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Oz Howard/Harley project

  • Joolstacho
    Joolstacho
    5 years ago
    Hi lads, I'm Jools, rider and restorer of more years than you'd want to know.
    My latest project is one that's a bit 'off the wall', An 810cc Australian Howard vee twin in Harley running gear.
    (Hopefully the pic will appear).
    The thing has a Norton Commando 'box and diaphragm clutch which is good.
    I won't be expecting performance out of it... more of a 'curio' really, good for rattling out my fillings!

    I'm going to need some help Identifying things as I'm not familiar with Harley stuff, (most of my work has been Brit... Velocette, BSA, Triumph and also a few jap smokers etc).
    For example it has 41mm forks, and I need to know what front brake calliper to look for. It will have 3.5" mounting bolt centres.
    I should add that the disc rotors are 10"dia and about 4.7mm (O.185") thick.

    Any idea what the frame is from? It has a number but it's been partially obscured ???1919+ MB.

    Cheers.

  • LOFTYBOB
    LOFTYBOB
    5 years ago
    I'll buy it off you and save you some heartache mate, good luck with it and welcome
  • Moik
    Moik
    5 years ago
    Pardon my ignorance mate, didn't know howard was australian. Wow.
  • Baloffski
    Baloffski
    5 years ago
    Can I Can I Drool.......
  • taztiger4
    taztiger4
    5 years ago
    Quoting Joolstacho on 20 Nov 2018 06:24 AMedited: 20 Nov 2018 05:54 AM

    Hi lads, I'm Jools, rider and restorer of more years than you'd want to know.

    My latest project is one that's a bit 'off the wall', An 810cc Australian Howard vee twin in Harley running gear.
    (Hopefully the pic will appear).
    The thing has a Norton Commando 'box and diaphragm clutch which is good.
    I won't be expecting performance out of it... more of a 'curio' really, good for rattling out my fillings!

    I'm going to need some help Identifying things as I'm not familiar with Harley stuff, (most of my work has been Brit... Velocette, BSA, Triumph and also a few jap smokers etc).
    For example it has 41mm forks, and I need to know what front brake calliper to look for. It will have 3.5" mounting bolt centres.
    I should add that the disc rotors are 10"dia and about 4.7mm (O.185") thick.

    Any idea what the frame is from? It has a number but it's been partially obscured ???1919+ MB.

    Cheers.

    There was a Howard built that was in Ozbike very early days, mid to late 80s I reckon, was a cracking little bike, may have even won custom bike of the year, may have been in a BSA frame
  • brucefxdl
    brucefxdl
    5 years ago
    be interesting to see it going,nothing like a project to keep you occuppied.cheers
  • Far Canal
    Far Canal
    5 years ago
    Saw a really nice custom bike that had a Howard rotary hoe engine in it at the "Sydney motorcycle show" back in the mid 1980's. From memory it had a triumph gearbox and the maker of the bike had fabricated many of the parts and done an excellent job. I had a bit of a yak with him as it was the standout bike there in my opinion at the time. It did feature in one of the magazines of the day. So it's probably out there in googleland.
    There was also the meanest looking tattooist at that show who was wearing a tee shirt that stated boldly, "My son is a cunt".  No one was queuing up at his stall, go figure!.
    Oh yeah, welcome Jools.
  • dyna13
    dyna13
    5 years ago
    What a beast, love it
  • Far Canal
    Far Canal
    5 years ago
    Here are pics of 2 from the 80's


    howardsRMphoto.jpg
  • Joolstacho
    Joolstacho
    5 years ago
    Thanks for the replies lads.
    Interesting -those in the show (Far Canal's pics). - Well those fellers have solved a problem but replaced it with another one IMHO. They've stretched the frame/wheelbase a lot, and put the (triumph) 'box behind the saddle-tube.
    They've done it because the BTH Mag sits at the back of the timing cover, and fouls the gearbox. Won't fit.
    My plan (I reckon a better solution), is to leave the wheelbase/frame as it is, and re-mount the mag BEHIND the gearbox, so it can be lowered to align with the mag drive output.
    It'll need a shaft drive, but I don't think that'll be too hard to set up. The load on the mag drive shaft will be minimal, so just a slim shaft will suffice, but It'll need a little flexible coupling to take care of minor misalignment and vibration. Easy...
    (Famous last words!)

    Any I.D on the frame? and what sort of calliper I should look for?
  • Far Canal
    Far Canal
    5 years ago
    Don't remember either one of the previous pics being the actual one I saw at the show that day. They were just put there as examples of other peoples efforts for your perusal.
    If I was building one, I would steer well clear of a shaft drive.
    BUT, it's a free world and good luck with your build.
    Be nice to see something different, Aussie and kickarse.
  • Joolstacho
    Joolstacho
    5 years ago
    I should have explained better.
    I definitely wont give it a shaft drive!
    It's just the magneto which will be driven by a shaft. just a slim 8mm dia shaft will do it.
  • Krash Kinkade
    Krash Kinkade
    5 years ago
    I remember that Howard at the Sydney custom bike show, in the 80's , too FC. saw it in Ozbike too. think the owner builder made a few using the Old Howard motor's. they were never made to be used in MC's . so was never a bike called a Howard, just a Farm Motor.
    look's like the front end u have off an FLH, but could be aftermarket.
    if I remember right, Howard motors made in the Parramatta area, but no idea when they stopped making. Also no idea about spare parts. could contact Parramatta historical Soc.

  • Joolstacho
    Joolstacho
    5 years ago
    ... yep, CI cases, and bronze timing cover, (looks pretty cool).
    I just pulled a head, and the piston is very clean, bore and fit excellent, so it looks like the PO has done the right thing.
  • graeme
    graeme
    5 years ago
    I have probably got the ozbike mag will try and dig it out
  • GGUser530
    GGUser530
    8 months
    Quoting Far Canal on 20 Nov 2018 07:53 AMedited: 20 Nov 2018 07:59 AM

    Saw a really nice custom bike that had a Howard rotary hoe engine in it at the "Sydney motorcycle show" back in the mid 1980's. From memory it had a triumph gearbox and the maker of the bike had fabricated many of the parts and done an excellent job. I had a bit of a yak with him as it was the standout bike there in my opinion at the time. It did feature in one of the magazines of the day. So it's probably out there in googleland.
    There was also the meanest looking tattooist at that show who was wearing a tee shirt that stated boldly, "My son is a cunt".  No one was queuing up at his stall, go figure!.
    Oh yeah, welcome Jools.

    Hi mate I was surfing and came across your old post regarding the 2 Howards in the 1985 Sydney show. Those bikes are mine, I still have all 3 and are in mint condition. there are comments in a further post here by someone who knows NOTHING about them but shot his mouth off anyway. Both those bikes were riden into the show and every show they've been in. The frames are my own design and hand built. The ign is dual points not magneto.I will upload phots shortly.
    Kiwi.
  • paulybronco
    paulybronco
    8 months
    Looking forward to the pics 
  • Far Canal
    Far Canal
    8 months
    Quoting Far Canal on 20 Nov 2018 07:53 AMedited: 20 Nov 2018 07:59 AM

    Saw a really nice custom bike that had a Howard rotary hoe engine in it at the "Sydney motorcycle show" back in the mid 1980's. From memory it had a triumph gearbox and the maker of the bike had fabricated many of the parts and done an excellent job. I had a bit of a yak with him as it was the standout bike there in my opinion at the time. It did feature in one of the magazines of the day. So it's probably out there in googleland.
    There was also the meanest looking tattooist at that show who was wearing a tee shirt that stated boldly, "My son is a cunt".  No one was queuing up at his stall, go figure!.
    Oh yeah, welcome Jools.

    Quoting GGUser530 on 05 Aug 2023 06:43 AM

    Hi mate I was surfing and came across your old post regarding the 2 Howards in the 1985 Sydney show. Those bikes are mine, I still have all 3 and are in mint condition. there are comments in a further post here by someone who knows NOTHING about them but shot his mouth off anyway. Both those bikes were riden into the show and every show they've been in. The frames are my own design and hand built. The ign is dual points not magneto.I will upload phots shortly.

    Kiwi.

    Hi Kiwi, that was near 40 years ago, fancy that. You must've talked to lots of people at that bike show so doubt you would remember me. I was amazed that you had fabricated the primary cover (I think?). I had said to you I would have cast it because I was a patternmaker back then. Oh yeah I believe you did ride those bikes, I saw one of them parked behind the bank in Wahroonga not long after. Did wonder if you were inside robbing it to fund your passion. Pretty cool you still have them.
  • GGUser530
    GGUser530
    7 months
    J1 Pictures 299.jpg
    This one was white in the 1985 show. Still runs and is about to get a full make over.
  • GGUser530
    GGUser530
    7 months
    J1 Pictures 258.jpg
    Yes the primary covers are hand made.
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