Me & Morty - Workin' on stuff - Memorial Day

A busy weekend . . . after the Mason City Car Cruise, Harley Open House, bike ride, yard work, hike, a graduation party and another bike run . . . it was time to spend some quality time, just me and Morty in the shop workin' on stuff for Chink, Shaun, Gordy and Polgreen . . . all names the Mort has heard many times.  We worked on our own projects too.  Cheryl had us take a break for some wine & cheese . . . a perfect weekend.

 Rebuilt a Tillotson HD1(1966-67) 57 Main Jet

Making my own pipes, due to short cylinders.
Chad at D&L will assist in pipe expansion and flange fitment.

Correct top mount with flex-loc nut, Cadmium !
Factory galvanized intake clamps.

Factory steering dampener, CP1038 pinch bolt, rare steel top tree.
Cadmium, Chrome & Parkerized

Break Time: Brambleberry Wine from Marquette.

Factory Clutch Bracket (Anderson cable)

Goodyear Diamond 4.00-19 (Triplet Distributing)

 Horizontal FM magneto with .032 safety wired Sifton Copper Cores,
John Penner mag gear(thanks John), Joe Hunt rotor, Carl Patrick helped too.

 I thank all our men and women veterans and current enlisted for their service to our country.  I can do the things I love to do, and live in a free country because of your efforts and commitment.
God Bless America.

I like the Red One . . .

Cisco's Hub

I see he ran one of those crazy front hubs like Mike Geltz showed me.  It's called an Apollo.
But, I guess ya'll know that already . . . ?

Heavy Duty Sissy Bar

Heavy welds and large fender support help keep away cracks and breakage.  Those aftermarket bars need upgrading - I've seen a lot of broken ones.  Wait 'til you pack it with gear and ride Iowa roads.  Nobody ever notices my knucklehead axle and spacer running through the big juice brake either . . . Took some time, measuring and calculating, for nobody to notice.  I think those axles look cool . . .

Orange & Black

Chad's paint must be good since my screwdriver slipped installing a pushrod clip and the end went right into the side of the tank . . . and it didn't even leave a mark.  Whew !  I should not have the paint on while workin' on it . . . almost a battle scar before I get it off the lift.

Allan G.

No. 94

BF7 JW's KZ via MLW

3.218 stroke X 3.004 bore @ 7000rpms

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Dick Allen & his gal . . .

Pit Stop Speed

Jack it up . . .

Buzz out 5 lugs . . .

Pull axle . . . drop spacer . . .

Fix Spoke . . .

Bolt it back up - Off you go !

Shovelhead Valve Guides: PART 1

I'll install a unique guide with undercuts for snap on type valve seals.  It requires a special fly-cutting tool for proper lower collar fitment. 

Rick's Run No. 10

I've had 9 rides in a row, then waited 5 years for this 10th (don't ask me why, just kinda tired I guess?) I always invite a variety of riders from young(newbies) to old.  I'm waiting at the gas station, the weather is overcast and foggy(but warm) and a chance of storms by late afternoon.  It's now 9:30am and this ride is scheduled to leave in 15 minutes, and I'm thinking nobody will show, and I'll just go home.  Oh, well.  

But wait . . . I hear a bike, then another . . . It's kinda funny, whenever the weather is a little suspect, it's always these same "old-time" riders (mostly now all 60+ and yes, 70+ years old) that show up and keep you on your toes.  Real riders who've been doing it the longest.  A little heavy fog, chance of rain, wind, cold, etc . . . won't deter this group.  They just want to ride . . . and we did just that.  Fog, then a bit of wind, then clouds, then SUNSHINE !  It was a great trip, everyone out havin' fun on motorcycles with all the beautiful scenery . . . and the stories are the best part !  If you're ever looking for a place to ride and eat in southern Minnesota, go check out Stumpy's in Rushford - great food and great roads to ride on . . . Thanks to Gary & Judy, Russ & Raylene, Peters & Co, Frosty, Jamie, Booger, Killer Carter, Wally, Pete & Kory(for a beer) . . . and for the first time ever - my Mom, Dad and my sister Betsy all rode together.  Kinda cool.
See you all soon gang ! . . . -Ricky Noot 

Heavy Biker Fiction

I saw the neighbor lady only a few times in the 5 years I lived at this new address.  She kept to herself.  The house she lived in was small, peeling paint, flowers coming up each year through the weeds that blocked the screened in porch.  The front sidewalk cracked.  American flag out front.  She didn't keep her car in the unattached garage, since you could see it was full of stuff and junk through the missing door window.  The other windows were covered with yellowed newsprint.  Recent high winds knocked down sticks and tree branches, and as I picked up the street and filled my old pickup box, the lady yelled . . . "Hey, Rich or Rick excuse me - could you take a few of these sticks to the dump too for me?"  I said, sure . . . and came over.  This was the closest I had been to her garage, then I noticed another little shed out back, door propped open . . . AND the front of a motorcycle wheel . . . a thin tire, a spool-type wheel.  Shiny steel fork legs . . . She was still talking, but I wasn't really listening - just focused as I moved a bit closer to aid my aging vision. I gathered sticks and made-my-way towards the open shed door.  I could see a large, old oil spot with dirt and leaves stuck to it.  The bike looked a dull gray color from years of dirt and dust.  A garden rake, a seed spreader.  I said, "I didn't know you rode motorcycles?"  She chirped, "I don't... Just on the back a few times.  You want to look at that bike, go look.  I could hear her . . . under her breath say, "I really need to clean out some crap, then louder; Maybe you'd be interested in that thing? I'm sick of trippin' over it." She knew(her name was Krystal) I rode a motorcycle.  She had that look to me riding by like I was wasting my time, sometimes giving me the "fingers in her ears" symbol.  You might like this one? Maybe not? Probably needs some tinkering?  I know it's a Harley, pretty sure, back when they didn't make them very good. I know it's loud, so you'd probably like that?  It don't run.  It broke or something. It was my oldest brother's bike, he shut it off here one Summer day, it didn't start.  He moved to Oregon, passed away 'bout a year later.  It's been 25 or 30 years ago.  I do have a pink slip paper of ownership, still with his name.  Tell you what Rich, you helped me today, you can have this if you want it? . .  heck, Go ahead, take it - drag it out if you want, don't get hurt. It's really Heavy.  "I need room for my new mower comin'."  It was as simple as that.  Then I woke up.  Shit.

S&S SUPER B 1 7/8"

This early Super B Carburetor has the vent hole plugged?  Is it internally vented?  I see there's a passage that runs from one end to the other, inside.  Serial No. 3275.  Must be from 1975-1980.  Kinda cool with just the single throttle cable.  I could run this on the 80"er I build someday . . .

Cool Bikes

Troublehead

That's what I call 'em . . . but I'll probably end up building one for myself eventually (maybe never) who knows?  Going through this motor for our buddy Shane.  It was making funny noises . . .

As we tore it down . . .

- Wrist Pin came out - galled cylinder wall

- Found snap ring pieces in oil

(different type of snap ring than where it's used)

- Plastic breather chewed

- Pinion Gear tooth missing

(and Split down the middle)

- Cam thrust washer on wrong

- Oil pump drive gear shaft kinda stuck

- Key kinda sheared

- Found tooth in oil pump !

- Rods junk . . .

 

You can see the tooth of the pinion gear wedged down in there, 

almost blocking the oil hole.

Carroll Resweber - Always Remembered

Resweber passed away last Friday, May 8th.  He was my earliest motorcycle racing hero, and even though I never saw him race - I've read almost every article and story available about him and his racing career.  I got to meet Carroll and help him at the hall-of-fame races in Springfield one year.  He signed my original 1961 issue of American Motorcyclist Magazine.  He raced in the days without brakes, and was one of the greatest sliders of all time - with the ability to throw his KR into the turn and scrub off speed - or just drift it through the corners keeping as much momentum as possible.  He won a hell-of-a-lot races and was national champion 4 years in a row in a time when it was really tough to do such a thing.  Nobody had ever done that before - and his records stood for years.  Resweber will always be remembered as one of the all-time best flat trackers to ever swing his leg over a motorcycle.   

Classic Photos: KHRM & Panhead

Everett Schilling is a cool cat !

Orange & Black

 I like choppers as much as anybody else . . . but my true soul rides with the early Ironheads.  I ran into a couple snags with this project and had to slow down a bit and regroup.  With the excitement of everything coming together, a lotta guys start rushing and you end up with a ton of stuff you're gonna "keep an eye on" and you have parts falling off later.  Just do-it-right the first time . . . now I can move forward.

Can't afford a Cycle Electric ?

This is still basically a "one-wire" set up.  The little Bosch can be adjusted to suit your output needs by bending (some have adjuster screws) the contacts slightly.  Too much can boil your small chopper battery, so tune it down to 12.8-13 volts.  This type of regulator bracket can be spun around, etc . . . with extra holes to help get your regulator where you want it.  Up front like this, it catches air and keeps everything cool.  Unhook a single wire(hot BAT wire), and generator can be easily removed for service.

Mike Wilson Panhead Flat Tracker

These photos were sent to me by Jeff Wiley . . . of the late Mike Wilson of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  I suppose this was a normal scene in the 74" class . . . but, it would take a strong man (Wilson had a small build) to handle a machine like this on a 1/2 mile or scrambles coarse.  Mike was known to have a fast machine too, so this thing ain't no stocker . . . and here he is . . . all throttle !  Awesome photo.  Mike's legendary history lives on . . .

Progress ?

This giant hole is where many memories took place over the years in my town.  The Union House Hotel foundation is uncovered after almost 100 years.  Ray's Pastime was here.  Nockel's Shoe Store.  Cowell's Tap.  Ma's Place.  Tom's Tavern.  and now Aroma's Parkade . . . all gone.  It was vacant the last 20 years until the city decided to sell the land (it was home of our July 4th celebration refreshment tent and dance). Now, we'll have McQuillen Place which seems to be some rich guys pipe dream to honor his relative who doesn't even have a street named after him here.  A klunky sounding name too.  Does the guy building it even live here?  I've never see him at morning coffee?  It will house a bunch of (most likely) expensive apartments, and it better not have a coffee shop.  We already have vacant buildings on Main Street we can't fill.  Nobody's really saying much about it, I don't feel any excitement in the air among the civic minded. I'm one to preserve heritage, save old stuff, offer more incentives to start a business in a current location.  Higher taxes to owners of unoccupied buildings on Main Street. Get a business in there, or you pay more, period.  Don't want to be a Debbie Downer here, but I just hope it brings something to offer our city, other than a fake looking facade with an overpriced product - and more empty business spaces. 

Betor Front End: Made-In-Spain

I'll have to do some stem and axle modifications for my KHK project, but this is the front end I've chosen to use.  After working with stock, vintage Harley-Davidson front ends for years . . . this Betor is true precision.  First, it's light as a feather.  Everything fits so perfect.  It was really dirty and grungy, and took hours to clean, and parts are kinda expensive, but it will add to the performance and style of this build. 

Andres

Jim Davis is the flagman !

1949 FL

Finished this up: NOS pistons, original heads(flanges repaired), Kibblewhite valves, updated pump(with plate), timed, lifters set for break-in, Peek manifold seals . . .

1975 XLH Stocker

Cutting the 46 . . .

. . . and a 60 to narrow up the seat.

Today's Gas . . . Textbook Plug Color

Everyone talks about "today's fuel" etc . . . It's hard to get your spark plugs to chalk up nice without lead and octane . . . But folks . . . this is about as good as it gets - This is pretty sweet.  I could, however, straighten out my right plug ground electrode . . .  '52 pan plug check   Munched fingernail is coming back !

Incorrect Information

Ricky got me an issue of Digger Magazine I didn't have . . . and it's full of old AEE ads, neat bikes, how-to articles . . . It's really an excellent magazine for reference and reading.  I did find a mistake in a tech article:  The ridge goes OUT according to H-D Factory Service Manuals.  I see these mistakes all the time, or worse yet they leave out key information(and tricks) that everyone knows, but it ain't in no manual.

See Fig. 4B-8

 

I'm not really sure what difference it makes, but they just don't want that step rubbing on your basket while it's spinning with the clutch disengaged.  Always put the step "OUT" and that's an order from Noot.