The Kansas City Flash

Ricky's 4 5/8" S&S Flywheels.  Updated with heavy-duty S&S Sprocket Shaft (big taper)

XLCH Oil Tank for the KHK Racer

1. It's the early version
2. I paid a very handsome price for it (don't even ask)
3. It was chrome with a sticker on it.
4. I washed it in solvent and gasoline (it was full of metal shavings)
5. I took it to the car wash and stuck the sprayer inside (on soap and rinse)
6  I blew it dry, it air dried for 2 weeks.
7. Then I had it bead blasted (with 150+ psi special beads to strip chrome)
8. Blasting revealed "chrome paint" over areas - and a shotgun slug hole, and buckshot holes hidden under bondo and chrome paint - SHIT !
9. Hawbaker made a special chain plate and tig welded the tank. Fixed all the holes, nice and solid.

After all that . . . I started sanding (80 grit) and applying filler - and sanding and smoothing - and adding more filler. It's starting to look good.  I'd like to have Chad Clapper spray it with sealer, primer - and paint it high gloss black. It will all be worth it . . . so cool are these tanks.
But, it takes a team of technicians !

Baas Dirt Track Racing

Long stroker . . . look how far the rods stick out . . .

Lower end is together for good.  Solid KH.

S&S B Series (refurbished)

Modified this one for adjustable air-bleed jet.

Bake fixed my float.

Fixed the throttle plate and shaft.

New bowl gasket and o-ring.

Anybody got an Enrichener???

Chicago - Surfin' with Aliens

Hangin' in Old Town with The Second City & Satch.  The Unsers were my heros of racing, and here it was (a 900hp go-cart for the 1970s)  Chicago pie.  Grant Park is one of my favorite parks.  Big city life for a long weekend. I felt like I was spinnin' my wheels, NOW BACK TO WORK !

1957 XL

Ready for assembly. 

1948 Panhead Short Block

 . . . Now I'm addicted !

Gotta dig Parkerized fasteners.

Pat likes to weld . . .

but. not when he's feeling sick.  

Thanks for the help - and I hope you're feeling better today . . .

See you soon.  -Noot

Bill's '48

Bill Mize has an addiction.  This is helping fulfill his addiction . . .

TECH: Wrist Pin Spiral Lock Tool

This tool will install spiral-style lock rings in the proper manner.  

I use the butt-end of a deep socket to get the spiral keeper ring centered, and down farther inside the sleeve. A small amount of oil smeared on the inside of the sleeve will help the spiral slide a bit better.

Insert the sleeve into the piston: 
(you can see my spiral keeper pushed down in there)

Next, Insert the Driver Piston and use your palm to press the spiral all the way - The sleeve is tapered down, so the spiral with wind up and pop into the wrist pin groove.

 I usually insert a spiral keeper in each piston first.  Then heat the piston a bit, this helps the wrist pin slip right through with ease . . . Don't forget to lube the wrist pin bushing.

 I install the piston with "indented dot on top" (or if it doesn't have the dot) 

with small "fin" on the inside wrist pin boss . . . .

TOWARDS THE PINION / CAM-SIDE of the motor.

 Install Pin, and Piston - Repeat Procedure.

Using a small, flat blade screwdriver, press down around the top of each keeper, and make sure it's down in the groove.  Since I can't see as good anymore, I take a lighted magnifier and make sure my keeper is fully seated.  This tool works slick - I've installed hundreds of spiral keepers over the years.  They stay in better than snap rings if installed correctly.

All Motor !

20X (is that Michigan?)

Always run Ethyl in your KR

Top Photo:  His jacket is like "The Californian"

Lower Photo: Is that Paul Goldsmith?  

I like the gentlemen (back right) with their riding caps.

1955 KH

"Teach" took us out to Baas Acres for a brew, and we got the full tour(he found more of his KH parts) . . . Cylinders blasted by Gelner,  . . . . . cleaned up sweet !  Assembled the flywheels and they were damn close with no truing yet - double sweet !

Old Harleys - Ride, Rebuild, Repeat

Righty

No cracks . . . but,

Needs many heli-coils, pump shaft bushing, case race, cam bushing

Now I need a Lefty . .

One Sweet Knuck'

Thanks Big Noot

Thanks Wiley

Thanks Gordy

It'll be a one-kick runner . . . another one down the road !

RACE SHIT

'38 and '48

Now have everything needed for final assemblies.  At 10 years apart, not much engineering change.  If it's not broken - don't fix it. 

XLCR

My dad knows a guy with this '77 XLCR (H-D made a few '78s too).  He brought it up for a tune-up; timing, carb cleaning, fix starter switch, adjustments, etc.  It's in rather rough shape, a bit wore out - but runs ok.  The photos make it look good.   After about a week, ol' Noot had it straightened out.  Now he wanted the "test pilot" to run it up the street.

While "my tuner & lead mechanic" prepared my bike for testing, I stood off to the side with my full-face, gloves and boots . . . ready to hit the track.  I felt a bit like Rossi when he handed off the machine.

A quick check of clutch, throttle, brakes and seating position - I was given the GREEN to hit the track.

After warming the engine, a few short passes, I ventured out and hit the highway.  I came back with mental notes . . . adjustments were made - improving overall performance.  Communication between the rider and mechanic is crucial.  The mechanics hardly get any recognition.  All I got to do is ride-the-thing . . . the best part ! 
I hate to see it go . . .
1977 XLCR = Awesome Motorcycle.

52K Model Test Flight

The first real run-o-the year on this since I swapped the 19" rear for an updated 18" with factory rim and -54 hub.  Buchanan's stainless spokes.  This particular steel rim was drilled for screws (I didn't think they were drilled on steel rims?) maybe somebody did it?  The Goodyear All-Traction with it's flat sidewalls gives up a vintage look.  It's got the low, slung down in the weeds, street vibe . . . Let's hit the streets !

Ricky Graham

"When he was at his best, 

he was the best that's ever been." -Chris Carr

I know Ricky Graham would be retired by now.  Or would he???  But seriously, I've got to tell you, I really miss R.G.  I was lucky enough to see him race quite a few times, especially on The Mile at Springfield, Illinois.  If his life wasn't cut short by a stupid house fire, I'm almost sure he had more racing years left in him.  His career was up and down, trials and tribulations with all kinds of drama in between . . . however, as many of us already know . . . R.G. would try stuff, outside the ordinary, run it in harder, different lines, different combinations - he had that drive to win, with the skills to match.  I would cuss Graham after he cut-off Parker, dammit !  Just beat that Honda !  The other riders had to "up" their game when Graham was in that 25 lap main event. It didn't really matter if Graham was racing that Honda or whatever.  He just needed a fairly competitive motorcycle, and what it lacked, he made up for it.  I'd be so pissed after Ricky would work a slightly dangerous and risky move to win (the other rider thinking he had it won), but then you'd hear Graham and his victory speech, he wore his heart on his sleeve.  Ricky just wanted to win, and be on that box.  On top of the box.  Other times Graham was so far ahead it didn't matter.  Fastest time of the day, holeshot . . . 1st to Turn 1 . . . and he did what we all call "checked out" to a half-track lead at the checkered flags.  I study how Ricky Graham sits on a motorcycle, in racing situations, and I try to emulate him.  Right shoulder up, Left elbow down. Keep left leg in, close.  Right knee hard against the bike to make it turn.  Head cocked.  Slide back on the seat, down the shoot !  It's the perfect stance for a taller rider - and it works.  Picture Perfect.

PS. I know Graham would be really surprised how many fans would show up at these banquets, legends events, autograph sessions, trade shows, etc . . . just to see Ricky Graham again and get a signed shirt or picture? 

Stripper Money

I went to the local farm store and bought my favorite kind of stripper.  The first can didn't work, the second can just dribbled . . . and this can has almost TOO MUCH PRESSURE.  It is eatin' off the VHT wrinkle black and (under that) the black Imron, and I got a little on the house siding, whoops. 

Strip it, hose it off, blow dry, tape & plug, press out a couple more things

 Machine it, then blast it . . . onward.

We missed the big storm.  My friends Bill (Sioux City) and Pat (Plainview, MN) took a direct hit with 12"+ . . . we got 1.5" and it melted by the afternoon.

A man and his PAN . . .

Toby Davis

Toby comes up from Montrose, Iowa to pick up his rebuilt '48 motor.  74 cu.in. with STD heads and Andrews camshaft.  New lifters, blocks, new bore, new shaft, new crank pin - she's fresh - it'll be a runner.  Each time he comes up, we run down to The Pub, get some food and cold PBRs.  We talk choppers and history.  Toby is pretty darn sharp about all the vintage H-D motors . . . and actually started ridin' Harleys before he could get a valid driver's license. 

 Built to the smooth sounds of Daredevil

RACE SHIT

KR - KRTT

I took Ricky's advice . . .

I like the gloves !

Ricky (Anchor Moto) drove up from KC (through blinding snow at times) to bring up his cherished 1979 Ironhead Sportster Motor.  He's always wanted a stroker motor - and it's time to just do it.  A properly built ironhead stroker is a wonderful thing under you . . . with so much racing history from Leo Payne, Tony Daya, Warner Riley, Dave Campos, Dan Baisley . . . stories from Big Noot and Jeff Wiley - it's just something that every ironhead maniac needs to have in their stable of hot bikes.  

Hey dude, it was fun hangin' out, Comet Bowl . . . and I ate the remainder of your Ben & Jerrys !