A friends bent frame

[Imzz4]

One of my good friends that we have biked with for many years , including a 5 day trip around the Grand Canyon, (AWSUM!!), has a bike shop and gave me a bent Shovelhead frame to fix for a build he wanted to do. That was three yrs ago. He's had plenty of other stuff going on and knew I was still messing with the trike. Well, I just surprised him. It got moved from the corner and the bent head was cut off. He built the motor last yr and has a 5 speed for it along with a fat tire and a wide swingarm. He ask for 37 degrees. So since this is "anything goes", here goes some pics of the project. I told him there is a lot of head scratching ahead.

[Imzz4]

I'm waiting on the trees now to work out the fork stops and the tank mounting. Nothing is tacked yet.

[Iron Maiden]

Wow wow wow !!! You just amaze me in your mechanical ability- can't wait to watch the progress.

[Imzz4]

Thanks for the kind words. He brought some trees from an Ironhorse to put on it. Luckily the fork stop will work after I drill new holes. The rest is coming along ok too.

[Imzz4]

Uh oh , time for a new plan . That flat plate just doesn't look right . I'm gonna grind the tacks off and have some tubing bent and get rid of it. The more I stare at it the more I don't like it. I don't think he would either. He said go ahead .

[ventury]

Lmzz4

you have us hooked,,,me and 3 buddies are following your progress here in the U.K.keep us posted
thanks for sharing
Ventury

[Imzz4]

Well Mr Ventury, I just sent these pics to my friend so he thinks I'm out in the garage working on it,. I'm not. I'm drinking a beer and wrapping gifts,,,,still have plenty of time.. thanks

[Imzz4]

I used a hole saw 1/8 " smaller than the neck OD, so there is room to true it up with a flapper wheel for a good fit. The welding rod hose clamped on the tube is so as I cut small bites off the length, I can rotate the tube if needed to get it to fit better, or just keep it where the previous cut put it.

[mmaupin]

Nice work! With that fit up, the welding should be easy.

[knockdolian]

Yep, thats the one. Looks much better. You got to be happy with that

[Imzz4]

I only needed three cups of coffee and some Cheerios to get going this morning since I worked New Years Eve. I got things to fit nice , and then tacked up. The grinding and sanding took quite a while but he's gonna like the fit and its better looking lines this time.

[Imzz4]

I wish all my welds looked this good , but they don't. I took it to a friend whose full time day job is building sprint car frames. Since the owner decided to go with powder coating instead of paint, it was another good reason to give it to Russ yesterday. I have only a few places to go over , then deliver it this next weekend. I'll put a pic up when he gets it done. thanks

[hogv8]

Very professional looking job to me .

[GordonBH]

Expert welds, perfect color too.

[knockdolian]

That is sweet. Be sure to post pictures of the completed bike.
Jeff if I may hijack your post
Gordon, if you read this you have PM,

[Imzz4]

My friend sold his bike shop and has been traveling and enjoying all family things. He finally got back to the project and had the frame powder coated !

[second chance]

Your bike frame design is for sure a one off, very clean lines and a good through process is shown in your work, being an old shovelhead nut I loved your imagination and workmanship in this fame building.

[Imzz4]

Danny, thanks much !! He is a Shovelhead and Panhead guy too no matter how many times they needed kicked. I noticed your address. We lived in Copperas Cove while I was in Ft Hood. Thats back when gas was .28 cents a gallon, and you had to drive 17 miles to Lampassa to get real beer ! I was the only guy on base with a chopped 650 Yamaha. 10 in. tubes, no front brake, battery moved under the swingarm,sportster seat and tank, kandy green w kandy blue and silver flames, not forgetting the 2 into 1 Hooker headers painted white . The centrifugal advance stuck in full retard once, and the faster I went the more it didn't want to. I was puzzled. ...I looked down at about 60 and saw my pipes glowing red...bye bye chrome !

[Imzz4]

I stopped in to check the Shovelhead project at my friends the other day. He is getting around to it once again, and just bought a different tranny for it. But my guess it's gonna sit again because he just bought his buddies BigDog last month, and last week, a nicely restored 55 Ford Courier wagon with a fresh 390 in it with a 4 spd. . His Ultra Classic, the Sportster, and two Harley trikes also keep him busy. And he just finished one of his golf carts for camping. He still thinks the Shovel will be done this year ! Looking forward to see how it rides.