Biketoberfest Florida - No bikes for me . . .

My wife and I have been to Florida a few times during the Bikertoberfest fall motorcycle rally.  It's not really my scene, since it's all new bikes, new trikes . . . there is a swap meet that ain't too bad.  The bands are all the usual . . . it's just kinda like a rally for all the guys that just got their first Harley, which is ok for them, but not for me.  I still like the old time bikes, choppers, old stock stuff - motorcycles with more character that you have to work on sometimes . . . but it was fun anyway.   Hope everyone has a good fall, it's gonna get cold here as we all know - but a guy can always go someplace warm for a week if you get a chance or have the time, or have a few vacation days left ?

Bortell's Lounge is a good hangout.  I met Jack & Tiny from Vegas again.  They go from desert to ocean and back again - Their bike's chrome is rusty from salt - paint is faded from the sun . . . and back again.  They suggested Cape Canaveral for an educational trip.  Those rockets are incredible.  Astronauts are the greatest daredevils of all time, to endure outer space.  It was fun to fish, eat some good food, and enjoy the sun before the snow comes in again . . .

I never ate so much fish (ready for a hamburger) . . . Cheryl is great on a paddleboard (I fell off) since she went all over the place.  Fort Desoto was interesting.  Snead Point good for fishing.  Sebring Raceway was cool (they were running practice sessions) and those cars are so fast.  Not everyone gets to go places, so maybe it gave you a feeling of what it's like down there?  Hope you enjoyed the photos?

Sucks - Period

Is it just me, or does it suck the AMA Pro Flat Track Series Finale will be held at a tiny, little indoor bowl track of a casino in Las Vegas?  They tried racing on their rock infested, motocross washboard of a race track a few years ago.  The desert is for desert racing.  Casinos are for gambling.  They should all race those modified XR100s instead - it'd more more competitive.  It's a 1/10 mile track !  Let's just run around the sofa.  Why would the AMA allow such a thing?  They could put down some coke-syrup and do-it-better, but they won't.  I hope the fans in Vegas that show up for their "1st Pro Flat Track Race" don't think this is what it's really like?  I know these boys will put on a good show regardless, but they're pro racers - and they deserve a professional track.  They've all raced tiny, indoor tracks in their youth - but, this is the series - The Pro Series.  Hell, I guess if I'd get enough seating, and put up enough money, I could promote a race at our local Floyd County Fairgrounds.  They could race in between the demo derby and the mutton busting.  Sort of a disgrace to a great sport.  A close, exciting points finish to an exciting season comes down to a race on a hockey rink. 

I'm just sayin' . . .

I have to do some metal work (which I hate) since I don't really have a good place to do it - and I use the crude tools that someone with no metal working experience has in their tool box.  Grinding, welding, hammering, grinding off welding . . . re-welding.  You know the ritual.  Maybe she can help ?

Bobby's Blown Shovester

I know he sold it . . . but, I wonder if the new owner is riding this thing around?  How's it run?  Trock had that kit you could get - to make the Shovester Build easier.  Noot built one for a customer without the special kit one time, but we never knew if he got it in his bike chassis - or whether he ever ran it? 

Lead Sled

In Japan now . . .

1999

Ironworks 1999 . . . I still have the same bike, helmet, jacket, gloves, jeans, boots . . . I don't like change.

Light Press Fit at 70 degrees

You can hone tappets for oversize lifters and get the perfect fit with easy movement and no end play, but if the tappet's guides are too tight in the case . . . it can pinch the tappet in the bore - and gall the surface.  You want a nice, easy press fit.  You shouldn't have to drive the guide into the cases too much. 

Cedar River Harley-Davidson Shop Open House Saturday Oct 10th

Check out their inventory of NEW & Quality Used Motorcycles.  See Nick for late season service or winter maintenance.  Justin, Joel & Zeke can get your scoot serviced and runnin' sweet for a couple more weekend rides before the snow flies.  See Hawk for great deals on new iron or trades . . . Maybe Noot will ride the restored '75 XLH out again ?  Weatherman says warm & sunny for Saturday . . .
See you there !

1969 XLCH Motor: For Sale

1969 Ironhead XLCH . . . includes magneto (throws great spark).  Everything gone through, many new parts - New cylinders with standard bore.  New kicker cover.  Chrome tin primary cover.  Solid engine, ready to run for chopper or custom stocker.  Solid transmission and clutch.  Clean serial numbers(search by state & national) no title - bill-of-sale included.  A guy offered us $2100, and we thought about it, agreed - but he couldn't get enough money.  We were asking $2500, but open to reasonable offers.  I could crate and ship if you give me a little time. 

Windage Reduction

The 1960 Chevrolet 283cu in. will benefit from reduced oil pan windage via this custom fabbed Canton Racing Windage Screen.  You can see the "oil dam" under the screen to keep oil from surging forward away from the pump pick-up during braking and long downhills.  This one-way screen lets oil through, but restricts the fluid from flying around, calming the oil windage and restricts oil from clinging to the moving crank journals.  The side plates keep oil from crawling up the pan sides to the crank.  This method reduces friction, creates less drag and increases horsepower and torque through the entire rpm range.  Most of these ideas came from the brain of Smokey Yunick (who I've always admired) since many of his methods were the modification of stock-type parts.  Use what you got !   I worked all Saturday on this thing - what a job !

Binding Shafts Correction

The center-to-center distance between the main shaft and counter shaft was too short.  It was creating a light "binding" on the main shaft once all the rollers were installed.  We knew it was off, since we had another couple cases we were using as guides.  MFM Machine set this up, and created a false (3rd indication location) and overbored the bearing ID in it's corrected location.  A step (and slight counterbore) was added to set the new steel sleeve.  The steel was bored for .0015 press for the closed end Torrington.  The trans fits perfect, no drag, no bind . . . equals more horsepower, less breakage potential.  1956 KHK with factory 4 9/16" stroke.

Index Plugs

MC casting, CP1038, reinforced racing cover, aluminum mounts . . .

Firestone ANS Repop 4.50-18

I had this baby spinnin' . . . throwing rocks and sand at 6000rpms moments earlier on Iowa backroads.

Goodyear Racing 4.00-19

Similar to the All-Traction, but tread is left open in the center.  Diamonds around the outside.  Vintage class racing tire . . . 2 minutes after photo . . . I cut the cable shorter and used shrink tube to keep cable end from fraying.

9.23

Sometimes it seems motorcycle drag racing is going backwards ?   40 years ago 9.23 with Sportster Ironhead motor.

Dot Robinson Revisited . . . and UPDATED !

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery I truly believe.  As to whether the young model above would immediately lose her helmet, and possibly be splattered with oil and grease stains . . . and since the bike is strapped in the back of a truck - she's appears more distance than a tribute to Dot then aligned.  To give her credit - I still like her look.  However, I felt that a couple true photos of the original first lady of motorcycling was in order . . . I present: Dot Robinson.

Early XLCH Primary Chain Shoe

This is the "heavy-duty" shoe for the XLCH tin primary cover.  No nylon.  The chain rides on a soft metal, brazed to the steel.  Just don't run 'em too tight.  Last forever . . . and you don't get the nylon shit clogging your door bearing oiler . . . or worse yet, your counter and/or main shaft oil passages.

Tillotson - Made in USA

My dad ran these carbs for quite a few years since there really wasn't anything else.  He said they actually worked really good.  I restored this one for a little-o-nothing.  No float bowl.  I guess you can leave that vent open if you want(don't have to run to fuel tank) - and they have an accelerator pump.  You can make a tickler for the bottom if you want.  The most expensive part is the diaphragm gasket.  The most difficult part is Tillotsons have a zillion tiny parts, springs, o-rings, etc . . .  The carb was $10 - I got like $30 in it - and it's worth $200 to right guy.  The insulator spacer block was originally silver painted (as is).  I'd like to try it on something, since you never seen them on anything.  Gain respect from your elders . . . with a grabber, snapper clutch, spool front, 30 over - runnin' a Tillotson, or a Lake or Posa . . .  or ?

Cast Iron VS. Aluminim

I run the early cast-iron tappet blocks in my '64 motor.  When I see these at the swap meets, I always try to buy them if the price is good.  The aluminum blocks wear out faster, and usually the iron ones are straight and tight.  The only difference I really see (besides the obvious weight difference) is a taller "lip" where the cork seals sit. LEFT: Cast Iron(painted silver)  RIGHT: Aluminum

You can see the taller lip, Photo below . . .

When Sportster tappets wear, the motor sounds noisy
as the roller followers rattle and become loose in their bores.
 Cam timing may be affected or varied.
_____________
I've always assumed the aluminum tappet blocks were originally produced for the XLR race motors, and H-D began including these on consumer model engines for cost effectiveness in 1962.