Huffy Davidson WLA Build

[Nightster]

I know I already have a build thread going, why not another one lol.

so I’m starting with a Huffy Deluxe. I plan on converting it to a WWII Harley WLA. I plan on adding a rifle scabbard, faux rifle, saddlebags, an ammo can, headlight, taillight and a blackout headlight & taillight.

I will leave the rack on the back for the saddle bags. I plan on putting some Harley style Chinese made forks. I also plan on adding a bigger gas tank. I have a pic below that will fit the image. it will also get some knobby tires. And a big tan seat with a suspension seat post. Then to finish it off, some olive drab paint.

to power it, I will still probably go with a China doll 2 stroke. Someday I will step up to a 4 stroke predator, possibly for a Harley BTR build, lol.

Tom, this is the build I will use the new fender braces.

anyway, deconstruction has begun

 

[Nightster]

Here’s my inspiration

might even add some highway bars

 

[Nightster]

I guess I will play around with this build today, since I failed to get brazing rods last week and am completely out. No place to buy brazing rods around here on a Saturday or Sunday.

so anyway I’ll probably scrub the paint off of this frame today

 

[PeteMcP]

This should be good.

If I may make a suggestion Danny. Check out the leather goods offered on eBay by India's craftsmen. There are some great deals to be had on some spiffy solo saddles and saddlebags intended for use on Royal Enfields. Plenty choices. Plain, embossed and variously stitched types can be had. Example pics attached. These might work for your WLA tribute. All the stuff I've bought via eBay from sellers in India are bargain priced, shipped post free and I've never had to pay any import duties. Just my two penn'orth.

 

[Nightster]

Gonna need some chemical remover to get in the tight spaces.

This should be good.

If I may make a suggestion Danny. Check out the leather goods offered on eBay by India's craftsmen. There are some great deals to be had on some spiffy solo saddles and saddlebags intended for use on Royal Enfields. Plenty choices. Plain, embossed and variously stitched types can be had. Example pics attached. These might work for your WLA tribute. All the stuff I've bought via eBay from sellers in India are bargain priced, shipped post free and I've never had to pay any import duties. Just my two penn'orth.

View attachment 107130 View attachment 107131

thanks for the tip, I like what I see better than some amazon stuff I see

 

[Nightster]

This should be good.

If I may make a suggestion Danny. Check out the leather goods offered on eBay by India's craftsmen. There are some great deals to be had on some spiffy solo saddles and saddlebags intended for use on Royal Enfields. Plenty choices. Plain, embossed and variously stitched types can be had. Example pics attached. These might work for your WLA tribute. All the stuff I've bought via eBay from sellers in India are bargain priced, shipped post free and I've never had to pay any import duties. Just my two penn'orth.

View attachment 107130 View attachment 107131

Can you provide a link? I’m looking but haven’t found what you posted.

 

[PeteMcP]

Sorry, I don't (can't) do links....
But I just went onto eBay and typed in....Royal Enfield solo seat. And saddlebags if you're interested in those too.

 

[Nightster]

Sorry, I don't (can't) do links....
But I just went onto eBay and typed in....Royal Enfield solo seat. And saddlebags if you're interested in those too.

Thanks Pete

 

[Nightster]

That huffy the paint is tough.

 

[Tom from Rubicon]

Powder coat, literally a molecular bond.

 

[Nightster]

So I have these various engines sitting around the property in different states of disrepair. Wondering if any of them would be a viable option for this build. Need to read some more. Can any of these be used as direct drive or would they require a jack shaft and gearing? One is a tiller the rest are mowers.

 

[Nightster]

After some further research it looks like the tiller by far and away would be the easiest to do but still requires a jack shsft. And after watching a few videos, it requires much frame modification because if it’s size lol.

 

[wrench]

I know I already have a build thread going, why not another one lol.

so I’m starting with a Huffy Deluxe. I plan on converting it to a WWII Harley WLA. I plan on adding a rifle scabbard, faux rifle, saddlebags, an ammo can, headlight, taillight and a blackout headlight & taillight.

I will leave the rack on the back for the saddle bags. I plan on putting some Harley style Chinese made forks. I also plan on adding a bigger gas tank. I have a pic below that will fit the image. it will also get some knobby tires. And a big tan seat with a suspension seat post. Then to finish it off, some olive drab paint.

to power it, I will still probably go with a China doll 2 stroke. Someday I will step up to a 4 stroke predator, possibly for a Harley BTR build, lol.

Tom, this is the build I will use the new fender braces.

anyway, deconstruction has begun

Great build idea

My neighbor friend used to build 2 strokes. He would hand brush them olive green and hand paint a star on the gas tank and put a luggage rack on it with small messenger bags. He would advertise it as a tribute replica WW 1 messenger M/C Then he would sell the bike.
He even hand brushed his Harley Sportster Olive green like a WW 2 M/C. I was surprised at how good it looked. I called it a 20/20 paint job. It looks good 20 ft. away going 20 mph LOL.

 

[Nightster]

Great build idea

My neighbor friend used to build 2 strokes. He would hand brush them olive green and hand paint a star on the gas tank and put a luggage rack on it with small messenger bags. He would advertise it as a tribute replica WW 1 messenger M/C Then he would sell the bike.
He even hand brushed his Harley Sportster Olive green like a WW 2 M/C. I was surprised at how good it looked. I called it a 20/20 paint job. It looks good 20 ft. away going 20 mph LOL.

That great lol

and thanks it should be a fun build

 

[Nightster]

While this build should not require too much frame fabrication, I am going to need to add a front rack on the bike. It’s going to have to support the weight of a ammo can and a rifle scabbard frame.

I don’t see many viable options online for a front bicycle rack. Most are aluminum. Unless someone knows of a steel rack that I could actually weld to, I may have to fabricate my front rack.

 

[PeteMcP]

Build your own bespoke rack.
I doubt there's an off the peg one out there that'll suit your needs anyway.
Suitable tube, flat stock, and maybe some brackets such as those from the Bimini range (available from boat chandlers and mainly intended for use building boat canopy frames) would be a good starting point to make a rack that'll virtually bolt together. I've used stainless Bimini brackets for all kinds of stuff on my bikes.

 

[Nightster]

Build your own bespoke rack.
I doubt there's an off the peg one out there that'll suit your needs anyway.
Suitable tube, flat stock, and maybe some brackets such as those from the Bimini range (available from boat chandlers and mainly intended for use building boat canopy frames) would be a good starting point to make a rack that'll virtually bolt together. I've used stainless Bimini brackets for all kinds of stuff on my bikes.

Cool, thanks for the ideas Pete

 

[Nightster]

I am considering making some faux monarch or faux Harley Davidson forks for this build.

about 5:40 into this video this guy welds some uprights on his stock forks. He also adds a faux triple tree up top. Not planning on doing the 1/4” bars on the fork, however I could use the 1/4” bars for my front bike rack(welded to the front forks. My plan would different as I would add compression springs Around those uprights for a monarch style fork or a plate and another 2 springs on top for a Harley style fork. Taking a break from Hand filing brass on my Other build lol

 

[Nightster]

I started on the forks. If they fail, I have eBay lol. Have some springs in route, I’ll see what they look like.

 

[Nightster]

So after a little mockup, the handlebars need to go behind the springer uprights. But not as far as the stock steering stem moves it back when turned 180°. Have a new stem coming that will set the handlebars just behind the springs.