1974 Harley X90

J

jsmith1107

Member
#1
#1
As posted a few months ago, I found this bike on CL just out of the blue. Everynight I go into CL and check out "what is out there" for sale and it was one minute before I signed in that this bike went up for sale. Not a bad little bike, as usual it has it's little dent in the corner of the gas tank from the handlebar hitting it but it's easily fixable. The bike has around 1100 miles on it and I got it for a song---at least I think I did since I havent' had one since I was a kid---and really wanted it!!! And when you really want something, price is irrevelant it seems. LOL

This past weekend I took it apart completely. I have found all the parts I need for it and a big thanks to X90 Rider---he gave me a few places to check and they had it all for the most part!! I also combed thru CL of a lot of cities and found a few hard to find parts.

Taking parts to Zinc plater today and then this weekend to the painter---this one wont' be a large "time investment" but will be fun to see it when it is done.
 
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herringlon

herringlon

Member
#3
#3
I am interested in what you are zinc plating as well. I have a Harley z90 (the big brother to your mini with larger 16 inch rims but same exact engine) and I want to rust proof a bunch of old rusty hardware. I called a local plating company and they do zinc and nickel plating. I told them what I had (small bucket of bolts, axels, etc.) and the lady at the plating place said bring it in and the minimum cost was like 40 bucks and/or 18 cent a pound to plate whatever I brought in.

Not sure what they will say when I show up with my previously rusty bolts (soaked them in evapo-rust already) but I guess I will see in a few weeks. I also thought about having them zinc plate some old (chrome gone) Rupp handlebars. I don't care about shine obviously but getting rusty again is not what I want to see.
 
J

jsmith1107

Member
#4
#4
Well, honestly I went off of what X90 Rider posted a few months (maybe even longer ago) about what needs to be zinc plated for restoration purposes. I am actually zinc plating the wheel hubs as they come apart and one side of one is corroded. X90 said that most people paint these but the they are supposed to be zinc. Anyway, having those done and bolts, nuts, etc. I really kind of want to restore it back to original. It wasn't a bad looking bike but the tank had a pretty good sized dent in the front corner and there was some paint missing or chipped off on other things as well so thought I would just go the distance and re-do the whole bike. I just thought it would look funny to do the black and nothing else. I dont' know---sometimes I go overboard. Ha! I did a Honda 305 Scrambler a few years back and did it where I didn't do the zinc and didnt' go the extra mile and regretted it. So, here I am!! I will post more pics when I get further in the process.
 
J

jsmith1107

Member
#5
#5
OH, and yeah you are right---a local company said that a bunch of bolts, nuts, etc are like $35 minimum charge---the process doesn't cost that much and will take care of potential rust as well.
 
J

jsmith1107

Member
#6
#6
Zinc Plating

Well, zinc is done and looks great!! Not a bad price either---only $50 and that included the rims---a lot cheaper than the chrome is going to cost me on my 66 Honda Scrambler in a few months. Took the black items that needed painting to the painter last week---should be done this coming Friday---Yay!!!

Making progress...............
 
J

jsmith1107

Member
#8
#8
I actually took these parts to a sandblaster first who tumbled the nuts, bolts, and other small parts. He also blasted the hubs and then I took them to the zinc plater. This company does not do chrome---just zinc. I have another guy that I take my chrome parts to.
 
J

jsmith1107

Member
#12
#12
Coming along well I think. I have polished chrome, cleaned aluminum, cleaned the engine up well, painted some small black parts, and have also painted a few parts with the Harley crinkle paint.

I am just waiting for my painter to get done with the tank and frame and then it will be time to put it back together again! :smile:
 
J

jsmith1107

Member
#15
#15
Well, tank is almost done now---heck of a nice shine put on by the painter I used---I really like it!! Now to see if I can decipher where every piece on this motorycle goes again---my mind seems to forget---must be age!! Thank goodness I took a ton of pictures during disassembly---hopefully I have everything captured.
 
J

jsmith1107

Member
#17
#17
A little progress this weekend although not anywhere near the amount I wanted to get done---started putting the front forks together but the rubber boots were not the correct ones---need to send those back and get the correct ones from Ohio. The clip that goes on the throttle grip is not a fun chore at all---I spent half and hour trying to get it on and finally before I screwed something up or chipped some paint, I decided to lay it down and tackle it another day. :confused:
 
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