Scrambles

Every time I consider selling one of my motorcycles, I see a photo that makes me shake my head no again . . How did I get so attached to this sum of parts which make noise and take my money?????

They are just too fun and cool to have around . . .

WHERE THERE'S A WHIP, THERE'S A WAY . . .

 . . . To get a NON-STOP TICKET TO NOWHERE . . .

to go see Faster Pussycat just back from BABYLON . . .

You see - I saw the gig poster . . .

ON THE BATHROOM WALL,

and some graffiti . . . "For a Good Time Call" POISON IVY . . .

So, unless YOU'RE SO VAIN . . .

Get outta YOUR HOUSE O' PAIN

and go see Taime rock it at

The Reverb in Waterloo, Iowa this Sunday Nite !

( Come and have a drink with me . . . When else will you get to see a hard livin' rock band that's pretty shot from all those hard livin' rockin' years? - Fuckin' Aye ! )

the California Cruiser

Check out the feature on this build at MC Art (click on side link) that Chris Kallas posted on his totally righteous blog . . . with all things historically chopperiffic !

Stress relief . . .

I like all my Roth Books . . . it's fun to paint and draw kids !

Sprocket Seal Tool

McFarland's custom tool works great and makes this job easy.  Presses in the seal nice and straight when used with the proper extension and spinner wrench.  He made it with an aluminum nose and a steel insert, so you don't risk damaging the seal or the tool on either end.  Neato !

GBL

Got my carb on . . . Starts, Runs, Pops, Hesitates and then . . . 

Totally gets Down and Kicks Ass Like It Should !

Mac's Speed Shop

Stopped by Mac's on Sunday(so did the fuzz) to check in and see what he's been up to . . .  He's got a couple of half painted yellow Fords . . . with Chevy motors . . . I see a trend ?  

It's Pink and it's Loud . . .

A couple things that don't always go together . . .

TP Skat Blast - SKAT MAGIC

TP manufacturers top-notch blasting cabinet systems.  I have a TP Bench-Top Blaster (which is sadly no longer available) but, I would recommend their other free standing blasters too.  I run a Shop-Vac outside to suck out the dust.  Shown: I was blasting Ricky's heads . . . and the carbon was so baked on.  I've never had carbon I couldn't get off with 130psi of pressure with standard glass bead.  I had to really scrape the heads . . . clean my blaster, and replace the blasting compound with a new bag of Skat-Magic (from TP) and that started working.  Finally, I got them clean to my, (and Ricky's) very fussy standards.

Neglect, Loss of Interest . . ?

 . . . or No Time, Other Commitments, Priorities ?
The causes of anything that needs to be restored.

Stroker Oil Diversion . . .

The sleeve has been pressed into the existing oil passage.  The case is notched (S&S Cases come with the notch in the case).  A new hole is drilled in the side of the spigot (as per S&S Instructions) to continue oiling the piston skirt.  Hole is deburred.  The oil now flows from the top end - down the original hole in the cylinder, past the original hole to oil the skirt(blocked by the sleeve), into the notch in the case, and out through the new hole in cylinder spigot to oil the piston skirt, since the piston is now going lower than it originally did with the stock stroke - so the oil ring on the piston doesn't get in front of the original hole and suck oil and cause it to smoke like it's on fire or something.  This modification is only one part of the process.  All this for a few extra cubic inches.  Still want a Stroker?  The answer is YES !

Valve Flow TECH Tips . . .

The "Project 283" will benefit from improved flow after I back-cut the radius on the valve heads.  You can see that the valve on the left has the sharp edge removed.  I believe it's most important on the Intake Valves since the air is coming from the stem-side and into the cylinder.  The Exhaust Valve has the leading-edge on the head radiused, since the air is coming from the cylinder . . . out the exhaust pipes. 

Name & Identity Change . . .

To . . . Lil' Ricky Noot Jr. Stroker Builder . . . 

(better not count my chickens quite yet)

1. Everything clears

2. Compression will be about right . . .

3. Made 3/8 X 3/4" length sleeves to plug oil outlet

4. Drilled cylinder spigot (1/4") for new oil routing

5. Deburred

6. Measured everything again . . 

7. Moving forward . . . update you later.

When I get stressed out . . .

 . . . I get out my pencils, brushes and 1 Shot paint

and do Monsters !

Mr. Clean . . .

I like 'em functional.  This build impressed me with it's attention to detail.  Handmade goodies that probably work and function as stock.  So many guys try too hard with weird-ass funky shit that's just gross and stupid.  That makes builds like this one all the more impressive in my book.  I'd just like to fire this up and go for (quote from Indian Larry) . . . "A Lap Around Manhattan."

This is cool . . .

Reminiscent of the "clubber" type custom of yester-yore . . .

The flipped up white bobber chopper . . .

 

I don't know who built this chopper . . . but, I kinda liked it.  Once the guy gets his brake hooked up, and a couple other little things - I believe it's gonna be a bitchin' ride - and a real show stopper !

I suppose the flipped up rear fender - you could take(or leave it) - I liked it . . . the chromed frame and swingarm was highlighted with black (castings shown chrome).  SU Carb, Tank, Shocks, Paint, Bars . . . lot of unique pieces.  It was just cool - even with floorboards.  

Spoked a 1/2 brake front to a steel drop-center . . . just bitchin' . . .

Sissy Bar, Pipes . . . ZOOM IN - all kinds of neato stuff.

 Ricky drove up from Kansas City to hang around a couple days - and go check out the Donnie Smith Custom Cycle Show in St. Paul.  This show and swap is a great way to get the juices flowin' for ideas and inspiration - and he wasn't disappointed.  Neither was I . . .

Hey, give me a break . . .

I was just learning . . . still trying . . . When Spina looks at my striping, sometimes he likes it - sometimes not.  He'll ask me, "Who striped that?  Stevie Wonder?"  Answer is D.

Ol' Yellar in the Mojave . . .

Spina built and painted many Roth Trikes.  Back in the old days . . . on a run !

Ted's S&S Flywheels . . .

Big Noot got 'em all true for us while I was out fartin' around in Vegas when I shoulda been workin' on people's stuff . . . damn kids with no work ethic anyway . . . (NOTE: S&S don't use locks)

Flake, Striping, Leaf, Airbrush, Clear, Buff . . .

I was watching Spina paint a fairing . . .

1. Clean primer with alcohol and Windex before sanding.

2. Paint silver flake, mask flames, spray with Tangerine

3. Outline Flames

4. Stripe and Leaf top

5. Airbrush Leaf

6. Clear & Buff

A bit more process than that . . . but, you get my drift.  You dig?

In the sun - this sucker pops !  Wowza Morty !

Bad Bearing on 6 Speeds . . .

 My friend Bob noticed his 2007 was leaking oil back by the transmission.  It continued leaking and it was coming out more and more all the time . . . He thought it was just a bad seal, but the bearing was missing some balls (actually missing 2 complete ball bearings (he popped out 4 more later) Where did the ball bearings go?

 Bearing (8) and Seal (15)

 The bearing race was badly pitted and breaking away . . .

Bearing is H-D Part No. 8967. (FAG Bearing) If your trans starts leaking, you'd better check it out . . . He asked the dealership how many they had changed . . . They said, "A lot ! " . . . it's usually on a motorcycle with about 28,000+ miles . . .

HOT ROD Magazine 65th Homecoming !

Wish I could go see . . .

Hemi Under Glass

Mooneyes Dragster

Mickey Thompson's Challenger

Ed Iskenderian's T-Roadster

It's all at the HOT ROD Reunion this weekend in Pomona, California

They are bringing back all these cover cars from all the years back . . . Spina is hosting the pin-striping jam,

See more about the show at: Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports website !

You really ain't nothin' . . .

. . . . without nice paint.  Flat Black, Black, Rust . . . It just ain't finished without a bitchin' paint job.  It's where a really good build just ends up like everybody else.  It's just too easy nowadays to get online and buy shit . . . This rod - "The Iron Orchid" is so freakin' cool.  It's a true build - A true custom rod . . . becoming a lost art. 

Camshaft Endplay TECH

The factory (H-D) says .001 to .005 specifications.  I think that's too tight.  Big Noot (and myself) have seen plenty of "blued" cam shims and thrust washers.  These new cams (like Andrews, etc.) are made from a very low porous steel which can grow more - requiring more end play. Andrews says, .008-.012.

Always follow the specific instructions for your particular 
aftermarket camshaft.

1. Always check cam shaft end play with gasket and
cover fully tightened to torque spec.

2. Make sure there are no burrs on thrust washer.

3. I always "time" cam and breather
just the way in will run in engine.

4. Move cam towards gear cover (away from case)

5. Feeler gauge between thrust washer and cam shim.

6. Check at 180 degrees (rotate assembly and check again)