The NEW ANCHOR MOTO - Kansas City

My friend Ricky got all moved into his new shop.  He's moved about 3 or 4 times, in the last 3 or 4 years . . . and you could tell it was kinda draggin' on him.  Now finally - relief !  This shop looks really cool.  Old time building, down in the bottoms, classic, old industrial windows on one side.  New paint, new sealed flooring - and all his friends lending a hand to get the job done.  A solid crew down in KC.  Perfect place to build choppers, make some money, have fun, work hard, reap the benefits.  Good for the soul !

Stroker Clearances

You can see the thin scribe on the right side . . We have this case marked out to remove material to clear the crank pin for stroker flywheels.  This stroke is greater, so the pinion(and nut) is moved up, and if we don't remove material from these bosses, it will hit the case.  Depending on the size of the stroke, you must remove material from other areas of the cases too.  S&S has excellent instructions on how to do these modifications correctly. 

Dry Miles - No Rain

Looking forward to more "sunny day" miles this year . . . I hope.

Paint by Horst

In all my old magazines . . . Street Chopper, Hot Bike, Custom Bike, Custom Chopper, Easyriders . . . there's many customs with "Paint by Horst."  He's been doing custom paint, striping, leaf, murals, originals, flames, candy . . . on and on.  Horst knows what he's doing, and deserves a Lifetime Achievement Award for all the works he's done.  
It brought Horst to mind when I recently saw a fuel tank Pete had for sale painted by him . . .

DC Linkert - MSP

My original DC Linkert had run on for 20+ years without a single cleaning, clog, misfire or problem.  I'll disassemble it - and give it a good cleaning and detailing.  I'll run this new, bored out, modified DC to enhance my recent engine modifications.  Maybe I'll try this vintage velocity stack ?   The intake manifold is lined up perfectly.  Carb spacer matches perfect.  Carb bore matches perfect.  A smooth 1 1/2" tunnel of fuel vapor all the way to the XLR Intake Valve.  Hopefully she'll run about as good as I can get with these common Harley-Davidson components.  M.S.P. - Modified Stock Parts only

Piston Squaring Plate -26

This original Harley-Davidson tool (plate) came in a two different sizes.  One for smaller bore pistons(above) and a larger one for big-twin pistons.  It's designed to check rod straightness, and possibly used for assembling cylinders (my application).  It's slotted where it fits around the connecting rod and serves as a solid base to hold the piston while you assemble the cylinder, with rings compressed.  It gives you an "extra hand" and eliminates problems such as nicked pistons(on cylinder studs), rings popping out, damaged rings, etc.  If you see one at a swap meet, buy it ! 

30 Year Reunion

On my trusty Schwinn to morning coffee, saw a guy fishing . . . Hadn't seen him in 30 years (since high school) and he recognized me too . . . Jim?  Rick?  How's it going? etc.  He chose a life of no job, no wife, no kids, didn't like pressure or hassle.  I chose the opposite.  I did notice he didn't have any gray hair, if any.

Good Day for Panheads . . . LED SLED

I guess the more I ride these panheads - be it a rigid, hand shift, stripped chopper with narrow bars . . . or a late model, dressed, Electra Glide with cushy suspension, wide bars and windscreen . . . the more I like them.  That whirr of the motor is such music to my ears . . . no other motor sounds like a panhead.  Not really sure what causes that whirring either?  Most likely the thin, hollow rocker covers?  Or a combination of hollow covers, rocker design and gear drive generator cases. I always run the felt pads, and they supposedly quiet down the sound, and get soaked with oil, and keep parts lubed and wet with motor oil.  Who knows?  H-D factory parts experimentation continued with model after model on many engines - like the "intake oiler tubes."  Most panhead engines I disassemble don't have them in there anymore, and if they do, the little check ball is stuck - so useless.  Or it's completely broken off, laying in the bottom around a valve spring collar.  The panhead can be the prettiest motor, or the ugliest.  The most oiled out, rat-out pan chopper is the scariest bike ever . . . parked next to a gleaming chrome daydream of a '65 Electra Glide, in Vivid Black or Hi-Fi Blue.  It's up to you.

Iron XR

Hot Dog Kustoms

Arizona Trip

Took a 5 day trip to see my son and his wife in Avondale, Arizona.  They've really got their act together and have a great set-up when the ol' man comes to visit.  We did a Crescent Ballroom show with Red Elvis, Koffin Kats and The Rev & Jimbo to kick start the fun.  Jeremiah (at Love Cycles) put me to work for a day - and I was impressed with his shop and his welding ability.  He's always been really nice to me, and I was honored to get to hang and work in the shop.  Chase Stopnik is a new friend now too - I really like his ideas, and he's just a cool So.Cal cat . . . Nice to meet you dude.  The kids took me to the Andy Warhol show, the Japanese Gardens, old Glendale trolley museum, I went biking about everyday . . . and Eric's Carne Asada recipe is so delicious . . . They like cooking, so I didn't go hungry.  The weather hung around 80, but you can feel those 110s and 120s coming.  A really good time was had by all.  Thanks folks - See you all again soon !