Besides the Knucklehead engines, the Flathead is one of the most distinctive looking of all the Harley-Davidson engines. This engine is gonna be fun to build. It'll make for a fun bike to ride. Take care, Mike.
What a kick, great video and glad to see the Flathead is back. I live in Indiana but I am on vacation with the wife in Rome Italy in a hotel downtown and the wife finds You Tube on the TV and next thing I know we are watching your video.... excellent 👍
Mike, that 1940 was built when the engineers were using slide rules to make calculations. This is pre-war history. I wish you every success, and you are very fortunate to be surrounded by dedicated, good people. Best of luck.
I believe what you are alluding to in your explanation of why a flathead can race is you are describing volumetric efficiency. Not only are you limited by compression ratio but you also have a 180 degree directional change for flow. If you use the big wrist pin flywheels and you are maxed out on your bore you will have almost 90 inches of flathead power. Great video my friend. Later bro.
@@pacificmike9501 I meant to say the flywheels with larger taper crankpin, not wristpin. Sometimes I get ahead of myself and don't think things through. My mind was thinking crankpin but I wrote wristpin. Not my first nor will it be my last mistake I can only hope to not keep repeating the same mistake.
@@pacificmike9501 Should be able to punch those 3 7/16 cylinders 0.100" and if your guy moved the pin a full 1/8" you should have an 89" motor. Take care.
Great story; thanks for the showing - Amazing how these low compression engines ran at low speeds around town ( police servicars) didn’t overheat because of low compression. I had a buddy with flathead 80 . I just loved the sound . Deep thud. Kinda like black powder gun compared to high powered rifle sound . ✊🏻👍👌
I spent a lot of time and money having it polished the first time. Now, it's been laying around for many years. I want to benefit from that beautiful polish job again.
@@pacificmike9501 I'm a member of an internet forum called Hydra Glide that's centered mainly on panheads, flatties, etc., and there's a member who posts pics of builds where he polishes everything - crankcases, heads, tranny cases, etc., for his customers. Beautiful, painstaking work, but I can't see how long it can last if the bikes are ridden. I know I can't keep my bikes so nice. Hell, I just fisished a frame-up restoration of a '68 FLHFB, and when we were loading it onto a trailer to take it home the trailer came off the hitch, wheelied up, and the loading dock tore up the rear fender! I think you could here me cursing across town.
Thanks for another great video. You remind me of the Harley mechanics and the dealerships from the 60's before the boutique era began and when I was first introduced to Harley Davidson motorcycles.
Hey Mike, I ordered one of your shirts and it arrived today. The shirt is of excellent quality and the art work is beautiful! A first class product and I will wear it proudly! Thank you Mike!
Nice to see the old Flathead getting some love. Oh, I got my shirt yesterday. Can I suggest one with "I'll see ya out on the road"? I'd definitely buy another.
Was very close many years ago to get my hand on a 1300cc chopper flathead, but the seller changed his mind in the last minute! But I found a knuckle in the outskirts in Florida, and after restoring 1981, it was ready to run, and I still run it, great machine
hello Mike ! It' s alway a pleasure to find each new video . It's a real human and technical experience to have been able to rub shoulders with all these icons and geniuses of mechanics and engine preparation like Mr. Leineweber. I imagine you may also have known Bonnie Truett and others, as well as the one whose story has always fascinated me so much that I have only mounted camshafts from her brand for a long time, Mr Tom Sifton .people leave, but what they created stays, that's why with hindsight, they become legendary in their field . See ya on the next video ...
Yes, it's been a wonderful thing to do business with so many of the "Greats." We still have some, new and old. It's an awesome industry. Yes, I tear up from time to time. But, I keep making new memories. Look at how many of these people left us their kids. These people are technical geniuses and awesome human beings. I had a great time at Born Free. Let's see how many old friends I get involved in my stuff coming up.
Thank you so much for your video i’m going building 45” fathead…very helpful video…also the T shirt 👕 at your website looks cool 😎 i will order soon Have a great wonderful day Thank you
Mike, another great video. good to see you back on the project bike. I like like the way you speak about people, present and especially past. your a great soul I'm sure. PS i still think the head light bracket will need some bracing :)
I wonder if back in the day when these motors were designed and built if they had a thought that guys like me in the future would see these motors as masterpiece artwork-great video on the layout of your flathead!!
Thank You. I'm old enough to have seen some neat old things when they were new. I remember my dad getting excited over them. We'd look at them together. I like to think the people who designed them knew they were doing something cool.
Looking forward to it all. Love to see everything on this build, from bringing back the polished cases, a trip to Lienweber and every little detail since its a unique build
This flatty is gonna be one excellent engine when you're done,Mike.. It sounds like you're going to have lots of fun with it!!! And thank you for the update!! I'm gonna be following like many of your ppl. Have a super Sunday Funday,my friend.. See ya out there real soon. Peace.
I was curious about the slots in the valve heads, so I did a little search on Harley flatheads and ran across a manual for the 45. Looking at the specs, it had 5 to 1 compression ratio. Right when my little brain started to wonder why they used so little compression, I read a couple of lines down in the spec sheet and there was the recommended fuel octane listed.... 72 octane or higher!! SEVENTY TWO!! We are so spoiled with our modern fuels and oils! That little 45 put out 6.05 horsepower. But there's no telling how much torque that little fella made!.... I never did figure out what the "screwdriver slots" were in the valves :) Old engines are amazing!
Those slots will help use a driver when hand lapping those valves to their seats. The way to raise the compression is to lessen the size of the combustion chamber. On a flathead, that will limit the flow of the air/fuel mixture. You either get compression or flow. Take your pick. You can't have both. Go for the flow. When flying down the road, you won't miss high compression, but lots of flow makes it go. Or, build an overhead valve motor. We'll be getting into this more.
Oh ,yeah buddy I'm really digging the flat top. I think it's a really beautiful engine. Can't wait to see it done. You've got some really cool and classic mods with the chassis. Good on you man. 😁
Awesome shirts Mike! Thank you for all your videos and fun times. The knowledge you share is invaluable! Ps. Would love a shirt that says "See you out on the road!"
can't wait for this build...i picked up a 1946 UL couple of years ago. sat since 1989 but had less than 50 miles on the rebuild. all i had to do was replace the fuel shut off and the float and she fired right up. usually just 1 kick. the only other isssue was a loose ground from the switch to the mounting plate. definately fun to ride. ride safe.
Looking forward to seeing this build really get put together. It’s going to make a sweet ride. Of people passing out is what I am running into with my Sportster. Those who worked on them have died out. I have decisions to make here too. I have found some gremlins here with my Sportster. Have a offer to own a 74 Moto Guzzi V85 Police motorcycle also.
@@pacificmike9501 I find most of my parts on EBay for my motorcycles. Or through people on Facebook groups that deal with these motorcycles. I do too they are beautiful motorcycles
In 1970 I looked at a ULH 80 full dresser fully running $500, looked a bit big for me, I passed and bought a Triumph Bonneville 650 instead … been kicking myself ever since
Mike, this video popped up. I wish I was smart enough to help you. Tatro machine has a head full of knowledge and a hell of an inventory. Good luck with that project.
Love your videos, Mike! So much history taking place in those engines and very nice to make some comparison with the modern engines, not the same but still not too diffeerent. Oh btw, got a Pacific Mike T-shirt now....took some time to get it, but now I can rep in Sweden.
I'm sorry for the miss spelled words it was late but I saw your project the flat head I'm happy that your starting it my frainds had an old army flat head someone panted it yellow so we left it alone it was a rigged hill climber we would climb the cliffs across from the nimbus fish hatchery near hwy 50 before the bridge was maid the American River I live in washington state now well life has its way and it's bed time thanks for sharing your life with us I'll be watching I share miss riding maybe some day Lemay Nelson
I am pacific Mike this is Eric one of your watchers I like everything you’re doing I’m glad to see you’re building that crackhead Harley the way you want I’m kind of the same way when it comes to building bicycles I don’t have my style I don’t do styles for other people if they don’t really like them that much that’s on them but thanks for all the good stuff you showing
I real like your show please take your time I love this my mother's first husband had a bike shop my mother used to help breaking them down for repairs when I was young my mom back me from the beginning so biking has been in my family also my late brother also when I was young he would take to Armando Maureen Harley Davidson the O'Donnell shop he would put me on one of new bikes Armando would laugh I could barely reach the handle bare I couldn't be leave I saw him at the Ardently new shop and he remembered me I love our people I'm old now I wish I had one now Mike
Sounds like you have some beautiful memories. We just need to keep up with events as they're happening again. We can't quite relive the past, but we can make new memories. Thank You.
That will be very satisfying to watch it get built. Beautiful cam cover case, eh? Those hand cast engines are my favorite. I think if I could un-invent anything, it would be CNC machined engine externals. Mike, do you have less vibration with your engine over modern engines?
Sure. But, you can properly balance the new ones. There are different dynamics which affect smoothness with the different designs. This Flathead should be very smooth other than I'll have to add a bit of a raspy cam just to excite me at idle. It should be extremely smooth at high speed.
Once in a while. I don't do it often enough to be proficient. Quite often, I have Truitt and Osborne build the flywheel assembly and then I install it. I love new flywheels, shafts and rods.
I'm going to think about what said about grinding the cams. I just can't visualize how that would work without lengthening the valve stem. But I'll be watching this a few mor times I'm sure.
All of those Big Twin transmissions were four speeds from 36-79. Then came five speeds. There were 4 speeds in solid mounts and 5 speeds in rubber mounts. The only exceptions were 3 speeds with a reverse for Big Twins equipped with sidecars. There are no other gears sets I know of that can be installed to turn them into anything else. When they say 5 or 6 in a four, they mean a 5 or 6 speed transmission that will fit in place of the original 4 speed.
Worked with a guy named Bill We called him wildbill Older guy always said more air more power Mind ya I'm 70 He was one of those wwii guys And man did I learn a ton of info from him He got me my job at Harley 50 years ago He would take a El or a vl or any older motor and make it run Good lawd I miss that man Sorry to babble Peace brother
Greetings from Finland, i has 90s 150cid top fuel harley in my garage with delkron dr2 case... it would be nice to modify that in someday to flathead design and put blower on it and run it as supercharged flathead nitro...
Hi mike, You mentioned putting sleeves in your cylinders if needed. I’m looking to put sleeves in my ironhead cylinders. Just wanting to know are they safe once installed. By that I mean not coming loose in the bore.
I've used them alot. In fact, I'm running them in two bikes now. I believe them to be better and wear longer than the cylinders without sleeves. But, they must be done by a competent machinist. I normally send the to "L.A. Sleeve."
Hi Mike, good stuff...definitely gonna be following. Have a 38UL (74") with a M51 in the my shop waiting for me to finish the 65FL. Has a hydra-glide front end with a right side drum, any idea what years the R/S drum was from?
I was waiting for you to say what year, because I had no clue, lol. Very cool stuff Mike. Were they always 74 or 80 inch, or were they smaller from the factory?
Ah, Isambard Kingdom Connecting-Rods, the girders of Liberty's torch, a working piston's rocking chair, bolted to freedom's porch. Few revolutions are needed here, with breathing strong & deep, there's plenty of time to finish their meal, the pilot's gone to sleep . . . That loping rhythm & steady burn, as flywheels soak the pulse, is soporific to the core, & they run like nothing ulse. (Apologies for that rather nasty splinter, literally scraped from the very bottom of the language barrel, I have no shame) Time for tea, toast & whimsical thoughts on crank throw, rod lengths & piston speed, - or next door's new bikini. Y'all : )
You say it so well. Your description makes me hear it even now, before it's built. How'd you know about next door? You'd love her. She's actually coming over for tea.
Mike I have watched a bunch of your videos and have learned a lot. I recently inherited a old sportster that has a 45 magnum engine in it. I can't find much information on this engine, can you suggest someone that may be able to help? Thanks in advance
A "Magnum 45" is basically a 45" Flathead Harley with a 900 S Sportster overhead valve topend. There was a magazine article many years ago where Mr. Smith of "Custom Cycle Engineering" built such a beast and it showed all the details. This was somewhere in the very early 80's. We built one in the shop I worked in at the time. Check with "Cusom Cycle Engineering." They are a manufacturer of parts in California and still in business. Nice people. They can most likely get you all the information you need.
@@pacificmike9501 I did reach out to that shop recently, the person that responded said they said they couldn’t help with engines, that they specialize in parts for forks. I believe Randy Smith retired long ago. Appreciate the reply Mike!
Hi, Mike the post office mailed me a notice that there was postage dew on my shirt, so I think I managed to pay it, but their software is not so good since the wife, and I retired 4 years ago. You might want to check with whomever handles your orders.
You will complete your project I'm sure I now nothing about costume builds but I do like being around people that do I'm home recovering from a DOCTOR'S SCEW UP AND IT'S SLOW GETTING BACK SO I WHAT CHANGES YOUR SHOW AND IT CHEERS ME UP I MISS SEEING YOU AND CAMERA MAN MIKE I GUESS WE ALL HAVE THINGS WE ARE GOING THROUGH HOPE TO SEE YOU ON THE TUBE SOON LEMAY NELSON
I've been too busy to watch any of your videos for a couple months, but I stayed up late tonight and ordered a T-shirt.
Thank You.
She's going to be a runner...can't wait to hear it come to life
Gonna be a while, but way fun.
Wonderful Mike. This motor and bike build is going to be something special.
Thank You.
Left the planet - 🙏🏼
Thank You.
Besides the Knucklehead engines, the Flathead is one of the most distinctive looking of all the Harley-Davidson engines. This engine is gonna be fun to build. It'll make for a fun bike to ride. Take care, Mike.
Thank You. We'll have fun with it. Take care.
What a kick, great video and glad to see the Flathead is back. I live in Indiana but I am on vacation with the wife in Rome Italy in a hotel downtown and the wife finds You Tube on the TV and next thing I know we are watching your video.... excellent 👍
That's wonderful! I'm enjoying your vacation! Thank You.
Mike, that 1940 was built when the engineers were using slide rules to make calculations. This is pre-war history. I wish you every success, and you are very fortunate to be surrounded by dedicated, good people. Best of luck.
Thank You.
Mike, that is so cool ill be watching.
Thank You.
Mike thanks for sharing and great to see you again you have a blessed week
Thanks, you too!
Cant wait , I have been waiting . Your bikes and work are the best.
Glad you like them!
I believe what you are alluding to in your explanation of why a flathead can race is you are describing volumetric efficiency. Not only are you limited by compression ratio but you also have a 180 degree directional change for flow. If you use the big wrist pin flywheels and you are maxed out on your bore you will have almost 90 inches of flathead power. Great video my friend. Later bro.
You Bet! Thank You and Well Said.
@@pacificmike9501 I meant to say the flywheels with larger taper crankpin, not wristpin. Sometimes I get ahead of myself and don't think things through. My mind was thinking crankpin but I wrote wristpin. Not my first nor will it be my last mistake I can only hope to not keep repeating the same mistake.
I knew what you were thinking. I have that pair of wheels Clel Richards
did for me. 3 1/2" bore by 4 1/2 " stroke should be 86 cu. in.
@@pacificmike9501 Should be able to punch those 3 7/16 cylinders 0.100" and if your guy moved the pin a full 1/8" you should have an 89" motor. Take care.
Thanks for schooling the class on Flathead engines Mike! I look forward to the content ahead...! Class dismissed for today, see you out on the road! 😎
You betcha.
Thank you for sharing. Enjoyed.
Glad you enjoyed it
Great story; thanks for the showing -
Amazing how these low compression engines ran at low speeds around town ( police servicars) didn’t overheat because of low compression.
I had a buddy with flathead 80 . I just loved the sound . Deep thud. Kinda like black powder gun compared to high powered rifle sound .
✊🏻👍👌
Good description. You get one or the other, high compression or air and fuel flow. Can't have both with a Flathead, unless you add a supercharger.
@@pacificmike9501 😎😁👍👌
I will not miss an episode !
Thank You.
What a beautiful looking motor . I have learned a lot already. Thanks.
Glad to hear that! Thank You.
Always good to see a fresh video. Keep them coming Boss
Thanks! Will do!
Thank you
You're welcome
My ol WLRD still wins a dirt drag every now and again. Had to get her sleeved a few yrs back.
Yes they do. How cool. Where do you race?
@@pacificmike9501 KENTUCKY
Hot dang Mike! Really looking forward to the process of this build!
Thank You.
Hi Mike Thanks for the video. Looking forward to this build. Kenny
Thank You. Me too.
Can't wait for the assembly, have a blessed week my friends.
A bunch more work before assembly.
Can't wait to watch this motor go together in detail. You said you're going to bring back the polish. I think it's beautiful as it is.
I spent a lot of time and money having it polished the first time. Now, it's been laying around for many years. I want to benefit from that beautiful polish job again.
@@pacificmike9501 I'm a member of an internet forum called Hydra Glide that's centered mainly on panheads, flatties, etc., and there's a member who posts pics of builds where he polishes everything - crankcases, heads, tranny cases, etc., for his customers. Beautiful, painstaking work, but I can't see how long it can last if the bikes are ridden. I know I can't keep my bikes so nice. Hell, I just fisished a frame-up restoration of a '68 FLHFB, and when we were loading it onto a trailer to take it home the trailer came off the hitch, wheelied up, and the loading dock tore up the rear fender! I think you could here me cursing across town.
Hi Mike (From The Southern Hemisphere) - Have you ever been asked to do radio? You have the most relaxing voice. Love your videos.
Thank You. But not in a long time.
My name is Mike and I am a professional biker. That was a fun video.
Thank You.
Thanks for another great video. You remind me of the Harley mechanics and the dealerships from the 60's before the boutique era began and when I was first introduced to Harley Davidson motorcycles.
Thank You.
Hey Mike, I ordered one of your shirts and it arrived today. The shirt is of excellent quality and the art work is beautiful! A first class product and I will wear it proudly! Thank you Mike!
Thank You.
Nice to see the old Flathead getting some love.
Oh, I got my shirt yesterday. Can I suggest one with "I'll see ya out on the road"? I'd definitely buy another.
Thank You. We'll do it.
Thanks Mike
Can’t wait to fallow along for the ride !!
Me too. Thank You.
Thanks for the great content of this old beautiful Motorcycles. Greatings from Bavaria Germany ✌️
Thanks for watching!
Was very close many years ago to get my hand on a 1300cc chopper flathead, but the seller changed his mind in the last minute!
But I found a knuckle in the outskirts in Florida, and after restoring 1981, it was ready to run, and I still run it, great machine
Very cool!
hello Mike ! It' s alway a pleasure to find each new video . It's a real human and technical experience to have been able to rub shoulders with all these icons and geniuses of mechanics and engine preparation like Mr. Leineweber. I imagine you may also have known Bonnie Truett and others, as well as the one whose story has always fascinated me so much that I have only mounted camshafts from her brand for a long time, Mr Tom Sifton .people leave, but what they created stays, that's why with hindsight, they become legendary in their field .
See ya on the next video ...
Yes, it's been a wonderful thing to do business with so many of the "Greats." We still have some, new and old. It's an awesome industry. Yes, I tear up from time to time. But, I keep making new memories. Look at how many of these people left us their kids. These people are technical geniuses and awesome human beings. I had a great time at Born Free. Let's see how many old friends I get involved in my stuff coming up.
I have never been inside one of those. This will be exciting.
They're interesting, because they're cool. But they're also what I think of as "Industrial Strength."
@@pacificmike9501 I would love to have one but where I live, hard to find and to expensive.
Thank you so much for your video i’m going building 45” fathead…very helpful video…also the T shirt 👕 at your website looks cool 😎 i will order soon
Have a great wonderful day
Thank you
Thank You.
Great video as always, Mike. Can't wait to see it finished and running. Thank you.
You and me both! Thank You.
Fine content for Sunday morning coffee.... bless n carry on young man...
Thank You. (Young Man?)
excelent explications with humor, you're a boss!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thank You.
Looks like we're in-store for a great series coming up!!!! ✌🏻
Getting in order and orchestrating this thing is quite a project. But, fun. Thank You.
Good morning Mike and Mike . How are you ? Thank you for this video. Nice motor.
Good Morning. And, Thank You.
thanks. i like to learn new builds.
Cool. It should be fun.
Got the engine out of the BSA this weekend looking forward to yours and mine getting back on the road it's a race now 😀 (just kidding)
Good. I am retired. I'm not in a hurry. But, we will have fun.
Mike, another great video. good to see you back on the project bike. I like like the way you speak about people, present and especially past. your a great soul I'm sure. PS i still think the head light bracket will need some bracing :)
It's pretty heavy. We'll see. You're making me nervous now. Take care.
I wonder if back in the day when these motors were designed and built if they had a thought that guys like me in the future would see these motors as masterpiece artwork-great video on the layout of your flathead!!
Thank You. I'm old enough to have seen some neat old things when they were new. I remember my dad getting excited over them. We'd look at them together. I like to think the people who designed them knew they were doing something cool.
Been digging’ your flathead build. I had a basket case 80 when I was young,married with kids and it slipped away. So keep up the good work.
Thanks! Will do!
Looking forward to the build! Thanks for sharing 👍 🏴
Thank You.
Glad to see you're back on the project bike PM. Get her cracking again, can't wait to here her purr👍
You and me both!
Looking forward to it all. Love to see everything on this build, from bringing back the polished cases, a trip to Lienweber and every little detail since its a unique build
Thank You.
This flatty is gonna be one excellent engine when you're done,Mike.. It sounds like you're going to have lots of fun with it!!! And thank you for the update!! I'm gonna be following like many of your ppl. Have a super Sunday Funday,my friend.. See ya out there real soon. Peace.
Thank You. See you out on the road.
@@pacificmike9501,you betcha!!
Love the update!!.... looking forward to seeing this come together ....and more visits at the garage
Cool. I'm going out there now.
I was curious about the slots in the valve heads, so I did a little search on Harley flatheads and ran across a manual for the 45. Looking at the specs, it had 5 to 1 compression ratio. Right when my little brain started to wonder why they used so little compression, I read a couple of lines down in the spec sheet and there was the recommended fuel octane listed.... 72 octane or higher!! SEVENTY TWO!! We are so spoiled with our modern fuels and oils! That little 45 put out 6.05 horsepower. But there's no telling how much torque that little fella made!.... I never did figure out what the "screwdriver slots" were in the valves :) Old engines are amazing!
Those slots will help use a driver when hand lapping those valves to their seats. The way to raise the compression is to lessen the size of the combustion chamber. On a flathead, that will limit the flow of the air/fuel mixture. You either get compression or flow. Take your pick. You can't have both. Go for the flow. When flying down the road, you won't miss high compression, but lots of flow makes it go. Or, build an overhead valve motor. We'll be getting into this more.
Oh ,yeah buddy I'm really digging the flat top. I think it's a really beautiful engine. Can't wait to see it done. You've got some really cool and classic mods with the chassis. Good on you man. 😁
Thank You. Just getting this thing planned out is taking some doing.
Love the 45 s . Great video Mike. Keep up the great work mate cheers mate
Thank You. This is an "Eighty," the 45's big brother.
Looking forward to this build will be very nostalgic for you I am sure 👍👍
Everything I have is pretty old. It's just another great day.
@@pacificmike9501 Nothing wrong with being old school the best mechanics come from there 👍👍
Awesome shirts Mike! Thank you for all your videos and fun times. The knowledge you share is invaluable!
Ps. Would love a shirt that says "See you out on the road!"
It will happen. Thank You.
HOWdy Mike,
Watching YOU build the BIG Flattie,
Thanks
COOP
...
Hello and Thank You.
looking forward to great work))
Thank you!
can't wait for this build...i picked up a 1946 UL couple of years ago. sat since 1989 but had less than 50 miles on the rebuild. all i had to do was replace the fuel shut off and the float and she fired right up. usually just 1 kick. the only other isssue was a loose ground from the switch to the mounting plate. definately fun to ride. ride safe.
They really are fun and smooth.
Looking forward to seeing this build really get put together. It’s going to make a sweet ride. Of people passing out is what I am running into with my Sportster. Those who worked on them have died out. I have decisions to make here too. I have found some gremlins here with my Sportster. Have a offer to own a 74 Moto Guzzi V85 Police motorcycle also.
Decisions, decisions. Do you have access to Guzzi stuff? I do like those Guzzis though.
@@pacificmike9501 I find most of my parts on EBay for my motorcycles. Or through people on Facebook groups that deal with these motorcycles. I do too they are beautiful motorcycles
In 1970 I looked at a ULH 80 full dresser fully running $500, looked a bit big for me, I passed and bought a Triumph Bonneville 650 instead … been kicking myself ever since
There's more of them out there.
Interesting video for sure Mike.
Glad you enjoyed it
Mike, this video popped up. I wish I was smart enough to help you. Tatro machine has a head full of knowledge and a hell of an inventory. Good luck with that project.
Thank You.
Great video as always, getting excited about this build for sure!👍👍
Thank You. It should be fun.
Oh yea
Thank You.
Hello from Sweden🇸🇪. Looks like many hours of fun👍. Can't wait to see and hear it run...but first things first🙂. Kjell Blomstrand" the swede"
Hello! We're havin' fun now. Thank You.
You got a great disposition Mike I enjoy watching keep up the good work
Thanks, will do!
Love your videos, Mike! So much history taking place in those engines and very nice to make some comparison with the modern engines, not the same but still not too diffeerent. Oh btw, got a Pacific Mike T-shirt now....took some time to get it, but now I can rep in Sweden.
Thank you very much!
I'm sorry for the miss spelled words it was late but I saw your project the flat head I'm happy that your starting it my frainds had an old army flat head someone panted it yellow so we left it alone it was a rigged hill climber we would climb the cliffs across from the nimbus fish hatchery near hwy 50 before the bridge was maid the American River I live in washington state now well life has its way and it's bed time thanks for sharing your life with us I'll be watching I share miss riding maybe some day Lemay Nelson
I remember being in Magri's shop back in the seventies. It was awesome then with a beautiful collection of old bikes. I hope I spelled that right.
You just answered my question thanks
You bet.
How do you prime a fresh shovelhead motor?
Priming with fuel to start cold? Priming oil system to get air out? I don't under stand the question.
@@pacificmike9501 sorry the oil to the engine
I am pacific Mike this is Eric one of your watchers I like everything you’re doing I’m glad to see you’re building that crackhead Harley the way you want I’m kind of the same way when it comes to building bicycles I don’t have my style I don’t do styles for other people if they don’t really like them that much that’s on them but thanks for all the good stuff you showing
Thank You.
I real like your show please take your time I love this my mother's first husband had a bike shop my mother used to help breaking them down for repairs when I was young my mom back me from the beginning so biking has been in my family also my late brother also when I was young he would take to Armando Maureen Harley Davidson the O'Donnell shop he would put me on one of new bikes Armando would laugh I could barely reach the handle bare I couldn't be leave I saw him at the Ardently new shop and he remembered me I love our people I'm old now I wish I had one now Mike
Sounds like you have some beautiful memories. We just need to keep up with events as they're happening again. We can't quite relive the past, but we can make new memories. Thank You.
That will be very satisfying to watch it get built. Beautiful cam cover case, eh? Those hand cast engines are my favorite. I think if I could un-invent anything, it would be CNC machined engine externals.
Mike, do you have less vibration with your engine over modern engines?
Sure. But, you can properly balance the new ones. There are different dynamics which affect smoothness with the different designs. This Flathead should be very smooth other than I'll have to add a bit of a raspy cam just to excite me at idle. It should be extremely smooth at high speed.
Do you build your own cranks and lower ends?
Once in a while. I don't do it often enough to be proficient. Quite often, I have Truitt and Osborne build the flywheel assembly and then I install it. I love new flywheels, shafts and rods.
@@pacificmike9501 I used to true them on a small lathe between centers
I'm going to think about what said about grinding the cams. I just can't visualize how that would work without lengthening the valve stem. But I'll be watching this a few mor times I'm sure.
Pushrods or lifters are adjustable in length. They are made for that purpose.
Hey Mike. Is the transmission a 3 speed or can you make it a 4 or 5 or even a 6 speed?
All of those Big Twin transmissions were four speeds from 36-79. Then came five speeds. There were 4 speeds in solid mounts and 5 speeds in rubber mounts. The only exceptions were 3 speeds with a reverse for Big Twins equipped with sidecars. There are no other gears sets I know of that can be installed to turn them into anything else. When they say 5 or 6 in a four, they mean a 5 or 6 speed transmission that will fit in place of the original 4 speed.
I was wondering if you are going to bump up the compression any to 71/2 or 8?
We'll talk about it some more. When we do a little work for flowing.
Hi Mike, do you ever get problems, (like we do with some British bikes) with these motors wet sumping with the gear driven oil pumps?
Sure. Gravity takes over when they sit too long.
Worked with a guy named Bill
We called him wildbill
Older guy always said more air more power
Mind ya I'm 70
He was one of those wwii guys
And man did I learn a ton of info from him
He got me my job at Harley 50 years ago
He would take a El or a vl or any older motor and make it run
Good lawd I miss that man
Sorry to babble
Peace brother
I understand. I had one of those. I miss him too. Take care.
Muito bom o conteúdo👍
Yep.
Mike can you sleeve the cylinder
I have them done by the guys who do that.
Mike when are you going to start assembly of this big bore flat head ?
A whole lot of prep to go. This is old machinery, all must be decided and properly fitted. Not modern stuff.
Tatro machine could possibly help you
I'm sure. I got a few old boys around me still.
Greetings from Finland, i has 90s 150cid top fuel harley in my garage with delkron dr2 case... it would be nice to modify that in someday to flathead design and put blower on it and run it as supercharged flathead nitro...
Now that would do it.
Hi mike,
You mentioned putting sleeves in your cylinders if needed. I’m looking to put sleeves in my ironhead cylinders. Just wanting to know are they safe once installed. By that I mean not coming loose in the bore.
I've used them alot. In fact, I'm running them in two bikes now. I believe them to be better and wear longer than the cylinders without sleeves. But, they must be done by a competent machinist. I normally send the to "L.A. Sleeve."
I was supprised to hear it only has 1:5 compression, I was suspecting 1:8 or so but apperently thats only for the 'modern' engines not the flatheads
With a Flathead, due to the way the air and fuel flow, you can have some flow or some compression, not both.
getting to know my little 45", as Mike says "torquey motors", get the rear tyre to chirp quite easily in slow corners , all be it accidentally.
Be kind to her now.
Hi Mike, good stuff...definitely gonna be following.
Have a 38UL (74") with a M51 in the my shop waiting for me to finish the 65FL. Has a hydra-glide front end with a right side drum, any idea what years the R/S drum was from?
Late sixties. I've forgotten which couple of years it was. Palmer's "How To Restore Your Harley Davidson" has it.
@@pacificmike9501 Right you are, pg. 224 ... 1969-1971... guess I just missed it.
Thanks...
Mike did people Convert the flathead engines to a Timken bottom end? I was Curious on that.
Quite complicated. Harley didn't put Timkens in Big Twins until 1955.
Hello thanks for this video sir, I got U 1941 case and need more parts like U flywheel, conrod, crank pin, do you have it sir?
Not really. I just don't have much stuff anymore.
@@pacificmike9501 Where I can find U flywheel used good pair with crankpin and conrod?
I was waiting for you to say what year, because I had no clue, lol. Very cool stuff Mike. Were they always 74 or 80 inch, or were they smaller from the factory?
They came in 74 and 80 inch versions. The other Flatheads Harley built were 45 cubic inch. Everything was smaller.
Cool!
Thank You.
Ah, Isambard Kingdom Connecting-Rods, the girders of Liberty's torch,
a working piston's rocking chair, bolted to freedom's porch.
Few revolutions are needed here, with breathing strong & deep,
there's plenty of time to finish their meal, the pilot's gone to sleep . . .
That loping rhythm & steady burn, as flywheels soak the pulse,
is soporific to the core, & they run like nothing ulse.
(Apologies for that rather nasty splinter, literally scraped from the very bottom of the language barrel, I have no shame)
Time for tea, toast & whimsical thoughts on crank throw, rod lengths & piston speed, - or next door's new bikini. Y'all : )
You say it so well. Your description makes me hear it even now, before it's built. How'd you know about next door? You'd love her. She's actually coming over for tea.
@@pacificmike9501 - Lady, if he offers you some fava beans & a nice Chianti - leg it! : )
Mike I have watched a bunch of your videos and have learned a lot. I recently inherited a old sportster that has a 45 magnum engine in it. I can't find much information on this engine, can you suggest someone that may be able to help? Thanks in advance
A "Magnum 45" is basically a 45" Flathead Harley with a 900 S Sportster overhead valve topend. There was a magazine article many years ago where Mr. Smith of "Custom Cycle Engineering" built such a beast and it showed all the details. This was somewhere in the very early 80's. We built one in the shop I worked in at the time. Check with "Cusom Cycle Engineering." They are a manufacturer of parts in California and still in business. Nice people. They can most likely get you all the information you need.
@@pacificmike9501 I did reach out to that shop recently, the person that responded said they said they couldn’t help with engines, that they specialize in parts for forks. I believe Randy Smith retired long ago. Appreciate the reply Mike!
Go to Google. In the search bar, type in "Randy Smith Harley Davidson Magnum 45." There is bunches in there.
TATRO MACHINE is the man wh3n it comes to Flatheads.
Thank You.
She's a beauty
Thank You.
I asked you if you need that stainless and you said you are privet lol ....
Thank You.
Hi, Mike the post office mailed me a notice that there was postage dew on my shirt, so I think I managed to pay it, but their software is not so good since the wife, and I retired 4 years ago. You might want to check with whomever handles your orders.
And don't worry about the difference in the money. I owe you way more than that for the education and personal responses to my questions.
missing-man-formation-----sadness
We keep going and learn what we have to. Yes, it's sad, but look at the folks we've had in our lives.
@@pacificmike9501 Hi-Mike-I-took-your-advice-and-took-a-look-of-those-we-had-in-our-lives-I-did.-Well-after-getting-photo-albums-out-all-of-sunday-afternoon-I-had-this-odd-salty-substance-in-my-eyes.It-is-incrediable-of-all-the-care-given-to-me-and-now-it-is-my-turn-to-do-same-as-I-have.-just-give-them-the-parts-to-ride-their-hearts-out.Son-and-I-watch-all-your-shows-together-and-I-explain-what-you-are-doing-wrong-building-ha.Your-middle-coast-friends.Curtis-and-Jesse.to-poor-to-pay-attention
Im not volentary Billy Lane . But He is knows Flat Head . . Maybe He could Be of Help ?
I'm pretty well set.
You will complete your project I'm sure I now nothing about costume builds but I do like being around people that do I'm home recovering from a DOCTOR'S SCEW UP AND IT'S SLOW GETTING BACK SO I WHAT CHANGES YOUR SHOW AND IT CHEERS ME UP I MISS SEEING YOU AND CAMERA MAN MIKE I GUESS WE ALL HAVE THINGS WE ARE GOING THROUGH HOPE TO SEE YOU ON THE TUBE SOON LEMAY NELSON
See you soon.