Chiefy's Chipper

[Chiefy]

After covering the build of my Shovel Chop, (Chiefy's Choppa) here is the latest Chiefy's Chipper.

I picked up this '75 X90 for the "Right money", the condition was pretty poor so I stripped the thing back to nothing and started a full resto.

Progress to date:-








Shock absorbers have been completely rebuilt

Before:-

After:-


Still a fair way to go though.

Spares havn't been a problem so far but are getting scarce for the rarer '75 model.

Does anyone know a source for a colour match for '75 Sparkling Red paint, this was a standard colour across the Harley range.

[chopper]

Dave, Bikes looking good mate, look forward to watching it evolve

did you rebuild the shocks yourself? Mine are rusty and leaking on the SST so was just going to buy a pair of Hagons but if its worthwhile me re-building the stock I will do.

[BaZa®]

Early 1970's FLH's have sparkling red as well.....

........just trying now to find a code now....I've asked a few USA mates.

Good site here Dave: X-90 MiniBike - AERMACCHI WORLD

x90-1975-red-crashbar3.jpg

[kiwidave]

Great stuff!!! Will watch this with interest. Those are fab bikes.

[BaZa®]

From the USA Dave............

The paint on the MS50 I restored a couple years ago, was very close to the same as Massey Ferguson (tractor) red. It has a trace of orange in it. I have also found that Ford tractor blue is very close to the blue used on the 1973 Z 90. According to Lesslie at Moto Italia and Don at Charleston Custom Cycle (two of my main sources of NOS parts), the original paint codes are not available. There is a paint store near me that has a scanner that will read the paint off a good part and will build a code that will allow them to recreate the color.

Dave I have found this btw who said H-D's are tractors....

VLB5029 - MF super red paint 1ltr

iVLB5029.jpg


Cross Reference:
1384690 - Claas
VFLK3349 - John Deere
3620501M5 - Massey Ferguson

[Chiefy]

Originally Posted by chopper

Dave, Bikes looking good mate, look forward to watching it evolve

did you rebuild the shocks yourself? Mine are rusty and leaking on the SST so was just going to buy a pair of Hagons but if its worthwhile me re-building the stock I will do.

My X90 has only covered 600 or so miles since new and the shocks reflected just that, they are still oil tight and still boing and damp as they were intended but looked sh1t with red rusty springs and peeling paint. I did a cosmetic rebuild. Made a Spring compressor from a couple of old pipe flanges, a stick of M12 Allthread and a dozen M12 nuts. Compressed the springs and discovered how the things went together and had 'em apart. Got all the seperate components checked, cleaned, rechromed or painted and shuved 'em back together. Job Done, rechroming was eighty quid. For the originality I figured it was well worth it and to be honest how far will the bike get ridden every year. Handling will not be a major issue

[Chiefy]

Originally Posted by BaZa®

From the USA Dave............

Dave I have found this btw who said H-D's are tractors....

VLB5029 - MF super red paint 1ltr

Attachment 17285


Cross Reference:
1384690 - Claas
VFLK3349 - John Deere
3620501M5 - Massey Ferguson

Baz, I really appreciate your help with this although I have a scan of the original brochure with the paints specified I have been unable to get a decent match here. I'll give the Tractor paint a go. I hadn't thought that tractors would have been painted in a metallic paint but you learn something every day

[llew]

Looking good Chiefy.

Re paint 8Ball might be worth a call to see if they know, they are the only approved H-D painters for warranty, but do lots more.

The only Harley Davidson warranty approved custom paintshop in the UK. Custom paintwork, airbrushing, fine art, resprays and repair work

8 BALL HOUSE
DERWENT BUSINESS PARK
RIPLEY
DERBYSHIRE
DE5 3BZ

If you have any questions please call us on:
Workshop - (+44) 01773 746 674
Workshop mobile - 07918734725

[chopper]

Originally Posted by Chiefy

My X90 has only covered 600 or so miles since new and the shocks reflected just that, they are still oil tight and still boing and damp as they were intended but looked sh1t with red rusty springs and peeling paint. I did a cosmetic rebuild. Made a Spring compressor from a couple of old pipe flanges, a stick of M12 Allthread and a dozen M12 nuts. Compressed the springs and discovered how the things went together and had 'em apart. Got all the seperate components checked, cleaned, rechromed or painted and shuved 'em back together. Job Done, rechroming was eighty quid. For the originality I figured it was well worth it and to be honest how far will the bike get ridden every year. Handling will not be a major issue

Thanks Dave, i think i may just purchase the hagons as mine are pretty past it, will keep the original ones in the box of parts replaced for nostalgic reasons

[kiwidave]

Further info from Shovelhead guys familiar with 70s paint....

<quote>

On most vehicles, a portion of the manufacturers id# is designated for paint code so if he still has that, he can send the code here Order page and Prices
and they should be able to look up the pigment formula and mix it up. Kinda spendy for paint but necessary for an accurate restoration. If he's not going for a full on authentic resto then i would just get a sample or pic of the paint and take it to an automotive paint supplier. Most of them will have a spectograph and can match up a shade pretty well. On a 70's model is probably just a single stage paint with a clear coat anyways so there would be no worries about layering candies or pearls. Harley has had tons of different shades of red over the years but most of them are the same base coat with a slightly different opaque over the top of em. I would almost bet that their "real red" or "signal red" with a clear is a close match. Heres a list to the codes but it only goes back to the mid 80's

Harley Color Codes


<end quote>

Good luck matey.