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One of the last projects that I will be starting (eventually) is a 'reproduction' panhead bobber. I have a conglomeration of OEM and aftermarket parts that I will install into an aftermarket frame and re-create the type of bobber that was around when I was growing up in the early 1960's and first developing my Harley addiction. This will be a non-judged bike, built solely for my own nostalgia and enjoyment. I felt it would be nice to be free, just of one build, from the rigidity that we all must follow in restoring our judge-worthy bikes. To that end, I purchased the last set of early panhead reproduction (STD) cases from Ted before he stopped stocking them. I received them about 5 years ago and, knowing that this project was a long time off, I stored them under my workbench.
Years later, I acquired a correct cam cover and pulled the cases out to hand-screw the cover onto the right case for safekeeping. Wouldn't you know - the locator pins didn't line up correctly..... Apparently, the jig moved when one of the the locator pin holes was drilled. Just to be sure it was the motor case, I checked this error using a spare knucklehead cam cover which yielded the same misalignment. This was a surprise to me, as I had used STD cases from time-to-time over the years and they always prove to be a quality product.
Now both of these pin locations must be checked against the pinion race center, the other right case locator pins, and the offending pin location(s) corrected in order to assure correct pinion and cam bushing alignment in the installed cam cover. I've seen this before on cases that were repaired and heavily welded and corrected it by pressing a plug into the offending hole and re-shooting the locator pin holes. Unfortunately, I no longer have access to either a blueprint or the correct offset dimensions depicting the distances and interrelations between the pinion race, the bottom motor case locator pins, the center-top case hole and the cam cover locator pin holes. I can probably take this information from another motor case, but in doing so you always introduce the systematic errors associated with working from a production-machined piece rather than from the true design dimensions. I would rather not do that.
Therefore, if I can find this information I can set up on a Bridgeport and correct this mis-machining. Can anyone provide these distances/dimensions, a sketch or a print? If not, is there a Harley knowledgeable machining company out there that can accurately correct this problem?
Thank You...
Years later, I acquired a correct cam cover and pulled the cases out to hand-screw the cover onto the right case for safekeeping. Wouldn't you know - the locator pins didn't line up correctly..... Apparently, the jig moved when one of the the locator pin holes was drilled. Just to be sure it was the motor case, I checked this error using a spare knucklehead cam cover which yielded the same misalignment. This was a surprise to me, as I had used STD cases from time-to-time over the years and they always prove to be a quality product.
Now both of these pin locations must be checked against the pinion race center, the other right case locator pins, and the offending pin location(s) corrected in order to assure correct pinion and cam bushing alignment in the installed cam cover. I've seen this before on cases that were repaired and heavily welded and corrected it by pressing a plug into the offending hole and re-shooting the locator pin holes. Unfortunately, I no longer have access to either a blueprint or the correct offset dimensions depicting the distances and interrelations between the pinion race, the bottom motor case locator pins, the center-top case hole and the cam cover locator pin holes. I can probably take this information from another motor case, but in doing so you always introduce the systematic errors associated with working from a production-machined piece rather than from the true design dimensions. I would rather not do that.
Therefore, if I can find this information I can set up on a Bridgeport and correct this mis-machining. Can anyone provide these distances/dimensions, a sketch or a print? If not, is there a Harley knowledgeable machining company out there that can accurately correct this problem?
Thank You...
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