My 76 Ironhead Bobber Build Thread : Pic Heavy

[DonDoucette]

Well I brought my 76 Ironhead home on Thursday and today I had a little over an hour to begin dismantling, thought I'd start a build thread so as with all builds it must start with disassembly.
This is how it looked when I purchased it.


Here it is in the Garage...


Looking better already


Got to get it down to the bare frame for media blasting


Hey does a 76 have a serial somewhere on the frame... I haven't been able to find a single thing stamped or attached to the frame anywhere with a serial number, I did however find the following numbers that I have yet to decipher...

On the rocker box


On the engine


Base of one of the cylinders

[DonDoucette]

Some cool stuff;

Only 2700 miles


On the bars


On the breather cover


Some extra bars... Not gonna use them


Some crappy stuff I've found so far;
Cracked exhaust mount on sprocket cover


Crack in the tree


Twisted rear fender, busted tombstone


Updates as they happen.
Don

[bikedelic]

Cool - looks like fun and you'll have something to do this winter.

[Rockerbox1]

the number on the rockerbox is the part number
and yes, anything after 1970 should have a VIN on the frame

[Dave63]

That's either a back-halfed frame, (No rigid sporties were ever made) or someone ground it or modded the neck. VIN should be on the right side of the neck.

1970 and newer, bikes have the VIN on the engine and frame.

1969 and older, on the engine only,

Your engine says:

3A = XL1000 cc,

H6 = 1976 engine year.

The numbers on the cyinder are casting numbers, as the cylinders were 1000cc jugs, fist offered in 1972.

The rocker casting numbers are the same, only a 1971 part number.

[DonDoucette]

I'm beginning to suspect that I have a non stock frame. Also I have a mikuni carb, in my HD service manual I don't even see where that was offered.
Definitely some stuff here that is beginning to not add up.

Thanks for the info Rocker and Dave, I'm going to have a better look once I get the frame media blasted.

[Rockerbox1]

lot of people ran Mikuni carbs, so no big deal, and your frame is definately aftermarket,
many guys would hardtail their stock frames, but the frame you have is an aftermarket, the motormount is different, the tube running from the neck to the motormount would not exist on a stock frame, etc.
once you have it blasted, look it over carefully, you may find a number somewhere on it

the ironhead frame was, for the most part, the same from 1957 thru 1978. few minor changes, but nothing drastic at all. I dont know Canada law, but in the US, any motor after 1970, put into a custom frame needs to be retitled as a custom build. otherwise my 74 motor would be in an aftermarket frame

[squeekie]

Nice project bike, will be watching. Do you do air conditioning construction installs? I did for 30 years. Just wondering why the 90 elbow?

[Dave63]

Originally Posted by squeekie

Do you do air conditioning construction installs? I did for 30 years. Just wondering why the 90 elbow?

That's the new air cleaner....

[DonDoucette]

Carb, no markings assume VM




Spent a few more minutes on it today, want to get it to frame and engine only so I can get a buddy to come over and give me a hand.


Took another very close look at the frame and I have two issues...
1. This bike has not been registered for many years and I fear without any info on the frame I might have an uphill battle on my hands getting the bike registered, I will have a closer look once I have it blasted.
2. Depending on what I find in #1 above I will be bringing the frame to my shop, first off to get it magnafluxed secondly to have some of the welds cleaned up. This frame is looking like it was welded in china, the quality is suspect in many places. I might consider buying a new frame, rather than deal with crappy welds and all the struggle of getting it registered.

Don