Shovelhead Power Unit

[chuckthebeatertruck]

Indeed, the big problem is that putting these types of baskets back together is often way more expensive than imagined.

Easy way is to look for a titled roller from 1970 to 1983/84. I often see two or three for sale each year in the Chicago area. It's become common for people to buy for just the motor these days . . .and a buddy has assembled a few pretty good bikes this way lately for about 50 cents on the dollar.

I've kept a few piles like you have over the years to trade guys for stuff. I know from doing quite a few baskets you generally lose money on these types of projects . . .but a lot of guys think they can beat the system.

[ryan]

Cotten, I am heading back home tomorrow, so I will post more of better quality pictures of the whole thing, including the linkard.carb.

[T. Cotten]

I'm more curious about the intake manifold, Ryan!

No doubt its a work of art.

.....Cotten

[ryan]

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M88 Linkert

[ryan]

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[ryan]

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[ryan]

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[ryan]

It has a vent on the kicker cover, the trans top does not have a place for a neutral safety switch, the lever on the top of the frame is the throttle, it has an earlier rocker clutch, the trans tee shaped handle shifter is located on the angle iron on down-legs, has an early upper motor mount for a choke cable.

I forgot to take a picture of the complete unit, I will post a better picture of the L88 intake manifold that is bolted to the stock shovelhead intake. Let me know if more pictures are needed.

[ryan]

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[T. Cotten]

I knew the manifold would be unique, Ryan!

1 1/4" three-bolt to a late chubble diamond flange might be the rarest.

Your carb was WLA with an added '40 Schebler HS needle; They were lucky the float didn't hang up with the bowl indexed nearly ninety degrees to the body (but the paddleboat probably didn't list sideways like a motorcycle!)

I have no guess as to the purpose of the hole in the bowl, other than a rude'n'crude overflow.

....Cotten
PS: If there's a headstock VIN, motor VIN, and none of the other numbers have been messed with,... Its a motorcycle.

[ryan]

I was told the m88 Linkert was a nos military surplus carb, but my question is how do you tell the difference between the military m88 and the civilian m88?

Thanks Cotten for the carb information. I haven't checked to see if the bowl is tight on not on the rotation. Should the hole in the bowl be plugged or welded? What is a 40 schebler off of?

[T. Cotten]

"Civilian" M88s would need documentation, Ryan!

Its not fair for me to say that's a hole in the bowl from a pic, but it looks like a hole in the bowl.

Indians still used the Schebler in 1940, and the 1 1/4" models with that needle were the DLX128 and 130, off the top of my head.

And yes, they interchange with the Linkert's, which were made eight blocks away, by one account.

....Cotten

[chuckthebeatertruck]

Patina, we call it patina.

I dig the creativity.

You may want to consider a loan to the hd museum. If the journey was documented they might just get a kick out of a temp exhibit. Toss in the hd powered aero planes that are around and it could be fun.

[ryan]

It is documented, the build and the trip. It powered a 42 ft long by 12 ft wide, two story paddle wheel houseboat from Ohio to the gulf.
The paddle wheel was 6ft in diameter and 10ft wide. It had a the harley gas tanks bolted to the 2 highest
drilled bracket holes above the origal mounts. The more stare at it, the more I find.

[JoJo357]

It is documented, the build and the trip. It powered a 42 ft long by 12 ft wide, two story paddle wheel houseboat from Ohio to the gulf.
The paddle wheel was 6ft in diameter and 10ft wide. It had a the harley gas tanks bolted to the 2 highest
drilled bracket holes above the origal mounts. The more stare at it, the more I find.

Would love to read about the trip Ryan.

https://youtu.be/StwjRsPKMME

*M.A.D.*