Discussion
I wanted to get away from large modern bikes for a bit, as I was finding it difficult to get that much out of them on UK roads. They are quicker then me.
Having been glued to Dales Wheels Through Time (Harley museum on Youtube) for a while I set out to try and buy a vintage Harley.
My friends seem to be giving up everything as they get old, their are generic grey SUVs everywhere and all the bike dealers seem to be shutting. Not for me. I like to go in the other direction.
I soon realised that they are not cheap. Looking for a deal I bid on a WLA sidevalve project at ACA. It was an incomplete restoration and even that went for £12k.
I decided I didn't want to be in it for over £25k into in with a lifetimes restoration work as well.
So being a Copart member I bought a rear ended Heritage Softail for £4k. Totally different you might think. Well yes and no.
They have the advantage of being old enough to be cheap and new enough to work (I hoped). They also look like the bike I had in mind as the overall proportions haven't changes much in 80 years for the FL series.
It was sold with keys. However what I didn't realise was I wasn't sold with a fob. No problem I thought. What a mistake.
More updates later.
Having been glued to Dales Wheels Through Time (Harley museum on Youtube) for a while I set out to try and buy a vintage Harley.
My friends seem to be giving up everything as they get old, their are generic grey SUVs everywhere and all the bike dealers seem to be shutting. Not for me. I like to go in the other direction.
I soon realised that they are not cheap. Looking for a deal I bid on a WLA sidevalve project at ACA. It was an incomplete restoration and even that went for £12k.
I decided I didn't want to be in it for over £25k into in with a lifetimes restoration work as well.
So being a Copart member I bought a rear ended Heritage Softail for £4k. Totally different you might think. Well yes and no.
They have the advantage of being old enough to be cheap and new enough to work (I hoped). They also look like the bike I had in mind as the overall proportions haven't changes much in 80 years for the FL series.
It was sold with keys. However what I didn't realise was I wasn't sold with a fob. No problem I thought. What a mistake.
More updates later.
Edited by politeperson on Tuesday 5th November 09:19
Well, I dont know how much it would have cost to do. Guess most of it would have come down to the engine which was an unknown quantity. Might do one some day if I feel rich enough. I really liked it.
As for the softail, it is a fuel injected model that was imported in 2012 from the US an is showing 19,000 miles.
The damage was to the rear mudguard and front brake lever.
I purchased a rear mudguard on Ebay for £60 delivered. The brake lever was £20 and took minutes to fit. I also decided to do down the route of a retro knucklehead style paint job. Twotone with pin stripes.
The rear light was smashed, so I bought a beehive style one.
I got the mudguard blasted and put it together which took only a few minutes. So now it looks like this,
The big problem though was no fob.
The local Harley agent thought they could extract the pin no out of the ECU, I took it over and dropped it off last week.
To cut a long story short they couldn't, so I took it back again. At least they didn't charge me anything and were nice about it too.
So I got googling and YouTubeing.
I thought I would try a coded ECU/TSSM/fob combination from Ebay at £250 from a 2006 fuel injected Dyna. It looked similar.
The TSSM takes the signal from the fob and turns on the ECU. The TSSM (Turn signal security module ) is the thing that self cancels the indicator and turns off the engine if you drop it.
The parts numbers are all over the place but ot looked about right.
The modules arrived, I plugged them in, checked the oil level, turned on the ignition and was greeted with the sound of the fuel pump. That sounded optimistic as it wont come on if the TSSM doesn't detect the fob.
One press of the starter button and she purred into life, idling like nothing happened.
Encouraged by this, the engine sounding good I jumped on a took her down the road.
My opinion of the ride is that it is superb. Fantastic.
It feels very solid, extremely comfortable. The gear-change is very mechanical, the exhaust is quiet (I didn't want a noisy exhaust).
The motor is very strong at low revs. Loads of lovely torque. Relaxed gearing.
Although it weighs in at over 700 lbs, the low seat height makes it maneuverable at low speed.
Footboards and a heel change are a novelty to me.
So I am loving it. I can see why they are popular.
Paint next, so tank and mudguards off, then service items.
I have been watching Delboys Workshop, so plan to do the fluids and belts. The tyres and brakes look new.
And a look at the dreaded cam chain tensioners.
As for the softail, it is a fuel injected model that was imported in 2012 from the US an is showing 19,000 miles.
The damage was to the rear mudguard and front brake lever.
I purchased a rear mudguard on Ebay for £60 delivered. The brake lever was £20 and took minutes to fit. I also decided to do down the route of a retro knucklehead style paint job. Twotone with pin stripes.
The rear light was smashed, so I bought a beehive style one.
I got the mudguard blasted and put it together which took only a few minutes. So now it looks like this,
The big problem though was no fob.
The local Harley agent thought they could extract the pin no out of the ECU, I took it over and dropped it off last week.
To cut a long story short they couldn't, so I took it back again. At least they didn't charge me anything and were nice about it too.
So I got googling and YouTubeing.
I thought I would try a coded ECU/TSSM/fob combination from Ebay at £250 from a 2006 fuel injected Dyna. It looked similar.
The TSSM takes the signal from the fob and turns on the ECU. The TSSM (Turn signal security module ) is the thing that self cancels the indicator and turns off the engine if you drop it.
The parts numbers are all over the place but ot looked about right.
The modules arrived, I plugged them in, checked the oil level, turned on the ignition and was greeted with the sound of the fuel pump. That sounded optimistic as it wont come on if the TSSM doesn't detect the fob.
One press of the starter button and she purred into life, idling like nothing happened.
Encouraged by this, the engine sounding good I jumped on a took her down the road.
My opinion of the ride is that it is superb. Fantastic.
It feels very solid, extremely comfortable. The gear-change is very mechanical, the exhaust is quiet (I didn't want a noisy exhaust).
The motor is very strong at low revs. Loads of lovely torque. Relaxed gearing.
Although it weighs in at over 700 lbs, the low seat height makes it maneuverable at low speed.
Footboards and a heel change are a novelty to me.
So I am loving it. I can see why they are popular.
Paint next, so tank and mudguards off, then service items.
I have been watching Delboys Workshop, so plan to do the fluids and belts. The tyres and brakes look new.
And a look at the dreaded cam chain tensioners.
Edited by politeperson on Tuesday 5th November 18:15
Edited by politeperson on Tuesday 5th November 18:16
What a great project, good result sorting the immobiliser for £250 and a bit of time.
politeperson said:
I have been watching Delboys Workshop, so plan to do the fluids and belts. The tyres and brakes look new.
And a look at the dreaded cam chain tensioners.
Please be cautious which of his advice you follow - he's a bodger and a cowboy of the highest order!And a look at the dreaded cam chain tensioners.
IanUAE said:
Salvage Rebuilds UK on Youtube buy a lot of cars from Copart and recently they have discovered significant damage that wasn't reported on the Copart listing or the car was listed as "running and driving" an yet when the car turns up, it doesn't do either.
Next door neighbour bought a BMW from them with minor rear end damage, turned up and looked good for what he had paid.Once he started looking more closely it turned out to also have been a previous front end poor repair and have a dozen other issues.
Not sure I would take the risk myself.
Yes, Copart is a risk. As is life!
Often things are not cheap either, although the one owner Fiat Panda 4x4 with a rotten subframe and 40k up in Whitburn looks cheap at £125 this morning.
Advice heard thanks.
It is a 2006 model, so one of the last 88 engines I think.
The paint design I had in mind was like this classic pattern below.
I have chosen Deadwood Green with a gold pinstripe for the main color contrasting with vintage white for the sides with a red pinstripe.
Often things are not cheap either, although the one owner Fiat Panda 4x4 with a rotten subframe and 40k up in Whitburn looks cheap at £125 this morning.
Advice heard thanks.
It is a 2006 model, so one of the last 88 engines I think.
The paint design I had in mind was like this classic pattern below.
I have chosen Deadwood Green with a gold pinstripe for the main color contrasting with vintage white for the sides with a red pinstripe.
2006 was the last year of the dodgy cam chain tensioners, IIRC.
This page on the H-D website will give you the bike's details from the VIN, and you can download the owner's manual:
https://serviceinfo.harley-davidson.com/sip/vehicl...
You should be able to find a free download of the H-D Service Manual.
This page on the H-D website will give you the bike's details from the VIN, and you can download the owner's manual:
https://serviceinfo.harley-davidson.com/sip/vehicl...
You should be able to find a free download of the H-D Service Manual.
Edited by gareth_r on Wednesday 6th November 19:19
politeperson said:
Well, I dont know how much it would have cost to do. Guess most of it would have come down to the engine which was an unknown quantity. Might do one some day if I feel rich enough. I really liked it.
As for the softail, it is a fuel injected model that was imported in 2012 from the US an is showing 19,000 miles.
The damage was to the rear mudguard and front brake lever.
I purchased a rear mudguard on Ebay for £60 delivered. The brake lever was £20 and took minutes to fit. I also decided to do down the route of a retro knucklehead style paint job. Twotone with pin stripes.
The rear light was smashed, so I bought a beehive style one.
I got the mudguard blasted and put it together which took only a few minutes. So now it looks like this,
The big problem though was no fob.
The local Harley agent thought they could extract the pin no out of the ECU, I took it over and dropped it off last week.
To cut a long story short they couldn't, so I took it back again. At least they didn't charge me anything and were nice about it too.
So I got googling and YouTubeing.
I thought I would try a coded ECU/TSSM/fob combination from Ebay at £250 from a 2006 fuel injected Dyna. It looked similar.
The TSSM takes the signal from the fob and turns on the ECU. The TSSM (Turn signal security module ) is the thing that self cancels the indicator and turns off the engine if you drop it.
The parts numbers are all over the place but ot looked about right.
The modules arrived, I plugged them in, checked the oil level, turned on the ignition and was greeted with the sound of the fuel pump. That sounded optimistic as it wont come on if the TSSM doesn't detect the fob.
One press of the starter button and she purred into life, idling like nothing happened.
Encouraged by this, the engine sounding good I jumped on a took her down the road.
My opinion of the ride is that it is superb. Fantastic.
It feels very solid, extremely comfortable. The gear-change is very mechanical, the exhaust is quiet (I didn't want a noisy exhaust).
The motor is very strong at low revs. Loads of lovely torque. Relaxed gearing.
Although it weighs in at over 700 lbs, the low seat height makes it maneuverable at low speed.
Footboards and a heel change are a novelty to me.
So I am loving it. I can see why they are popular.
Paint next, so tank and mudguards off, then service items.
I have been watching Delboys Workshop, so plan to do the fluids and belts. The tyres and brakes look new.
And a look at the dreaded cam chain tensioners.
Seems to have grown a couple of driving lamps too As for the softail, it is a fuel injected model that was imported in 2012 from the US an is showing 19,000 miles.
The damage was to the rear mudguard and front brake lever.
I purchased a rear mudguard on Ebay for £60 delivered. The brake lever was £20 and took minutes to fit. I also decided to do down the route of a retro knucklehead style paint job. Twotone with pin stripes.
The rear light was smashed, so I bought a beehive style one.
I got the mudguard blasted and put it together which took only a few minutes. So now it looks like this,
The big problem though was no fob.
The local Harley agent thought they could extract the pin no out of the ECU, I took it over and dropped it off last week.
To cut a long story short they couldn't, so I took it back again. At least they didn't charge me anything and were nice about it too.
So I got googling and YouTubeing.
I thought I would try a coded ECU/TSSM/fob combination from Ebay at £250 from a 2006 fuel injected Dyna. It looked similar.
The TSSM takes the signal from the fob and turns on the ECU. The TSSM (Turn signal security module ) is the thing that self cancels the indicator and turns off the engine if you drop it.
The parts numbers are all over the place but ot looked about right.
The modules arrived, I plugged them in, checked the oil level, turned on the ignition and was greeted with the sound of the fuel pump. That sounded optimistic as it wont come on if the TSSM doesn't detect the fob.
One press of the starter button and she purred into life, idling like nothing happened.
Encouraged by this, the engine sounding good I jumped on a took her down the road.
My opinion of the ride is that it is superb. Fantastic.
It feels very solid, extremely comfortable. The gear-change is very mechanical, the exhaust is quiet (I didn't want a noisy exhaust).
The motor is very strong at low revs. Loads of lovely torque. Relaxed gearing.
Although it weighs in at over 700 lbs, the low seat height makes it maneuverable at low speed.
Footboards and a heel change are a novelty to me.
So I am loving it. I can see why they are popular.
Paint next, so tank and mudguards off, then service items.
I have been watching Delboys Workshop, so plan to do the fluids and belts. The tyres and brakes look new.
And a look at the dreaded cam chain tensioners.
Edited by politeperson on Tuesday 5th November 18:15
Edited by politeperson on Tuesday 5th November 18:16
Looking good - enjoy. Big v-twins with footboards are wonderful things to ride 
Thanks
I am lovin those fishtail exhaust, Got to get some. The red bike looks fab.
The new front lamps were an £80 cast off on ebay and I snagged a screen for £50. Great CHIPS.
I spoke to the painter today and he wants the tank and guards tomorrow, so he can have em.
I am getting him to get them into primer so I can start the stripes.
Stripes first then the colors then the clear.
If I do the masking he wont charge me anything like as much as the masking takes ages.
I am lovin those fishtail exhaust, Got to get some. The red bike looks fab.
The new front lamps were an £80 cast off on ebay and I snagged a screen for £50. Great CHIPS.
I spoke to the painter today and he wants the tank and guards tomorrow, so he can have em.
I am getting him to get them into primer so I can start the stripes.
Stripes first then the colors then the clear.
If I do the masking he wont charge me anything like as much as the masking takes ages.
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