I totally disassembled the bike, and sold off most of the stuff I won't use. Still have some of it. As stated, I want the bike in the configuration it was when new, and the goal is to use as much NOS Harley stuff as I can find to replace the aftermarket parts, and the Harley parts that are too bad for using again. I have successfully found LOTS of Harley NOS parts so far, and while not 100%, the bike will be more Harley than it was when I bought it. I am a Harley guy who like LESS fancy doo dads and chrome than most, so it will be a lighter, and less modified bike than most would have it. BUT, I want to retain the character of the the King of the Highway style. I won't have a tour pack or luggage rack, I will have the saddlebags and gaurds, propably will NOT have front and rear bumpers, and will most likely NOT have a fairing or windshield, although the fairing looks so right on this bike. I just hate fairings and windshields when riding......I am a "in the wind" rider, always have been. I road my 04 Road King over 137,000 without the windshield....which was removed and sold after riding to my garage the day I bought it. I intend to remove all the chrome accessory parts, i.e. primary cover, floorboards, etc and replace with polished aluminum, as it was when new.

The frame was blasted and powdercoated, after I blended and cleaned all the sharp edges and weld spattter. It currently is sitting on my bike stand with front lower fork tree installed, swingarm installed, with all new bearings and races. I will be running a Police Solo seat, bought new from Corbin Gentry, on a new seat post (old post was damaged). I just blasted and painted all the cadmium plated parts with Eastwood Silver Cad paint, which is NOT a perfect patch, but close enough, and the best silver I have found to try and match the plating. I just disassembled, cleaned and repainted the original rear shocks, with some new Harley NOS chrome covers on one side, and both sides with lower covers replaced. The shocks seem to be still very still and in good condition.

I disassembled the engine, and found a local guy, McClains Jam Cycle, through a member of the local AMCA chapter, to rebuild the engine and am very happy with finding this guy. He thinks like I do about the bike, and has lots of good recommendations. I am impressed with his attention to detail. He is in process right now of building the engine. He said the engine was in very good condition, and obviously had NOT been abused. So its got good bones to start with. I am keeping it very stock, with the exception of replacing the worn factory H cam with and Andrews J cam, which is close on specs. He will be boring the cylinders, but just one step up to remove the scratches. Wiseco pistons and Kibblewhite valves. I don't want, or need, any performance enhancements. I will be riding the bike ALOT, and want the bike reliable, and ready for the road.....but just want to enjoy it for what is was inn 1972. It will have plenty of torque to enjoy the back roads of Western PA.

Thats enough information for now....I will try to get some more pictures, and continue with more information as time goes on.

[jmorgan]

When I first bought the bike, I thought it was original paint, but as I disassembled the bike it became evident it was not. The gas tanks are not even original. There is bondo work on front fender. Its possible the bike was wrecked, although the son of the owner claimed it was not. The frame is straight, so it really does not matter to me. There are a few chips in the paint, but it is the correct color and looks very good.....certainly good enough for me. The picture below is more of the configuration that I intend to end up with.....simple, but still the character of the FLH line. Of course, the saddlebags and police solo will be mounted. I have never been a fan of fender "bumpers".....and that light on the top of front fender will be removed. I will be making the front floorboards that original NON cushion style that came later. And I found a NOS heel/toe shifter to install. I have the speedometer rebuilt by John Bordas. I wish I could find a correct voltage regulator.

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