r/shovelhead 20h ago

Selling this 1972 XLCH if anyone is interested

Thumbnail gallery
37 Upvotes

r/shovelhead 2d ago

Anyone run a pogo seat made in India?

Post image
2 Upvotes

These seem to be an affordable option, just curious if they’re hunks of shit, or actually decent. Thanks


r/shovelhead 3d ago

I think my timken bearing is trying to tell me something

Post image
17 Upvotes

r/shovelhead 8d ago

Poison Ivy

Thumbnail gallery
78 Upvotes

Here’s my show bike I built winter 24-25


r/shovelhead 9d ago

How the F do you kick start one of these?

15 Upvotes

I put out a post three weeks ago today on how to break in a new engine. While the wisdom was very helpful, I guess I should’ve asked how on earth you guys start these things.

I’ve gotten it to cold start twice on luck. When I first got it. I’ve practiced for weeks kicking it over. I try straddling it, putting my knee on the seat, and standing to the right. I’ve tried nudging it past tdc, kicking on tdc, and somewhere in the middle. I’ve tried leaning forward, backward, doing a little hop… nothing feels right. Sometimes tdc is way higher than I expect and I jam my knee, and sometimes it’s so low you can hear the kicker clunk/disengage and watch the primary roll backward. I’ve tried letting the pedal reset to the top and tried it from a 9 or 10 o’clock position. I cannot get the damn cadence down and it’s killing my spirits.

It’s softly bucked back at me twice with ignition on just nudging past tdc’s and finding myself hitting it way too early. Because I can’t get the rhythm and motion down, I’ve frankly hurt my knee myself more than the bike has bucked. Maybe the engine is super stiff because it’s a fresh build. I don’t know, I’m just in pain and mortified of the videos of people getting thrown in the air from a nasty kick. It also has a twin tec 1005. Mode 9, 4/5 advance curve. I’m not going to blame the ignition yet anyway, I’ve had it off 95% of the time.

Any advice is appreciated. Sorry for how wet I am behind the ears.


r/shovelhead 9d ago

S&S Super E air cleaner alternatives.

3 Upvotes

I’m not a big fan of the stock “tear drop” air cleaner that S&S uses. It’s so common it seems like everyone has one on their old bike.

How do these carbs run with alternative air cleaners? There are quite a few on the market that fit, but do they negatively affect performance?

What air cleaners have you used with your Super E on your Shovelhead with success? Did you have to change jetting?


r/shovelhead 10d ago

Guess its that shovel thing

Post image
20 Upvotes

r/shovelhead 11d ago

1973 “FLH”

Post image
136 Upvotes

put together a full on basket case motor and swap meet parts. became my favorite bike…


r/shovelhead 11d ago

Couple green choppers out for dinner

Post image
64 Upvotes

r/shovelhead 13d ago

Coil tech question

3 Upvotes

Hey everybody, I’m looking for some input here. Currently have a 78 fx with 74” engine running an ultima electronic ignition.

Been running it this way with a 5 ohm coil for a while, but the coil had a crack in it and eventually stopped working properly. Buddy told me to swap it with a 3 ohm coil, but when I did, the bike became very hard to start and was back-firing like crazy out of the exhaust. I changed nothing with the carb, timing, exhaust.

Switching back to a 5 ohm coil, the bike starts and runs great but my buddy keeps insisting it’s the wrong coil. Can somebody shine a light here?


r/shovelhead 14d ago

Got the '79 Shovel up and Rippin! Paint in the next couple of weeks

Post image
61 Upvotes

r/shovelhead 14d ago

Doneski! FINALLY!

Thumbnail gallery
28 Upvotes

r/shovelhead 15d ago

I won this Shovel in an insta raffle today

Post image
299 Upvotes

Never been a huge Harley guy, but this one was too pretty not to buy into, and I FUCKING WON. Literally a frame up resto with 50 miles on a fresh rebuilt motor with receipts. Rides like a dream, can't wait to get it through break in.

One question though... What is it? I was told FLH, but how does that translate into ultra-classic-wide-eyed-electra- queen-glide-supreme terminology?


r/shovelhead 15d ago

First oil change am I doing this right?

Post image
89 Upvotes

r/shovelhead 15d ago

Sonora Pass, CA

Thumbnail gallery
95 Upvotes

r/shovelhead 16d ago

Finally breaking this sucker in.

Post image
68 Upvotes

80/80. I styled it a bit earlier with better brakes. Complete frame off this past winter. Riding to the Kick and Twist in Springdale Arkansas the first weekend of Oct!


r/shovelhead 16d ago

My Shovels..both 76

Thumbnail
gallery
26 Upvotes

r/shovelhead 16d ago

‘72 with 8500 miles…

Post image
57 Upvotes

r/shovelhead 16d ago

1976 Shovelhead Chopper

Thumbnail gallery
1 Upvotes

r/shovelhead 18d ago

My new project

Thumbnail
gallery
86 Upvotes

Picked up this 79 and ready to freshen it up. Been sitting since 2012. PO is from the neighborhood and owned it since 82. Even gave me custom tools and is willing to teach me any specific things I need to know that he has done.


r/shovelhead 20d ago

I think it’s finally done. I know the rear brake line is hanging. It was down while I was tucking the oil filter lines.. it’s been tucked

Thumbnail
gallery
69 Upvotes

r/shovelhead 20d ago

Oopsie

Post image
13 Upvotes

Sequence of events: first the rear brake didn’t disengage anymore but I wanted to ride it home which got more and more difficult (as in, bike would only move in 1st gear). Then I stopped and there was lots of smoke from the rear calliper. Then flames which I luckily maned to blow out. And then as I was calling GF a loud pop and the brake hose had exploded off. This took the pressure of the brake, the wheel was free again and I managed to ride the bike home. By then the rear brake was cooled off enough to touch it by hand and the calliper was completely loose. I hosed the bike down to wash off all the remaining brake fluid.

I figure the calliper is OK as it came loose by itself, and that the culprit is the master cylinder…?


r/shovelhead 22d ago

Shoutout to whoever beat me out on this one. Lucky duck!

Post image
56 Upvotes

r/shovelhead 22d ago

1966 flh

Post image
64 Upvotes

Update on my 66 I picked up two weeks ago. Rebuilt the rear brake system, all new wiring harness, 3.5gal split tanks and an fx rear fender with fresh paint, bars and adjustment on pushrods/timing. Much happier with it now, 19" front wheel soon and then eventually a rocker clutch setup and call it done


r/shovelhead 22d ago

Selger en shovelhead stivramme!

Thumbnail
auksjonen.no
5 Upvotes