Custom Trike Tear Down and Rebuild

[ronn07]

Hello Everyone. Just thought I would share my winter project with trike lovers.

I am rebuilding my father's custom built trike.

The Frame is a Servi-Car frame - not sure of the year
1972 or 1974 Shovelhead motor
Cow patty transmission - hope to replace
Narrow glide front end with dual disc brakes
Fat bob - single tank style
Mag wheel in the front
Spokes in the back

I am fairly mechanical but may be hitting these forums for tips and advice.
I definitely want to put a longer front end on her and chop her out a bit.
Here are some pics. First is just before I started the tear down. Second is at the end of day one.

What do you think?

[Nana]

Welcome to TrikeTalk! What a wonderful project, and extra special because it is your dad's trike <img src="images/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Smile" class="inlineimg" />. Keep the pictures coming as you progress.

[ronn07]

here are a few more pics of what she looked like before she sat up for awhile. Plus one of my Pop before he passed away.

[Torchman]

real cool project ronn07. good luck and have fun because thats what it is all about. I`ll bet your gonna have a lot of cool memories during this build.

[Gorilla]

Welcome aboard. Nice trike

[msocko3]

Thats going to be a neat project.

[ronn07]

Got the old Zenith Carburetor off last night. Definitely going to need a rebuild or a different carb all together. Had gas sitting in it for a couple of years. Not good. Turned to shelac. <br />
<br />
Took the intake off and the pipes off as well. There was a little bit of rust in the end of one of the pipes so that started to make me nervous.<img src="images/smilies/frown.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Frown" class="inlineimg" /><img src="images/smilies/frown.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Frown" class="inlineimg" /><br />
<br />
But the Cylinders looked clean - no signs of moisture or rust -OR BUGS! <img src="images/smilies/thumbup.gif" border="0" alt="" title="" class="inlineimg" /><img src="images/smilies/thumbup.gif" border="0" alt="" title="" class="inlineimg" /><img src="images/smilies/thumbup.gif" border="0" alt="" title="" class="inlineimg" /><br />
<br />
Next off will be the outer primary cover, primary chain and inner primary cover.<br />
And yes I am having a lot of fun. <br />
Crank up the radio and go to work...funny...never thought work could be this much fun. <img src="images/smilies/tongue2.gif" border="0" alt="" title="blowing a raspberry" class="inlineimg" /><img src="images/smilies/tongue2.gif" border="0" alt="" title="blowing a raspberry" class="inlineimg" />

[Rog3419]

Take your time an go slow, take pictures as you go in case you forget how something goes back together, do one thing at a time, clean it or repair it, then on to the next project on the bike, that way you don't have parts all over the place, mark everything and take Notes, things will go back together Better,, Good Luck on your Project, Turn on the Radio and Have FUN, Your Dad is looking over you now and will be Proud of you,, ENJOY....

[ronn07]

Take your time an go slow, take pictures as you go in case you forget how something goes back together, do one thing at a time, clean it or repair it, then on to the next project on the bike, that way you don't have parts all over the place, mark everything and take Notes, things will go back together Better,, Good Luck on your Project, Turn on the Radio and Have FUN, Your Dad is looking over you now and will be Proud of you,, ENJOY....

Thanks Rog. My wife is already mad at me for getting grease on her camera. I am ordering the Clymer Book today for the engine. The two biggest worries i had was the engine and tranny. It looks like the engine is in good shape.

The other big project is that i want to convert the rear mechanical brakes to hydraulic drum or even better, disc. That will be a challenge. Any ideas or Suggestions?

[Captain Itch]

Nice project ..I am rebuilding my 73 shovel as my winter project..I have a clymers manual and a Harley manual..Dont waste your money on the clymers it does not compare to the real manual..Has the primary been isolated? Chain oiler still hooked up?Good luck..<br />
Before and after pictures..<br />
<img src="http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj258/gun-works/1973%20Harley%20Shovelhead/2011-10-12103726.jpg" border="0" alt="" /><br />
<br />
<img src="http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj258/gun-works/1973%20Harley%20Shovelhead/2011-10-25153845.jpg" border="0" alt="" />

[ronn07]

Nice project ..I am rebuilding my 73 shovel as my winter project..I have a clymers manual and a Harley manual..Dont waste your money on the clymers it does not compare to the real manual..Has the primary been isolated? Chain oiler still hooked up?Good luck..
Before and after pictures..

Nice looking Scoot! From what I can tell the chain oiler is still hooked up. When we pushed the bike onto the trailer, the chain looked wet - a good thing.
From what I can tell, the primary is completely sealed. I didn't get to take it off yesterday like I wanted. Just found out that I am getting laid off so had my mind on other things. Oh well. **** happens and life goes on.

Thanks for the tip on the Harley Manual. I appreciate it.

[ronn07]

Update - got the tank and front fender off and sand blasted clean.

ordered new grips, mirrors, and a carb rebuild kit for the Zenith carb that's on it.
Going to rebuild the carb this weekend and maybe start on paint (hopefully)

Next purchase will be a new battery - the one that was on her is beyond dead. wouldn't even register on the meter.

[scotty]

That trike is awesome. I've never seen a shovel drivetrain stuffed into a modified servi frame. Most of the time people welded the back half of a servi frame to a shovel frame front. That took a lot of work, just like putting a shovel in a VL frame. This way you get all the cool servi frame castings and single downtube. If you swap the rear end to a hydraulic unit you will loose the cool wire wheels. I'd rather have the mechanical unit and wire wheels. Maybe a good going through and adjustment will help the rear brakes. The dual disks up front should help to. A VL or servi springer with a spoke wheel on the front would look wicked but you'd have to go mechanical drum.

Scotty

[ronn07]

Thanks Scotty. I like the wire wheels as well. Do you know of anyone who sells a rebuild kit for the mechanical breaks? Wonder if jpcycles does.... my local Harley shop might but I highly doubt it. I will take some pics of the mods to the frame to give you an idea of what we had to do to get that shovel in the frame. Needless to say its a tight fit.

I just rebuilt the zenith carb. I love those carbs. Simple and easy to rebuild.
One thing I just figured out on the bike is that i don't think it has an oil filter. On the old shovels the filter was in the oil tank if i am not mistaken. We put a sportster oil bag on it. If i'm wrong some one please let me know. I'd like to change out the filter before i put fresh oil back in. All of the oil that was in her drained into the crank case. I put the trikes rearend on jack stands put it in gear and then spun the wheels to pump the oil out of the overflow tube.

Anyway, thanks again.

Ron.

[ronn07]

That trike is awesome. I've never seen a shovel drivetrain stuffed into a modified servi frame. Most of the time people welded the back half of a servi frame to a shovel frame front. That took a lot of work, just like putting a shovel in a VL frame. This way you get all the cool servi frame castings and single downtube.

Scotty

Here is an update and some pics of the modifications to the frame. One of them looks really scary but it's quite safe. lol.

She has cleaned up really nicely. I have the first coat of paint on the tank and front fender. Second coat goes on tonight. it's been unseasonably cold here in AZ so I am taking my time with the paint.
The first is a shot of the sportster oil tank
the second is the bracket for the transmission
The Third is the "scary" one. We had to cut the frame and weld in steel plates to fit the primary.
The fourth is the battery box and rear exhaust mount
the fifth is just a shot of her cleaned up.

Let me know your thoughts!

Thanks!

[ronn07]

Posted a couple of videos on my you tube site. Feel free to take a gander
ronn077&#39;s Channel - YouTube