Okay, here we go. Let me tell you about this ’65 Harley Electra Glide I messed with.
First off, I saw this old girl sitting in a garage. Covered in dust, paint peeling, you name it. The owner was like, “Yeah, it’s been sitting here for ages. Wanna buy it?” I figured, why the hell not? I’ve always wanted to tinker with a classic Harley.
So, I got her home. Man, was she rough. Tires were flat, battery was dead, chrome was all rusty. But I could see the potential, you know?
Step one: Tear it all down. I mean everything. Took off the fenders, the tank, the engine, the whole shebang. Labeled all the parts, took a ton of pictures. Important to do that, trust me.
Then came the fun part (and by fun, I mean a lot of cursing):
- Engine rebuild. This was a big one. The cylinders were scored, the pistons were shot. I had to get a new top end kit. Honed the cylinders myself, replaced the pistons, rings, and all the gaskets. Made sure everything was torqued down to spec.
- Transmission overhaul. Gears were worn, bearings were shot. Replaced all the worn parts, adjusted the shift linkage. That took forever to get just right.
- Frame work. The frame had some rust and a few dings. Sanded it down, filled the dents, and gave it a fresh coat of paint. Went with a classic black, of course.
- Electrical nightmare. The wiring was a rat’s nest. Replaced all the old wires, the voltage regulator, and the generator. Getting the charging system working properly was a real pain.
- Chrome restoration. Spent hours polishing the chrome. Some parts were too far gone, so I had to get them re-chromed. Expensive, but worth it.
After all that, it was time to put it all back together. This was like a giant puzzle. Slowly but surely, the Electra Glide started to take shape again.
New tires, new brakes, new seat, fresh paint on the tank and fenders. I went with the original colors, of course. Wanted to keep it as close to stock as possible.
Finally, the moment of truth. Put some gas in the tank, crossed my fingers, and hit the starter. It cranked for a bit, then… BRAP! She fired right up! Sounded like a Harley should sound. Sweet!
Took her for a ride. Man, it was like stepping back in time. The Electra Glide rode smooth, handled great, and turned heads everywhere I went.
It wasn’t easy, and it took a lot of time and money. But seeing that old Harley back on the road, running like a champ? That was worth every bit of it.
Biggest lesson learned? Take your time. Don’t rush anything. And always, always label your parts! You’ll thank yourself later.
