No tricks - It's a '46...

My first knucklehead.  1946.  I built so many for other friends of mine, but never got to have one myself.  Collecting parts and stashing stuff for quite a few years.  About all the parts I collected were damaged(as usual or I wouldn't get to have any of this stuff), screwed up...farted up...nobody wanted it - throw-away.  I got it all done, and for test runs and shakedowns - I guess it's ok.  The knuckle engine has a different sound, unlike a panhead.  I haven't really got into yet.  I need a run to Des Moines or Rockford to get the beat in my head, in my heart. It's that motor sound - it's what grinds into you - the rhythm - the beat.  Whether an XLCH, an XR, a CBR, a KX, a CR...or a new Mil' 8.... 

It's just the beat that you jo jo with. Like it or not, or like it !

Elliott doesn't really care about all this shit.

 

November 2008 - Morty (My 1st Blog Post from Nov. 2008)

My very best buddy Morty ("Morty The Official Shop Cat") passed away from natural causes last Sunday, Oct. 4th.  Morty was the best pet I ever had, and I documented many things ol' Mort did over the years with the expressions and adventures he did around the garage and shop.  This BLOG introduced me to many fellow motorcycle enthusiasts over all the years.  I remember trying to figure out how to post photos, type text, etc...and this first photo was my test to see if I could do it.   I'd see this big, biker dudes at swap meets and events, and one of the first things they'd ask is..."How's Morty?"  It was pretty cool.  The blogs are a dying method (almost gone fully actually), but there was a time when it was the hottest and best way to get the word out, meet people, they were just awesome !  Each time I get on here to post, Google makes weird changes, and you gotta learn all this crap again... it's like - Nothin' lasts forever for sure.  Makes me sad.  Buy hey... I got an Instagram (for short attention spans I call it) - and I still post on that.  I'll try to send a post now and then, but it just ain't the same - and I'll miss Morty, and I already miss the blogs - but times change - and we just got to go onward into the future - but never sell those old Harleys and keep the vintage bike spirit alive - and maybe I'll see or hear from you all soon?  Thanks for the great times we've had !  -Noot

Pawn Shop UL

My dad's friend found this at a pawn shops years ago... now rebuilt and ready to hit the road again... Old Harley Never Die !

 

Old Panhead Pistons Just Keep On Jumpin'

The day I rode to West Gate, Arlington, Brandon, Troy Mills, Coggon, Central City, Waubeek, Vinton, New Hartford, Shell Rock and Clarksville... and a whole lotta other places !

#52 for a Fifty Two

 

1967 Shovelhead

Got this '67FLH motor about wrapped up.  It came in really gross and rusty - but now it's ready for action !  Bone stock - but tight.  1967 was the 2nd year of the shovelhead engine production.  I reused and detailed about all the fasteners, except the case bolts nuts and rocker slotted nuts (from Colony).

The 80s rock kept me on task....

Just a tent and a tooth brush...

 Took a short trip - did some chopper campin' south of Dubuque.  Bottom photo is Guttenburg, Iowa.

1964 Sportster

I've been riding this some more lately....maybe make a run this weekend to a swap meet in Hugo, Minnesota.  I can only buy as much as my pockets and saddlebags will hold...might be a good idea !

 

Iowa's Island City

Did you know my late aunt was the mayor of this town once...?

The good 'ol days !

Rollin' on the River !

Steel Primary Adjuster Shoe

The early primary chain adjusters didn't have the "nylon shoe" on the adjuster pad...it just had this soft metal pad, permanently attached.  The pad wore just a tiny bit(where the chain grooves started to show) and you didn't want to run your chain over tight..  The face of the adjuster was a bit narrower to fit a KR(XLCH type) tin primary cover.  The clutch basket was narrower, so the shoe had to be a bit narrower too.  I've found those nylon pads aren't always the best since the retainers often come loose, and the nylon shavings from the pad can clog your countershaft needle bearing oiler.

I built this motor...tuning by Hartman...

Hartman's mill.  I went thru this ripper years ago - and it still runs pretty good.  You do your best, try not to skip steps or cut corners...and sometimes you get lucky.  He runs 2 carbs on everything - and he's good at it.  Tuning, jetting - he makes it work.  This bike is insane with details !

Nathan's Shop (he's on the right)

Full Moon Cycle in Dubuque, Iowa.  I stopped for a quick visit one year on my way to the Meltdown Drags in Byron, Illinois.  My chopper was packed !  Still runnin' that old, vintage square air cleaner.  PS. I'm not in this photo...I'm better lookin' than these two blokes...

NOTE: If you ever need a wheel laced and trued, Nathan is your guy.  He specializes in chopper wheels, spools, Sportster wheels of all types, hamburger and half-brake front wheels, super narrow stuff...also he builds (and rebuilds) old Sportster front ends of all types. 

The Supersuckers

She used to be Pretty - 
Now she's Pretty fucked up...

My favorite country band !
(well, he wears a cowboy hat...)

Pre-Ride Checks

 First thing I always do before a trip is a run with the Battery Tender to get that battery up-to-snuff.

I check the push rods, take a look at the points/condenser...and check the tires and air pressure.  I adjusted the chain a touch.  A twice around shot of my Amsoil chain lube (I like best).

My mousetrap (clutch) wasn't goin' all the way forward on some operations - so I adjusted that a bit - lubed the springs and all joints with my Lincoln Spray Grease - now everything works all nice and quiet !  No squeaks !  I removed both plugs - and they look exactly the same, you can't tell which cylinder they came from - but I switch 'em anyway each time.  Oil level is good in tank and tranny(just about 1/3 way up the throw-out bearing).

Haggle of a Start . . .

Had a fun day at Dubuque Speedway !

The ol' K Model just keeps rippin' !

Honing / Surface Grinding

Attempting to restore some panhead rocker blocks.  Surface grind the lowers - Bolt on a top - Sunnen hone the bore til' your check pin fits !  Give 'em .0008-.001 clearance seems to work !  It just sucks holding these damn things when you're honing (I made a handle jig deal) but still a good way to jam a finger, bust a knuckle or loose a fingernail !  But I love it !  Restoration of old H-D parts - the best on mother earth . . .

1961 XLCH - 12 Volt Electrics

Gas it up...Hit the Street !

I did a 12V conversion with 

Bosch Regulator...

Now I can see where I'm going..!

1950 Harley WR (Rebuilt)

These WR engines are rare.  The only way to buy one was through a dealer(of coarse) and you had to have a racing license.  Class C via AMA, American Motorcycle Association. 

This is a 1950. 

Special features (different from standard WL/45" engines include:

Sprocket Shaft (special for ball bearing)

Pinion Shaft w/oil groove (special for ball bearing)

Crank Pin (special size for WR rollers)

Drilled Connecting Rods

Special Lightened Flywheels

Special Cams (for WR only)

Special Ball Bearing Idler Gear and Spacer

Special Gear Cover for Ball Bearings and Wico

Ball bearings on #3 and #4 cams(both ends)

Ball bearings on #1 and #2 cams (case end only)

Special Angled Tappet Blocks

Flat Show Angled Tappets

Special Tappet Covers

Right Case (special casting for magneto idler gear stud)

Left and Right Case with special machining for Ball Bearings

Right Case machined and drilled for Wico/Edison Magneto

Special Cast Iron Cylinders with larger cooling fins, larger valves,

smoothed ports, and special valve angles...
Special Pop-Up Pistons (same as K, KH, KR)

Special Valve Springs

Special Cylinder Heads and Combustion Chamber 

No Head Gaskets !

____________________________________________________________

...and it all must be hand-fitted, must spin free, no binding with correct race

clearances and tolerances for high speed race situations...

Juice Brake on a Rigid

You'll need to weld a "backing plate stay" on the lower frame tail for the backing plate anchor stud to bolt to . . . (you can see the narrow, nylon insert lock nut I use).  I left the original (mechanical brake) stay (front middle) in case I want to go back to mechanical brake sometime.

I run a continuous (Russell brand) stainless, braided brake line all the way to a triple junction mounted off my rocker clutch up front.  The top outlet of my 3-way junction has the hydraulic brake light switch.(I use that late model little bugger, availaable at any H-D dealership.  They run 'em on all the new bikes.(I keep a spare in my tool kit in-case the switch would leak, you'd have no brakes !
The opposite side of the 3-way junction has another braided line to my master cylinder.

This is the larger(later) version of the Harley hydraulic brake drum.  Maybe 1968-1972, I think?

The round hook-deal is a bungee hook for when I load it up for travel !

1961 XLCH

CHECK: Tire pressure, oil, primary oil, nut & bolt all the 7/16, 1/2, 9/16, etc.  Make sure everything is sorta tight.  Checked the hose clamps.  Fresh fuel.  Ran it up to about 85-90mph a couple times on some long stretches.  Took some fast, sweeping curves. I kinda hate beating on the thing like that....but it sounds so good when the r's get up there and it starts to sing !   If you had this bike in the 60s...you'd be one of the faster ones.  105+ miles in the books for a sunny Sunday.