Hard ti Kick Panhead

[Green Indian]

Bill,
I can’t add anything to the discussion about your Pan’s hard starting, however, I did want to complement you on just how stunning I think it is. Love the green color, good luck with the issues.
Damon

[billpedalino]

I love your '53 pan, Bill. I have a 1951FL and seriously considered the 'Spring Green' color H-D offered that year. My friends talked me out of it, but looking at your green '53 I have regrets. Your '53 is gorgeous and I hope you have a lot of fun with that bike.

Exeric,
Thank you for the compliments. Always nice to hear positive feedback, especially from such a respected member!
Unfortunately, since I've finished it about two years ago, and started it a couple of times, it's yet to roll more than a couple of hundred feet under power, as I won't ride it until I've corrected the high compression problem.
As for the color, it was 'Forrest Green' for 1953 and I didn't like the color when I selected it; it reminded me of Pea-Green. But I have multiple other bikes and none were green. But I must say, after installing the painted tanks and fenders, it grew to really like it. Then I received my newly painted Hi-Fi green Sportster parts a couple of months and parked that bile next to the panhead and had to lament the fact that paint technology certainly had advanced markedly between 1953 and 1970! But I do like the Forest Green on the 1953, as it has a stately appearance compared to the newer, more glitzy bikes of the 1969's and reminds us of what was available during that era and what you would then see on the showroom floor. So, as complete packages, both of my green bikes appeal to me in different ways and for different reasons.
Hopefully I'll figure out what would seem to be a simple problem this Fall, and be able to ride the bike to our local cruise nights next season.

What color did you settle on for your '51??

[exeric]

I did a tribute to the color option H-D offered in '53(?) with the tank stripe. I always second guess the color choices I make so I'll never be totally happy with what I do pick. Your green '53 proves that to me, Bill

24flc.jpg

[billpedalino]

I did a tribute to the color option H-D offered in '53(?) with the tank stripe. I always second guess the color choices I make so I'll never be totally happy with what I do pick. Your green '53 proves that to me, Bill

24flc.jpg

Damon,
Thank you for your compliment - great for my ego! I can't wait to have it judged, but I can't, in all good conscience, bring a bike to judging is it only starts and idles. Maybe Oley next year..??..

[Green Indian]

I’d love to see it if you do bring it to Oley. I haven’t been to that wonderful show in a few years, hope you’re able to.

[exeric]

I know what you mean about taking a poor running bike to a National meet, Bill. Both of my Hendersons would not piss in public so I know the embarrassment of baby sitting a no-go-showboat. I plan to take my 1919 Hen to Daytona in '26 so I've got 7 months to sort it out. Even a motor-simple idiot like me should be able to make it run and ride in that amount of time. I did spent all day today machining the starter dogs which is a long over-due, and gruesome task but one detail of the long list.

[billpedalino]

I know what you mean about taking a poor running bike to a National meet, Bill. Both of my Hendersons would not piss in public so I know the embarrassment of baby sitting a no-go-showboat. I plan to take my 1919 Hen to Daytona in '26 so I've got 7 months to sort it out. Even a motor-simple idiot like me should be able to make it run and ride in that amount of time. I did spent all day today machining the starter dogs which is a long over-due, and gruesome task but one detail of the long list.

I've been reading your posts and communicating with you through this forum for many years now, so I know that 'motor-simple' you're certainly not! But it's nice to now that I'm not alone in baby-sitting a no-go showboat. Yes, a bit embarrassing, but I'll get it solved. Good luck with your '26 - it sounds like a nice bike...
Hopefully we'll have the opportunity to meet personally at one of these meets....
Best Regards....