41 was hot !

Yellow & Black . . . to Black & White (Checkers)

Don't for one minute think you could beat  
Kenny Roberts on a motorcycle.  

He's still fast as _____.

Sprocket Countdown: 22, 21, 20, 19, 18, 17 . . . 16 ?

I like gearing down the early 900 Sportsters and K Models with 20, 19, 18, 17 . . . (and you can get really crazy with a 16 tooth transmission sprocket).  It's fun to race around town and crank it up.  I set my chain length for a 19, so I can run a 17,18 or a 20 without adding links, etc., and keep my rear wheel in a good "adjustment zone" for my range on the swing-arm slots.  I keep extra chains of different lengths to run the 16 or a 22, 23 or 24 tooth.  My road bike runs the best with a 22T . . . anything much higher just lugs the motor, loses power, and you run the risk of low oil flow, scored pistons, etc.  I've found these ironheads need some revs to survive.  My 1961 XLCH runs a 21 most of the time.  I like to add an 18T now and then and she really rips !  You start power shiftin' with that 18, and the front wheel will pull up.  Don't miss a gear, 'cause it grabs rpms real quick.  With the XLR straight pipes, PB cams, XLR heads and other goodies, it's not long before the whole town just wants you to shut that thing off . . . and go home.  Quietly.  

Go Johnny Go !

Jose and Johnny Cecotto with Barry Sheene

Johnny Cecotto at age 19 (youngest World Champion ever) defeating

the great Giacomo Agostini.

__________________________________
 Cecotto qualified on pole for Daytona 200(with a stock race bike) but a pre-start motorcycle problem put him on the back row for the start - which he then passed the entire field and finished a solid 3rd Place.
One of the greatest race rides ever recorded.
___________________________________
Cecotto has one of the highest pole position(qualifying) to win ratios of any racer
___________________________________
Italian born, but he grew up in Venezuela - and still announces race coverage there.

Thanks Randy !

Randy got his new machines all set-up in his basement . . . so he made this steel adapter sleeve to run a 1" clutch perch on 7/8" handlebars.  I can still use my stock, standard, heavy H-D clutch cable and perch. After turning, he cut a mill-slot for some "pinch."  I did all the precise measurements, gave him a print - and """Hocus Pocus Poof""" . . .  It was in my hand so fast . . .

Gettin' what ya pay for . . .

During oil changes, I dump in my quart of oil.  I let it sit, for a minute or two - then after it's pretty much all gone, I add the next quart to the tank.  All my "empty" quarts I turn-em-upside down in my Ratio Rite.  Almost every time, it drains an additional 1.50 to 1.75 fluid oz. per quart.  It's like your cat licking out the ice cream carton . . . there's more in there !

"Did someone say ice cream?"

PS.  Morty Spring Pest Control Totals :
2ea birds
1ea big rabbit
2ea little rabbits(don't wanna call 'em babies)
1ea jack squirrel
. . . and Morty is an "old timer !"

This is 80s Hair Metal ( 1979 . . .close enough)

I like the Silver !

All stock, except for the "Blue Silicone Pushrod Seals"

Harley VL

Waiting for parts . . . everything blasted.  Still need a good hot-water wash and dry.  Take your time and do your best.  We're talkin' an 80+ year old engine here . . . Can you spell V.I.N.T.A.G.E. ??????  Hell, it's an A.N.T.I.Q.U.E. . . .

Sonny Boy Paint

I like this Winged Wheel by Sonny Boy Paint.  It would make a neat tattoo right up your left arm !  Good Luck and safe travels to all the Born Free "riders and travelers" headed west to the big show. 

Caswell Tank Sealer

I'll seal this tank (even though it doesn't leak yet).  Always a good idea to drain fiberglass tanks when not-in-use . . .

Thanks Dale Walksler . . .

Dale Walksler

I know you've see him on TV, and you know his Wheels Through Time Museum.  I first met Dale at the Springfield Mile, he was pushin' Resweber's blue & white KR up on the stage and we talked flat track and K models.  I think he still lived in southern Illinois then?  I see him at Davenport every once in awhile.  He's always cool to me (he doesn't even really know me, or who I am) and I can call him with a question - and he helps me out, or reinforces what I already think is correct.  I really appreciate a guy with knowledge of old Harley engines that's nice enough to take your call, share knowledge and answer a question.  I talked to him recently, and he gave me good advice on a 1934 VL engine I'm learning about.  Keep up the good work, (and like Kevin Baas always says) "May the vintage bike addiction run in your soul."  . . .  or something like that . . .

Harley KHK Racer

I had a total of one-hour to mess with my KHK project.  Time management is important if you want to get your work done . . . especially when you have a father's day get-together, Greene River Days, lawn mowing, workin' on your friend's motors, etc.

Got the front-end set up.  20wt PJ-1.  Lowered for proper height.  Centered.  Tightened.  NOS 35mm Target Fork Stops.  Betor (Made-in-Spain)

Mock up exhaust pipes . . . pretty cool huh?  

Intake adapter (for a Danny Delorto PHM or Sudco Mikuni flat-slide)

Left peg mount.  Steel spacers.  Hopefully strong enough for a Size 14 Fox boot with steel shoe?

 Still a long way to go . . . All the little stuff.

#harleykmodel

My 30 yr. old plastic magneto cap (vintage Drag Specialties, Mpls) didn't leak any water during the torrential downpours we had here this week.  The river is up.  The sun is out.  Get on Two Wheels !

Panheads Are Junk

I had a tappet roller fail after about 5000 miles. All the little needle rollers came out, almost destroyed my new cam, had to clean out the oil pump and cam chest, etc.  Lucky I caught it early - Got it all fixed and back together, cruisin' around town - and I get blown off the road by some kind of sport bike with a nice sounding pipe.  Then I notice my broken rear spokes, brake dragging . . . and all I can think of is RC51s, ZX14s, big, fat Suzukis with Japanese writing on the lowers that go 175+ (I like those goldish orange ones) . . . but, I just cringe with the thought of taking anything to a dealership to spend money to get my fuel injection (or my computer) fixed.  I just like bikes and can't stop.

Can I do this ?

Can I hook my brake-return-spring way over on that "other" hole?  This NOS spring just doesn't have enough pull to return my shoes away from the drum when attached in the stock location.  It drags for a few wheel rotations.  If I ride like 2 miles and decelerate, and slow down without really using my rear brake, and feel the drum, it's cold.  But if I whip it in the driveway, hard braking, shut off the bike - and push it, I can feel it drag kinda on the rear for about 10-20 feet.  I've determined the spring can't hit anything . . . and it's got more pulling pressure.  Hmmmm?

Joe Hunt Magneto Products: My Opinion

I read a comment recently from a "fairly reputable" custom bike builder's reference to all Joe Hunt Magneto Products being "totally junk" . . . and I disagree with him.  It made me think a bit less of his abilities. I mean, the products are good - from my experience.  Maybe not idiot-proof, but what aftermarket part isn't?  Hunt has a niceand solid, aluminum bearing top plate(with bigger screw bosses so you can't strip the threads as easy), I've used their long(FL type) base on many Fairbanks Morse heads . . . the points are decent.  The condensers have great MF ratings (which we tested) at 25mf (whereas the Morris only had 21) . . . but, I guess if you're a good wrench, and know about timing and spark and look at what you're doing.  I've got many many miles on Joe Hunt products.  All my bikes get ridden.  I own 6+ motorcycles with magnetos - and all have some different type of Joe Hunt Product.  My buddy has a Morris wind-up "cheater" auto-mag deal on his bike, and it's sorta big.  It works, but it don't start like my stuff.  I'll soon help him get it better, but it's just big - and the original Fairbanks Morse head looks cleaner, and not so billet lookin'..  A Joe Hunt mag on this project Iron XR works perfectly.  The Sifton (I know, "quality again") copper core plug wires were checked for continuity and are 100% perfect . . . I guess the more you wrench, the better you get, and you can make anything work if you know how to set it up.  You call Joe Hunt and get a voice on the phone, they'll get you a "tech" guy if needed, and they ship fast.  I like their Buzz-Box too.  I think his comments were a bit harsh . . . maybe he should just run a Dyna S ? Unless he can't get that to work - and they'll soon be "junk" too . . . My positive just canceled out his negative.

A little play . . . a little work . . .

Just me, my truck, my bike and my tent.  AMCA Viking Chapter - Minnesota Meet.  Hangin' with Bromie and Pole Cat.  Parts deliveries.  Then back home and work on ironheads . . . Ricky's motor comin' along just great.

AMA Pro Flat Track Battle

Mees has the plate . . . Smith wants it.  Another battle for 2016 !

Ironhead Mania . . .

Ride your Ironhead to work day . . . heck, ride any bike to work day.  Cool mornings and warm afternoons.  Perfect weather for vintage scoots.  She's running smooth & sweet.  I get all hooked on these things and just want to keep going and going . . .

Full Moon Nate: Anamosa, Iowa Vintage Meet

It was a real slice hangin' with Nate, drinking exotic tea, a couple beers, selling some 45 parts . . .  
Full Moon Cycle had the coolest set up.  Tunes all day, sunshine . . . Thanks dude !

That "Guy from Wichita" tried to beat-him-up on price . . . but, Nate held steady.  Wichita got the parts, the crate, the whole 45 farm . . . Wheelin' & Dealin' . . . Nice seeing him again, all the way from the great state of Kansas !  

 . . .  on the Dytch powered early ironhead makin' a run for more ice and refreshments !

Gas Pump Boogie

Small fuel tanks mean you spend time at gas pumps.  $5.25, $5.50, $5.10, $4.98 . . . talking with people next to you . . . "Where you headed?"  "What year?"  "Nice Day . . .Beautiful Day . . . Rain Coming."  The panhead was runnin' so fine last Saturday . . . 269 miles of Iowa blacktops with vintage Bell R/T open face.

Collectible Crap

Why do people collect stuff ?  I heard a guy on American Pickers tell his wife, "I like lookin' at it . . . it makes me happy."   I just keep collecting, but I sell some stuff so other people can enjoy it for awhile too.  Then I look all over the place, trying to find it, because I forgot I sold it, or traded it.  Trading is the best, since I'd rather have something else instead of the money.