Ironhead Breather Timing

Once that piston starts moving down after TDC(about 20-25 degrees) - Your breather might as well start opening.  At 5/16" after TDC it should be opening for sure. It should stay open all the way to BDC.  Get that air out of the crank and create some suction on the way back up to get the oil out of the top end.  Oil is friction.  The ability to reduce friction and drag in an engine is important when trying to make adequate power, eliminate oil consumption - and calm down internal pressures.  I don't have a lot of performance mods on any of my bikes.  Everything is kinda stock - or mild performance.  But, I try to get the most I can out of what I got - so my shit starts and runs halfway decent.  It's fun knowing this stuff, reading manuals, trying to understand how everything works will help you diagnose potential failures, etc . . . and always listen to your elders.

Rebel Ride

I did a few mods to the K the last few days.  The back jug always smoked a bit - those rings just never seated.  So I pulled the back cylinder, measured (straight with .0035) gave it some ball hone 60 degree - checked my gap, re-ringed it, ground the valves, lapped 'em in (almost took too much off since I barely had enough to get my valve clearance.  I guess you should always take a bit off the stem too when you grind the valves? (I'm learning).  My rear plug always runs kinda moist - and it puffs a little out the pipe (just like John Tibben's ol' KR the last time I saw it run).  Hopefully this will cure it?  I got the CV carb back on, dropped the needle, and installed a couple small washers on the top of the needle to keep it from bouncing around.  If you ever notice on a CV carb, once you drop the little plastic crown down in there(hold down on the crown simulating the spring pressure) - and you'll notice the needle can still move up and down a little, possible changing your intermediate jetting from vibration.  Anyway - this thing runs smoother now, starts a bit better - and has more bottom-end power.  I jacked up the timing a little more too.  I went with 5-30 oil for easy 40 degree starts - and short trips around town.  It's all K-Model now 'til the snow flies . . . and maybe a couple days of clear streets with snow in the yards . . . dress up, fire it up and hit the streets.
Official: Carb-On-The-Left-Club Member

' 72 Pump Body

I'm running the later 1972 up pump on a earlier set of cases.  I drilled the breather plate and the case, so now I have "the big drains" to feed those big gears . . . get that oil out of the bottom dude !

We made The Horse . . .

Me & Joey in the latest issue . . . 

That was a fun day ! 

Tulum & Isla Mujeres - Yucatan

I stayed in Tulum pueblo(city population-no resort) in a palapa roof, mosquito netted dwelling.  We traveled around on biciclatas(bicycles).  Many people live in makeshift shacks constructed with tar paper, particle board, blue tarps and palapa leaves for roofing.  Poor - but everyone seems quite happy.  
Below: I'm pictured at Tulum near a ruins that was used to torture and punish adulterers (men or women who mess around with someone other than their spouse) Those Mayans are short and small, but they reconquered the Spanish (after losing the first time) - and they don't mess around with lawbreakers.  The Mayans are fierce fighters.  Everything down here is beautiful, but fierce.  Their demise was believed to be a virus brought from Europe . . . hmmmmm, sound familiar with what's happening now?

Each morning we'd take off on bikes and ride to ruins or cenotes (large fresh water fed caverns) and we'd snorkel and swim to beat the heat.  One particular cenote had caves that you swim into - and once inside the ceiling opened up to reveal hundreds of bats flying around your head.  Depths of 30 to 100 feet under you at any moment - water clear as a bell - so it was nervous seeing the sudden depths beneath you.

Ropes at many times were strung to help lead you through tunnels.

We traveled by boat and floated by life jacket through the Sian Ka'an biosphere which is a 1.9 million acre wildlife refuge located near the Muyil ruins.  We had to hole-up in this Mayan pueblo during a heavy shower.  It was also infested with "baby bats."

Mexico is beautiful, but it has many things big and small that can kill you.  With just our feet and small backpack, we traveled,  hiked, walked and explored a lot of places while in Mexico.  On the go most of the day and night.  Stray dogs, scorpions(in our room) geckos, iguanas, snakes and the mosquito.  The sights, smells and vibes of the Yucatan are spiritual - and get your nerves and mind racing.  It's a trip.  A beautiful place, but pay attention !

After all that energy expired . . . we ate and drank like kings.  Mayans know how to eat, drink and celebrate life. This land is . . . "Where the Sky is Born."

We will be back.  If someday I just disappear - you may come find me (if you're brave enough) near the jungles of Coba (pronounced Co Baaa) Isla Mujeres, Isla Holbox (Hole Bosh) or just riding up and down the coast on my (now very rusty) Harley WLA stopping to eat fish and drink rum.  Day after Day.

XLCH California Bound

Crated & Boxed . . . California Dreamin'

Larry LaDue & RAT PATROL

I'm out on an island, down in Mexico last week . . . and I run into a Texas gent named Will that knows more about 392 Chryslers than 'bout anyone . . . and he did a lot of drag racin' back in the day(1967-69) with Larry LaDue and Rat Patrol (which went in the low 7s . . . and eventually the 6s at 200mph.  Now the original dragster has been restored and runs again.  Glory !  That's super cool my Amigo !

Here's Will and his gal at "The Joint" . . . as we ducked a rain shower and had a refreshment.  Nice folks - fun talkin' with them - as we kept runnin' into 'em around the island.  Salud !

Mirror Mirror . . . "Who's the most wicked of them all ?"

The K . . .

Drop the Hammer

Look kids . . . real motorcycles !
Top: road race brake, Ceriani, Wico, glass tank
Center: Dick Hammer with XLR motor, exhaust cross under,
aluminum mounts, rubber on  pegs and brake, Pirellis
Ready to smoke you at the track !
Bottom: This is the coolest . . .timeless.
Billet is dead - Iron is forever.

Pogo Seat Spring

If you have an aftermarket solo-seat post and it's kinda weak, I put a couple shovelhead valves spring over the post to give it more pressure at the "bottom out" position, so maybe it just helps keep the seat off the fender on the bigger bumps?  A little added spring pressure.  Or you could go on Nutrisystems?