In a Flick of the Switch . . .

 . . . I had it laced.  Grain Belt. 

Powdercoat Over Chrome ?

Yes it works.  I've had it done many times with excellent results.  The parts are sand blasted.  If the chrome is weak, it usually blasts right off at 200psi air pressure.  You may want to screw thin metal covers to plywood when blasting to keep them from warping.  My blaster guy is really good not to warp stuff.  If the chrome is sturdy, the blasting will rough it up enough for the powdercoat to stick.  I use that special high-heat powdercoat tape (it's white, and kinda cloth-like tape) for large threaded areas, and areas where engine mounts go, etc . . . I plug all small threaded holes with bolts.  Steel or aluminum rims, metal engine covers, hubs, headlight buckets and oil tanks are all good parts for powdercoat.  I still like a painted frame, since powder can look too thick and smooth.  It's great to have local company in the business !

Sprocket Shaft Press

This flywheel tool will push out the flywheel assembly.  Will work with any "alternator type" left case.
Now, we just need a 5/8-18 bolt.

Get it up . . .

These cylinders are a bit long.  This would lead to (unfavorably) lower compression.  We'd like a bit more.  The cylinders will need to be turned (about .050) off the top to get us where we want for suitable performance.  Since S&S only offers this single type of stroker piston, your options are limited to cylinder length only. 

'54-'78 Hub

18" rear will run stainless spokes and early drop-center steel H-D rim, powdercoated black.

Andrews #1 Cam: REVIEW

This cam works very well in 74" Panhead with 8.5:1 compression cast pistons, S&S Super E with straight pipes.  I measured the new Andrew's cam gear pitch, and it was bigger than my other cam (I pressed it off, and swapped it from my other cam).  The length and journal size was the same as my aftermarket Sifton 412 (dated 1973).

The motor starts the same.  The idle is a bit smoother.  Slightly more valve-train noise, but it's that good kind of solid tappet noise. I can feel more bottom end torque.  No "blapping" out the pipes.  I don't feel the "hit" of the cam coming on (like the Sifton), but I think it's because it's pulling earlier, power is more consistent and sooner, so you don't feel the hit in the mid-range, 'cause you're already kinda there - if you get my drift?  I like it.  It's also a little quieter out the pipes if you want it . . . I mean easier to get it in that "quiet" range with the motor . . . like when I'm coming home late and don't want to wake the neighbors . . .

I went for a high-end speed run on an open road - up to 105mph (they said) and it was still pulling - felt good on the top.

Even though it's designed as a cam grind for "low compression motors" . . . I don't have any pinging or detonation problems with regular fuels.   
I'd recommend this ANDREWS No. 1  for any stock or slightly modified panhead motor. 

Cam Specs:  Intake 16/36  Exhaust 36/16  Overlap 32  
                   Lift: 450(Pan)  Dur: 232

In Memory of Mary

I've passed this bench thousands of times . . . it needs paint.  

A bit of scraping and some white enamel - Mary might like that ?

Scott Parker #2

A rare time between championships . . .

Morty says . . " I'm tired and it's cold . . .

 . . .  get down my cat blanket ! "

Movie Theatre

Exterior Charles Theatre restoration is complete with newer bright colors, gold flake,

polished enamel, deco art - the morning sun makes it really pop !

No Packs - No Skateboards - No Attitudes

Noisy kids get kicked out . . .

Shut up or you're gone . . .

No phones.  Old School.  Awesome.

___________________________________________ 

Ricki Flash is feature movie this week.  

Adults $2

Big Buttered Popcorn includes Big Drink $5.50 

(only one refill allowed) . . . 

KHK Street Tracker

Mock up . . . cutting off brackets and extra weight.
Bought Bates seat at The Sportsman's Exchange of all places
(flea market)
 

H-D Parts

41471-30 Sprocket  ( -30?)  Huh?
16860-54 Spacers
50012-30 Spring
7872 Nuts
41551-52 Axle
41598-52 Axle Spacer
39975-54 Chain Adjuster Shoe
Shift Fork Assemblies: 34168-39, 34180-33, 34161-41, 34165-36, 6752, 6754
Misc: Rusty Cams for KH models
Thanks Chad for parts & entertainment . . .

Donnie Smith

See you soon Donnie . . . you still look the same . . .

I wonder who the girls are ?

Copper Washer under Spark Plug

K Model heads crack.  Most heads I see are cracked.  A common place for cracks is up the spark plug threads, then across the flat surface of the head, going away from the spark plug.  I noticed a crack near my rear spark plug.  Wiley suggested a wide, large OD copper washer under the spark plug, covering the crack.  I found a washer at Car Quest.  Cleaned the crack with some electrical cleaner, a bit of sealer on the crack.  Removed my current spark plug sealing washer, and replaced it with the copper washer . . . tightened it all down - and now I have full compression again (7:1) in the rear cylinder, and no leak.  I can now keep riding in this great November weather we are having.  Sunny and 65 !  Then Sunny and 55 . . . then Sunny and 45 . . . then cloudy and 35 . . . then cloudy and 25, then 15, then 5, then -5 . . . then "this sucks . . ."

Coolbeth Shirt

Ain't a lot of these out there ?

K Model Straight Pipes

KR Bend with K Model cylinder flange IDs from John Penner
Smooth bends
Rear "kink"
Bolts to Penner Rear Loop
Very nice set of pipes - Thank You.

Swan Song

This Mute Swan hangs on the river while I take a morning break on a bench, sipping my coffee.  Swans mate for life, and it's unusual to see just a single bird.   A swan song is played for the warm days that are quickly disappearing here in the upper mid-west. 

KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK

Cylinders on-for-good.  Magneto is timed and in-for-good.  I've been checking my valve lift with modeling clay . . . and I have the required +.040 clearance for Exhaust, and +.100 clearance for Intakes.  This is the distance from the open valve head to the cylinder head.  I guess you need these distances for best air flow?   My friend Willard just moved to town, and after we messed with this motor for a bit, we went for a ride to Orchard, Mitchell and Osage.  It was a beautiful late afternoon.  The orange sun setting with a cool breeze.  I rode the '61CH, and ran it up real fast on a smooth, open blacktop on the way back.  The motor feels solid -  so sweet with a different set of factory PB Cams.  No oil leaks.  I went about 22 miles on reserve with the peanut tank, but my new Taiwan H4 bulb blew both filaments again. 

DICE Magazine

You can contact DICE Magazine for a subscription 

from the information listed above . . .

_________________________________________

Whenever I come home and see that yellow envelope sticking out of my mailbox, 

I get all excited that a new issue is here . . .

The last 6 issues of DICE had a good variety of motorcycles builds.  It was my first full subscription, different from buying issues here and there at DICE parties, etc . . .

I really like the magazine, don't get me wrong . . . but, it's kinda funny 'cuz they'll be a real grass-roots build chopper a fella built with the last pennies in his pockets.  The bike is rough, but so cool.  He worked so hard and scraped his cash to build this thing.  Then, the next page has an ad for some kinda clothing that when I look up the website, it costs like $800 for a denim vest, and $75 socks.  I guess it's the advertiser that pay the bills, so other than that - I really like the magazine.  Some grammar errors here and there . . . but, I use the word 'cuz.  

The cover of Issue 64 is one of the coolest covers I've ever seen on a magazine.  

A relief type "raised" cover - and the artist is featured inside every issue.  

DICE Magazine
Try it, You'll Like it !

Autolite "Technical" Guy on the phone . . .

Funny Story:  I call the Autolite Customer Service Line the other day.  I want to give them a plug number, and know a couple things. 

1.  If it's a resistor plug ?

2.  If it's hotter or colder plug than the one I run now ?

After a few prompts, I get this young sounding kid on the phone that's asking all sorts of stuff like, make, model, cc's, year . . . Hey, I just want to give you a plug number, and you can tell me what the next hotter plug in this reach style is . . . but I'm getting nowhere.  He says I should talk to "I'll call him Jack" . . . so this guy Jack gets on the phone.  Jack starts in with the same questions . . . . I'm trying to tell him the spark plug is for this special racing head . . . yada, yada . . . then he says, "Look Sonny Boy, if you'd just shut your pie-hole a minute and tell me exactly what you got, I can help you."  So I say, ok - I got 1968 Harley XLR cylinder heads on a 1961 XLCH engine.  He's like . . . "You need the Autolite 55, non resistor plugs which are correct reach for those heads.  You can run the next hotter Autolite 4056, but they will take longer to heat up, and they take longer to cool down.  I'd run the 4056's . . . I did in my XLR back in 1970.  Anything else I can help you with ????  I about fell off my chair.  It pays to be a good listener.

Early Rims

Official House Cat Elliott "Franky" checks out my 19"er front runner.  Small screws are utilized in the slotted hole flange to keep the spoke heads from popping out before you get it on the truing stand.  Tightening of spokes and offset comes next . . . Matching 18" rear is done.

Vintage Bell Star

It's fortunate I didn't prematurely rip out all the old padding inside this and lose the vintage feel and smell of this classic.  In the event of a serious crash, you'd be in a better position wearing a late model Snell Approved full face . . . however, when I go fast with this on my head, I get the idea what it was like to wear one of these - like Kenny Roberts !
Roth with Gary Nixon's star on top and vintage rainbow wings 

KR Base Nuts (on my K Model)

. . . or XLR Base Nuts ?   Bought 'em from John Graff couple years ago.  Hi Julie !

Coil Voltage Fiction

A 40,000 volt coil should be labeled as " Up to 40,000 Volts "  . .because if your compression isn't high enough to offer up enough resistance for spark plugs and the coil to emit 40,000 volts, your 40,000 volt coil is still only putting out about 15,000 volts . . . or not much more that your standard, stock coil.

TECH: Cams for Stock Street Motors

I prefer cams with a small (lower) Overlap Number in stock stroke street engines.  Overlap is a period of time where both intake and exhaust valves are open.  You can figure the overlap number by adding as follows:

Example:  14/34  41/12  Overlap is 14 + 12 = 26
Example:  36/40  45/36  Overlap is 36 + 36 = 72

The "26" camshaft should give you less hesitation, less flat spots, less babble out the pipes at lower rpms - a Torque Cam.
However, It may kickstart a bit harder, and it won't like higher compression (9:0 of higher) it might ping?

The "72" camshaft may babble out the pipes at low to mid range, have a flat spot at lower rpms, and
require mufflers to perform properly.
However, It will kick easier, likes higher compression.  Power cam. Strokers !

I also like cams that the fractions of intake and exhaust are the same numbers "diagonally" - they seem to perform better . . . that's just my experience. 

Example: 16  36
               36  16

So . . . try a cam with a Low Overlap Number, with numbers the same diagonally, Valve lift .450 or under for stock spring installed heights and seat pressure.  You don't want any bigger(stronger) valve springs then necessary.  It just adds unwanted pressure and wear to valve components, pushrods, tappets, rollers, valve stems, cam bearings, etc.  It also takes extra horsepower to open those heavy springs ! 
 

Cam Length

When changing cams, you can check to see how the length of your new cam differs from your old cam with this method.  The few thou difference (+ or -) makes a difference in your end-play and thrust washer thickness . . .
Set your cam upright on something flat (glass, parallel block, etc).  We slide a trued sleeve (which is slightly longer than the down end of cam) over the end that's down since some cams may be a bit irregular on the end or have a burr around the center.  Zero Out the indicator on the thrust washer surface of your old cam, then set up your new cam to see the difference (+ or -) in length of your new cam.  Assuming your old cam was installed with the correct end play, this method can eliminate having to remove a tappet block to check cam end-play ?  Another more accurate method to check lengths of parts more precise than just using a caliper.