The GOOD: Heavy Duty Transmission Door

 All the transmission gears look good and spin freely.  No chips or nicks on initial inspection.

 . . . and special Center Case Bolt.  The big bore cylinders (and bored cases) require a modified bolt to clear the larger cylinder spigots.  All looks ok . . .
The BAD: The No. 2 ,3 and 4 cam bearings(case side) are toast (lost many rollers which went through the breather and were in the lower end).  I picked at the rollers and they easily just fell out.

This motor was ready for a redo . . .

Micro Motorcycle

I found another one of these tiny toy motorcycles at an antique store.  I wonder if they're from a game of some kind . . . ?  Tiny dirt bike.

Lita Ford TONITE !

She's been doing it for a long long time . . . Ready to Rock ! 

The First Lady of Metal

80s Metal Goddess: Lita Ford - Still Rockin' !
(with very special guest; Steelheart )

 

 

Ironhead Sportster Performance Tricks

Chris's stroker motor has a few upgrades . . . Like inverted screen and milled oil reservoir for faster oil return and less camshaft drag.  (NOTE: The screen was full of shavings, pieces of piston rings and some aluminum chunks)

The stock gear cover was modified to run needle bearings for less resistance.  This feature has been debated as to how much gain to expect . . . but every little bit helps.

The No. 2 cam bushing fell out on dis-assembly.  The pin was out too - yikes !  I have to fix this with a new bushing, or get the old one back with a tighter, press fit?

The original 1/4 speed pump (marked with an R for racing) now runs 1/2 speed gear breather.

This funky one-way breather valve is pretty cool.  A diaphragm type breather with custom made base - pretty trick kids !

The original builder stamped his mark in the cases. 

Welding and Milling and . . . Thinking

Above: The steel insert plug (near the breather bolt) was cracked - and falling out.  Crooks removed the plug and welded it shut.

DC Welding tig'd up all my cracks and breaks, then McFarland machined and spot faced.  I had the relay boss milled off (to clear my magneto base).

The stroker flywheels (small stroke) only needed minor clearance (to clear the pinion nut)  The case cylinder spigot for rod clearance) was machined by Jeff Wiley.  Lots of little stuff to check on these stroker motors. 

WLA Jiffy Stand Spring

Do I have this hooked correctly?  It was the only way it worked, and it still barely hits the top nut when parked.  New-old-stock spring in H-D package.  I greased it a bit too . . .

Fresh

Waiting for advance weights . . . set the timing and bolt it in . . .

Axtell vs. Stock

I met Chris about 5 or 6 years ago at the Davenport Swap Meet (near the bathroom party area) and we talked strokers, Doc Dytch, Leo Payne, drags, big bores . . . who the hell is this kid?  He goes by Lil' Chris outta New Berlin.  He runs his S&S big bore stroker on trips to Chicago, Des Moines, Byron . . . it's his "road bike" complete with 25T trans sprocket.  Well, it gave up the ghost on May 6th and he needed his AAA(triple A) roadside assistance.  The 900(Axtell Cylinder) on the left, and a stock 1000cc on the right.  Taller with lots of meat . . . special head bolts, it runs modified, original Branch heads too . . . Crazy ass cool shit kids !

Full Moon Nate's '66 CH

This '66 has the nicest set of cases.  No heli-coils, no welds, not abused - just about factory fresh.  The trans mainshaft race was shot and the rods were cooked.  A few new shafts, rebuilt rods, trued the wheels, all endplay up to snuff.  Nothin' to sniff at . . . it's 1966 all over again.

Knucklehead Digger

You just don't see a lot of these.  If they use a knuckle motor, the build is usually a long chopper or a bobber - but hardly ever the low digger style.

1988 Entry List

Nat'l No. 76 Buffington from Prairie du Chien?  I wonder if he still lives there, or has any old XR parts he doesn't want anymore?  I know he raced the Super Trackers a couple years.
Names that made a national number . . . Brian Atherton, Bryan Villella(still rides), Dave Hebb, Delbert Beck, Don Wilson - all fast as hell once to earn national digits.  Others went on to greatness like Doug Chandler and Jim Filice.  Many familiar names that still race today, with one family member or another.  Some are deceased, but Flat track Racing goes on for generations . . . like the Texters.

The Born Losers

Last night after applying Bondo to my fender, lube of the WLA primary chain, adjusting a rear chain, painting white trim on my house, painting cylinders and finishing the internal wires on my handlebars . . . I ordered a pizza from Cedar River Pizza Co. (the best) and watched this movie on VHS.  I didn't remember it being quite this violent.  My wife yelled from upstairs, "What's all that screaming going on ????" 

It would probably be rated X by today's standards.  The best parts are when Billy Jack kicks ass !  I kept hittin' PAUSE to check out the chops.  The chics ain't bad either.  The guy in the bug gets thumped hard, but he had his chance to shut-the-_____-up. 

All custom . . .

. . .  but he just couldn't ditch that sweet banana caliper !

Sumax Pro-Comp FXR Frame

The Commercialization of David Mann

 

Easyriders sure got their money's worth from him . . .

 

What a bitch . . .

Trying to get this (I assume) aftermarket pipe cover on.  I twisted, then it jammed, then removed it, soaped it - same story . . . then WD-40, same story . . . then some oil on the pipe and I heated the cover in hot water, then I made it barely past the first bend, then I twisted, and rubber hammered it.  Tapped with chisel.  Twisted.  After an hour, I was just into the 2nd bend.  I quit.  Came back in 15 mins. and hammered and twisted, then the cover started coming apart.  Then I couldn't get it on or off.  Fart.  I got pissed and started really pounding and chiselin' and finally got it on(to the clamp flange) but it was separated in about 4 places.  Crap.  I had to tap and use small tools to reassemble the cover ribs while it was on - which really sucks - and finally the last hit - on the last one - it's all together - and I must say it was one of the hardest things.  Wow.  Don't try this at home.  No wonder the original H-D covers are so expensive.

Ebay Today

1960 KR

You just don't see these come up very often . . .
(parked next to an XLCR)

FAST BLACK Cylinders

 You can identify the late-model Ironhead Sportster cylinders by the flat cooling fins on the inside near the intake manifold clamps.  I'm not exactly sure when they started doing this?  Maybe around 1981? 

This is my choice of paint for all black, iron H-D cylinders.  Clean the spray tip and can after each use.  Blow off with air.  Lately, the cans have been real finicky - either clogging all together(PJ-1 sent me a new can) but now it leaks out the spray tip and drips.  AND, It's expensive.  But it looks the best, and stays on.

8 1/2 X 11 X No. 1

I found this huge H-D #1 Decal in the file cabinet.  It's been in there sandwiched between old Eagle Iron magazines and flat track racing programs.  I took it home to be cleaned up, straightened out - and I'll get a frame and hang it up.  Only $1.25 back in the day !

Randy's Knuckle

This motor was blown to bits.  The cases were broke, the rods were bent and metal garbage tried forcing it's way through the breather cavity.  What . . . . a . . . . mess . . .  !  It needed new tappet rollers (still had the solid-type pin rollers).  After various "fitment issues" common with a damaged engine - it's ready for the cylinder heads.

We've all built a bike . . .

If you're reading this blog, there's a good chance you've built a complete bike yourself or helped build one, or restored one?  Right?  You should appreciate this . . .

Check out Jeremiah's Instagram at Love Cycles and see where he rebuilt and restored Tom Fugle's 1936 Knucklehead Chopper in a few months flat.  He did a great job - It's just an great story with a fine tribute as the end result.

TECH: The Big 7/16" Hex Wrench

If you run star hubs, mid-stars, whatever . . . get this wrench for your tool kit.

Nicky Hayden

Sometimes you don't really feel like saying anything, but feel like you wouldn't be doing service to their accomplishments, or to the person themselves.  I'm just one of the thousands of fans of Nicky Hayden throughout his career.  I saw him race with injuries, I saw him race when the chips were down.  I saw him win almost impossible races to win.  Then I'd root for him to win this one, and that one, and another one . . . and he'd win it.  When he didn't always win, I got a little critical because I just wanted to see him win more.  I must admit, a bit selfish for any "true" fan, but he was always one of my favorite riders, on the track - and off the track.  Nicky Hayden was an excellent representative of motorcycle racing from the United States on the world stage.  The spotlight didn't change him one bit.  He was still "The Kentucky Kid" from Owensboro, Kentucky . . . to Peoria - to Daytona - to Laguna Seca  - to Jerez - to Silverstone.  This is a real hard one, but Hayden would want everyone to keep on chargin' . . . it was a great ride.

Early S&S Air Cleaner on a Super E

I like this "thinner" air cleaner better.  More leg room, and I swear it runs better with more response and low-end torque.  Could be my jetting/air mixture, or maybe just air where you want it ?  It just runs better.  Less spitting, everything.  You need to add the old-style enrichener, but it 's the same as a Super B.  It took some machining and drilling to make the backing plate fit, but it was worth the effort.  I made a pattern of the holes, etc., and took it to my machinist.  The polished looks goes better with the polished covers too . . .

Ricky's "Shortster"

After some case alignment adjustment, this beast is together for good.  It runs the earlier "P-Grind" cams in this late model 1981.  The oil pump was built (from the remnants of 3 different pumps) with all the best parts.  I got the cylinders honed to fit a set of +.020 TRW Pistons. 

Pat Lehmann did a really nice job on these cases.  The welding and mill work looks great.  After a little touch up here and there, and blasting by Gelner . . .  this motor is so freaking cool !  Big Noot messed with the lower end for a couple days, just getting everything correct.  Solid build.  Top end is up next . . .

Grandma's Bike

Colby's shovelhead (purchased new by his grandmother) is coming along good.  The short block is completed.  It runs standard compression with a H-Grind "Victory Cam" and hydraulic lifters.

Saturday, McFarland machined off +.005 from each gasket surface for a solid gasket seal.  I checked the guide / stem clearance with precision check pins and they are all within spec.  I suspect these heads were gone through not that long ago.  The seats were checked, and after thoroughly lapping in the valves, they're ready for assembly (after a good cleaning).