[1951thunderbird]

I bought this bike over 8 years ago I've been collecting parts for her since you know rubbing penny's and such.
How she came home mouse poo and all

Getting the cases warmed up while the OL was away

Some fresh bearings for this sweet Lump of mine.

 

[Rancidpegwoman]

Hi,
That looks like it’s going to be sweet.
The cases have come up nicely, what media do you use in your blast cabinet?
Is that a HD in the foreground- what model?
regards
peg.

 

[FLY-TRI-GUY]

Very cool classic! The fun begins!.. FTG

 

[1951thunderbird]

Hi
Thanks Peg I use the soda blaster from harbor freight with soda from them for blasting carb parts pistons and such.
I think the cases came out great as well just used kerosene and elbow grease on those course helped bunches.
That is my 1988 Fxrs you spotted good eye

FTG yes a sweet classic for sure I feel very fortunate to be turning wrenches on her will be great to have out on the road again.

 

[Rancidpegwoman]

Hi
Thanks Peg I use the soda blaster from harbor freight with soda from them for blasting carb parts pistons and such.
I think the cases came out great as well just used kerosene and elbow grease on those course helped bunches.
That is my 1988 Fxrs you spotted good eye

FTG yes a sweet classic for sure I feel very fortunate to be turning wrenches on her will be great to have out on the road again.

The FXRS was the best handling Harley (Eric Buel on the design team) yours must have the indestructible Evo engine. The best of HD.
regards
Peg.

 

[1951thunderbird]

Peg
You sure do know your cycles Evo is a great engine and Fxr frame so so nice on the Twisties
I had a cam bearing go out andrews ev5 cam hard on those instead of rebuilding again 75k+ miles I upgraded her with a S&S v111.

 

[newsh]

I have a 52 T’Bird I rebuilt from a basket case about 30 years ago now. They’re a lovely bike to ride.

 

[1951thunderbird]

Hi
We're you able to restore your 52 to oem spec?
Yes I agree fantastic bikes looking forward to the roar!

 

[newsh]

Hi
We're you able to restore your 52 to oem spec?
Yes I agree fantastic bikes looking forward to the roar!

She’s pretty close! Rims and spokes are now stainless and I didn’t paint the centres and I’ve never bothered with the pinstripes or transfers.
Do you know what colour yours used to be?
I found some bits of blue left on the rear brake plate and some brackets so decided to go for the Polychromatic blue, but I did it in 2K base and clear with an etch primer.

 

[1951thunderbird]

Beautiful ride Newsh! A real head turner I'm sure
My rims have the blue stripe I'm keeping her as is just cleaning her up surviver she is.
I got bits and pieces my ole lady named her the day I brought her home "Phoenix" she will rise once again.
My lower rear fender wire wheeled the black paint off

Her hole sure was dirty...The tank I'm thinking it's from a 1970 bonnie its been with me for awhile.
Came with plus some other goodies my first Triumph 1969 t120r I ever bought back in the mid 90's

 

[GrandPaulZ]

My favorite paint scheme ('70 Bonneville)

 

[Dan Winright]

Peg
You sure do know your cycles Evo is a great engine and Fxr frame so so nice on the Twisties
I had a cam bearing go out andrews ev5 cam hard on those instead of rebuilding again 75k+ miles I upgraded her with a S&S v111.

Harley used the cheapest AN cam bearing they could find. Didn't matter what cam was used. Once the bearing failed it would usually take out every single gear in the cam chest. Then migrate into the case breather and into the oil pump. And if that wasn't insult to injury, the needle bearings would crush between the case and flywheels.
The right side case has two inch vertical cracks. The repair involved tig welding the cam hole completely shut and relocating.
Harley Didn't learn their lesson and used the same AN bearings in the twinscam. Double the trouble.

 

[1951thunderbird]

Yes a problem child for sure the torrington bp needle bearing was the brand I used. The INA was the junk one
I gambled I shoulda been in the cam chest sooner...

 

[Dan Winright]

Torrington is the fix. The A.N has the plastic retainer. Who would have thought 2cents would break harleys bank account?
Anyway. The case has almost 8000 trouble free miles and still going strong.

 

[1951thunderbird]

Torrington is the fix. The A.N has the plastic retainer. Who would have thought 2cents would break harleys bank account?
Anyway. The case has almost 8000 trouble free miles and still going strong.

And the breather plastic parts don't belong in an engine imho

 

[Dan Winright]

Straight into the oil pump. Luckily S&S makes a reed alvernon breather that will fix the scoring in the breather bore. One less gear to turn as well.

 

[1951thunderbird]

Time to steer this thread back on the road ...

If only these bars could talk..

Getting there
Just needing some cooler temps and garage time

 

[Dan Winright]

I just happen to have a 1956 trannie and some clutch parts.

 

[1951thunderbird]

Right on
I've rebuild the gearbox out of this 51 bird a couple months back NA on the stamp the cam plate was so bad I swapped it and plunger out of a unit twin parts stash.
Have to dig up some photos I imagine there was lots of false neutrals.

 

[Dan Winright]

You probably have to feel for the gear.
I didn't know unit and pre unit had interchangeable trans parts.