I'm considering buying a shovelhead bike towards the later part of this year and like the look of the FLH models. I know nothing about the shovels other than what I have read on this forum. My idea would be to buy a bike that has already had a recent engine/gearbox overhaul, something that has had money spent on it and is in good condition. I am not looking for a rare model just something in good condition. How much money should I look at spending? is it better to buy one here in OZ or try and buy a bike from the US through someone like Choppaweezer. It would not be a daily rider more a bike for weekends , licencing would not be an issue as it would go on a club licence.

Your thoughts will be appreciated, regards Neil    

If, as you say, you know nothing about Shovels I would recommend contacting Chopaweeza and getting him to source you a bike.
Price is relative to model and condition , but a running bike in good nick should be between 11 and 14.
Be prepared to work on it, even if it's only going to be a weekend ride. If you are not mechanically minded I would suggest looking for an Evo.
Regards,
Cris.

older bike need to be mantained  with spanners if not too good with the old spanners & do not loke too get your hands dirty  , find a good mechanic that knows the older harleys, but you will need a manual @ least factory original brand is the best type ,  it would be hard to find a very good rebuilt shovel in top nic + it all depends who rebuilt her as well ,good mechanic or ruff mechanic,                                                                 as most old bike's have been got @ 1 way or another

Agree with all the info given so far, do a bit of research on prices at various sites, seen a range of prices for shovels depending on condition. Am thinking myself of getting a budget one from the usa as mentioned.

Check out some of the oz ones as some are really well sorted shovels, i flogged my FXE to death and it only expired to my stupidity but it still got me home! Stay on top of the maintence, don't let stuff wait, get it done asap, on a reguar basis start at the front and work throught the whole bike and tighten everything.

If you are not that flash with the spanners find a mechanic who knows shovels, basic trouble shooting u will learn if u don't know already and enjoy the ride, FLH's look the goods as well and stay away from drag racing jags from traffic lights!.

 

 

 Hey Neil how did you go with the shovelhead. I have owned mine for about 9 years and it's the best bike I could have bought. My bike is Pre compliance which means I can get away with loads of mods. Pre 76.  I have converted to a S&S 80 cube eo, 6 speed electric start promo with 3" open primar with GSXR rims it handles well. Anyway they like any bike will be reliable if you maintain them.  Best of luck. 

It's hard typing on an iPhone screen!

Got my FLH from panhead pete via USA, have spent 30 plus hours just  cleaning up shitty bolts, replacing all fluids, and removing corrosion from alloy, estimate another couple of weeks work till I,ll be happy with it but for the money I,m more than happy. I had a Genny shovel in a 58 pan frame and did plenty of miles on it, only major stuff up was splitting the gearbox in half due a circlip going west, as others have said, be prepared to get your hands dirty and the payback will be reliable miles.

My Shovels a daily runner, I dont own a car, they are pretty much bomb proof, and you can rebuild the top end in a motel room in Wodonga, do a overhaul every 12 months and she'll outlast you. oh and buy a 9/16 and 5/8 banana wrench

Hey guys, so just like my name says, im new to this and a relatively a kid ( in my mid 20's). Im looking to start building an old harley possibly from the ground up and i know that its going to take a long time and seem probably impossible since i have never built a bike before. I dont wanna seem like a chump coming on here and trying to talk tough with the harley vets, so ill be honest and say that any help and advice would be good. I know most of you will probably want to tell me that i wont be able to do it but none the less, im gonna try. im pretty stubborn like that. now without sounding too idiotic, i want to just start with the engine and that alone. Learning the fundamentals of it and really spending a lot of time just getting used to the beautiful machine that is the Shovelhead. Now for my question (sorry to ramble on), does anyone know where i could possibly get a basket case engine or tell me if it is even possible to get them in this country? Once again i know you gotta earn your stripes in this game but im not an over zealous punk kid, so please dont be offended by my ignorance or assume im trying to bite off more than i can chew. Im devoted to getting this done and i would very much appreciate any help. From what i have read on here while i been trying to work up the courage ask questions about this , i found you guys are really helpful and welcoming. Thanks for reading if you have bothered to get to this part. haha. cheers!!

oh ps. or if you know of an Ironhead around, i would take that off someones hands. either or. once again much appreciated!

cheers johnnybegood!!

 New to this forum, new to harleys and new to my 79 shovel but love em all. So I have some questions I hope I could get some help with.

Gear box.

Smooth as, between first and second 

Smooth as, between third and fourth

HUGE clunk between third and fourth up and down

Hard to find neutral

Often select gear but nothing there just like being in neutral

Would this be reguarded as normal?

 

Triple trees.

Bearings need adjusting or replacing. The chrome dome on top of the triple trees that must be covering the bolt and nut thru the neck, should it screw off or just pop off with some persistance?

Thanks

 Hi

You looking for machanical advise or somewhere that can fix the problem. If I don't know how to do something I take it to the appropriate guys to get it sorted. Can advise a few places if you want to go that way. 

 No, just looking for someone in the Classic Harley section of this forum who has experience with shovel gear boxes.I done know if I have a problem at this point.

I had trouble getting neutral on mine (not a shovel, early evo) I disconnected the shifter rod and took note of how much movement there was in the gearbox lever, readjusted the shifter rod and worked fine, might not be the prob with yours but worth a look?

The chrome cover on my head stem has a small allen screw that you undo and the cap comes off, although I remember seeing a screw on one somewhere.

 Thanks mate for the advise. Have checked play and ite OK. The fork stem cover has ne allen key so maybe I need to pop it off as it is not a nut either

Cheers

 Thanks for the reply and I think you might be on the money as something is causing a huge clunk(without exageration) between third and fourth.Do u mind me asking what it cost roughly to rebuild yours.

I think its time to buy myself a workshop manual

G'Day Seventy9,

To add to Dave's good advice have a look at this thread.

 http://www.hdforums.com.au/Default.aspx?tabid=71&forumid=12&postid=238188&view=topic

and I've uploaded a lot of stuff here

http://www.4shared.com/account/dir/mWghPw7P/sharing.html

including Dave's parts manual and "How to wrench your 74 tranny" and other stuff that may interest you.

Cheers,

Cris.

 

 

Mate ur a fookin champion 

 Thank you for the advise