1940 Serviglide

[pd]

Nice work , Tom .

Looks a lot better than my makeshift fins .
They do the job . Just don't look exactly right . LOL

Pete .

[kartjockey]

PD.  That's unique!

[pd]

PD.  That's unique!

 Thanks and you're probably right , Tom .
I can't imagine anyone being as 'desperate' as I was to reach cooler temps .

Someday , I'd like to install a plug base temperature gauge to see just how hot that motor gets .

Pete .

[Ricks]

PD.  That's unique!

 Thanks and you're probably right , Tom .
I can't imagine anyone being as 'desperate' as I was to reach cooler temps .

Someday , I'd like to install a plug base temperature gauge to see just how hot that motor gets .

Pete .

Pete, use a no contact thermometer on the head.  I've seen as low as 280 degrees on some to as hot as 370 on some.

[pd]

Pete, use a no contact thermometer on the head.  I've seen as low as 280 degrees on some to as hot as 370 on some.

Rick ,

That seems a safe temp range . A lot of the 50cc motors run in that area . From what I understand , 400 degrees and up is a dangerous region .

Pete .

[kartjockey]

So some updates on the Serviglide.  The brake hubs have been painted and with the rims already being re-chromed I have taken them to have the spokes installed. It's the same guy that did my green bike.  I had taken several pictures of the wheels before I took them apart.  The spoke lacing is very unique as the spokes are the same size on both side of the hub.  He was willing so I let him at 'em!

The fender holes have been repaired and re-drilled. 

And recently,  I had the pleasure to meet Bob Filip.  he is the original owners son.  Now living in Tennessee he still comes back to Michigan for family and to tend to a small farm north of here that his dad had.  He was excited to see the bike again and although it wasn't finished I offered to let him ride it when he returns next year.  His reply, "I better not...probably wreck it again!

Such as Rodney is Bob is an intellectual guy as well.  He had many interesting stories of his time at Ford motor Company.  We could have talked a long time. 

[pd]

Thanks for the update , Tom .
Hopefully , we'll see it in Portland next summer .

Pete .

[kartjockey]

More work done on the Serviglide.  I don't know if over time things 'settled' on the frame but gradually the filler neck on the gas tank was wearing against the frame brace there.  So I welded the hole closed in the rear tank hanger and re-drilled it to slightly lift the tank a bit. 

After cleaning the frame thoroughly I noticed holes in the floor board.  Upon cleaning them out I found them to be threaded.  So I zoomed in on the brochure and noticed what looked like trim pieces garnishing each side of the floor board. I came up with the trim pieces and matched holes to the threaded holes.  Will need to decide what coating on them to use if any.

Also remade the splash guard.  It also had threaded holes on each side by the neck of the frame.  This design is my speculation of how it may have looked as the top portion of the splash guard was cracked off and missing.

I have the tank etched clean now and have purchased POR-15 to maintain a nice inner tank surface.

[pd]

Tom ,

The upper splash guard you came up with looks like it's suppose to be , to me .

And , Por15 doesn't have a very good reputation in the motorcycle world . Maybe good for a while and then separates making a real mess in the tank . Granted , maybe it wasn't applied meticulously . But , there's been way too many bad reports for me to ever chance using it .
Caswell is likely some of the best tank sealer to be found . I don't recall ever seeing a bad review .
https://caswellplating.com/epoxy-gas-tank-sealer.html

Pete .

[Ricks]

As always, excellent work!
I agree with Pete, I’ve read a bunch of bad reviews about Por tank sealer. I went with Bill Hirsch sealer on 2 bikes, seemed to work well.
I was surprised by the bad por sealer reviews, as I have used por-15 coatings on several things over the years and I find it excellent.

[kartjockey]

I picked up my wheels from the bike shop.  Kevin got the spokes right via the photos I took of the wheels before removing the spokes.  Kevin has been doing spokes a long time but kept commenting how 'heavy duty' the rims were.   He's a great guy that is helpful and professional.  Glad he was willing to do them.  These wheel use the same length spoke on both sides of the hub using  unique spoke holes.  So glad my choice of replacement spokes and nipples all worked out! 

[kartjockey]

I finished the headlight for the Serviglide.   I had the bezel re-chromed and polished all of the outside small bezels around the green jewels.   Tested with a variable voltage supply.  There are small slits in the reflector inside that are aligned with the filament of the center bulb so when it is turned on it lights up the green jewels.  The switch can be switched to 'D' for dynamo or 'B' for battery.  There is a battery mount inside.  Miller is a British company and at the time of manufacture it is believed that a person had to supply lights on their vehicle whether you were running or stopped.

[pd]

Lookin' good , Tom .
Neat idea , the reflector slits .

Pete .

[Ricks]

If you hold the phone a little lower we could see your handsome face in the chrome ring! Lol

[kartjockey]

The gas cap on the left is the original one from the serviglide.  I had it nickeled only as the ones I have seen seem to be nickeled but no chrome. 

The other cap while being a 'reasonable facsimile thereof' and is very nice I still had to send the original out to be redone!

These repro caps may still be seen on Ebay.  Search 'Harley JD oil caps'   $60