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Article By: Roadside Marty
Photos By: Milwaukee Mike
Originally Published In The July 2018 Issue Of Cycle Source Magazine
Permanent Vacation
There’s just something about a real chopper that just grabs my attention every time. This beautiful ‘59 Pan Shovel from Kenny Arrington does just that! Better known throughout the chopper underground as Kenny Slaughter. He’s been cranking out some incredible rides from “The Slaughter Shack” in St. Louis, MO for a few years now and he just seems to get better with each one. This particular sled was built for the sole purpose of having something worthwhile to put in a bike show in Milwaukee. Kenny knew that he had to step it up for this build, so he decided he would use some original chopper parts from the 70’s that you don’t see very often.
First thing he started with was a ‘59 Panhead motor and transmission that he picked up as a complete bike down in Tennessee. Now, some of you who are reading this might be wondering how or why this motor has Shovel heads with Pan lower end. Well, back in the late 60’s and early 70’s bikers used to put the newer Shovel heads on their Pan engines for better performance and some say looks as well. Hence the name Pan/Shovel. The motor and transmission had been rebuilt shortly before he bought the bike, so they were put aside so he could get started on the rest of the project.
The frame was picked up in Southern Illinois and it started life as an original ‘57 straight leg frame. Keeping in line with St. Louis tradition Kenny modified it with 2” of stretch in the downtubes and gave the neck 28° of rake to give it the “derake” style that St Louis is famous for. Kenny and another good brother, Tony Stone, molded the Wassel tank onto the backbone along with the horseshoe oil tank to give it a smooth look that flows with the bike. He turned to another wellknown name for the paintwork, The Flying Weasel. Weasel also kicked up that sweet white Bates style seat and matching P pad. Another rare piece is the square AEE AEE, yeah you read that right a SQUARE front end. I’ve only seen them in old Chopper magazines and I wasn’t sure they actually existed until I saw this one in person.
He picked it up along with that 19” front Invader mag wheel and square headlight from an old timer down in southern Missouri. That star hub rear wheel and mechanical rear brake setup was left over from another project and was used because Slaughter was running out of time. He didn’t have a matching rear Invader on hand or even a lead on one, but he wasn’t about to let that stop him. Those tight little Z bars were cut up and narrowed by Kenny and are held in place by a stock Harley one-piece clamp, they fit the front end perfectly. The sissy bar is another AEE item that’s not seen very much these days. After it was modified by Matt Jackson and Ryan Craft from Jackson’s Choppers, Kenny was ready to start assembly.
The motor and transmission slid in with no problems and Kenny ended up using a BDL 1 1/2” belt drive inside the tin primary for a little bit more performance and reliability. Personally, I like a skinny belt inside the tin type primary. As with most of the bikes that come out of the Slaughter Shack this one was set up with a suicide clutch and a jockey shifter. Now, some would say this is a finishing touch on a real chopper and I would have to agree. Another touch that just looks right are those upswept fishtail pipes!
After two months of gathering parts from swap meets all over his area and with a few random calls to a few certain old timers he spent a several long nights throwing back a few beers while George Strait kept him company on the radio and he got this sweet thing up and running. Kenny said this was a fun one. Shortly after he shared this one with us after the last Cycle Showcase STL, which by the way is one of the best bike shows that I’ve ever attended, he let this one go. But, you can rest assured he’s certainly got a few more under way. Having recently relocated Rachel, Ronnie and the rest of the family to a better, larger place out in the country, he’s definitely got things going his way! As always thanks for sharing one of your bikes with us brother, we’re ready for the next one! Roadside Marty
PERMANENT VACATION TECH SHEET
Owner: Kenny Arrington
City/State: St. Louis, MO
Builder: The Slaughter Shack
Year: 1959
Model: Pan Shovel
Value:
Time: 2.5 Months
Engine
Year: 1959
Model: Pan Shovel
Builder:
Ignition: Point
Displacement: 74cu
Pistons: Wiseco
Heads: Stock Shovel
Carb: S&S Super E
Cam: AB Grind
Air Cleaner:
Exhaust: Slaughter Shack
Primary: 1.5” BDL
Transmission
Year: 1959
Make: Harley-Davidson
Shifting: Suicide Clutch/Jockey Shift
Frame
Year: 1957
Model: Harely-Davidson
Rake: 28°
Stretch:
Forks
Builder: AEE
Type: Square
Triple Trees:
Extension: None
Wheels
Front Wheel: Invader
Size: 19”
Tire:
Front Brake:
Rear Wheel: Star Hub
Size: 18”
Tire:
Rear Brake: Mechanical
Paint
Painter: The Flying Weasel
Color: Boat Drink Pearls
Type:
Graphics: The Flying Weasel
Chroming:
Accessories
Bars: Z-Bars, Modified
Risers:
Hand Controls:
Foot Controls:
Gas Tank(S): Wassel-Molded
Oil Tank: Horseshoe
Front Fender: None
Rear Fender:
Seat: Bates Style
Headlight: Square
Tail Light: Three Two Choppers
Speedo: None
Photographer: Milwaukee Mike