Noot

Cedar River Harley-Davidson Shop Open House Saturday Oct 10th

Check out their inventory of NEW & Quality Used Motorcycles. See Nick for late season service or winter maintenance. Justin, Joel & Zeke can get your scoot serviced and runnin' sweet for a couple more weekend rides before the snow flies. See Hawk for great deals on new iron or trades . . . Maybe Noot will ride the restored '75 XLH out again ? Weatherman says warm & sunny for Saturday . . .
See you there !

1969 XLCH Motor: For Sale

1969 Ironhead XLCH . . . includes magneto (throws great spark). Everything gone through, many new parts - New cylinders with standard bore. New kicker cover. Chrome tin primary cover. Solid engine, ready to run for chopper or custom stocker. Solid transmission and clutch. Clean serial numbers(search by state & national) no title - bill-of-sale included. A guy offered us $2100, and we thought about it, agreed - but he couldn't get enough money. We were asking $2500, but open to reasonable offers. I could crate and ship if you give me a little time.

Windage Reduction

The 1960 Chevrolet 283cu in. will benefit from reduced oil pan windage via this custom fabbed Canton Racing Windage Screen. You can see the "oil dam" under the screen to keep oil from surging forward away from the pump pick-up during braking and long downhills. This one-way screen lets oil through, but restricts the fluid from flying around, calming the oil windage and restricts oil from clinging to the moving crank journals. The side plates keep oil from crawling up the pan sides to the crank. This method reduces friction, creates less drag and increases horsepower and torque through the entire rpm range. Most of these ideas came from the brain of Smokey Yunick (who I've always admired) since many of his methods were the modification of stock-type parts. Use what you got ! I worked all Saturday on this thing - what a job !

Binding Shafts Correction

The center-to-center distance between the main shaft and counter shaft was too short. It was creating a light "binding" on the main shaft once all the rollers were installed. We knew it was off, since we had another couple cases we were using as guides. MFM Machine set this up, and created a false (3rd indication location) and overbored the bearing ID in it's corrected location. A step (and slight counterbore) was added to set the new steel sleeve. The steel was bored for .0015 press for the closed end Torrington. The trans fits perfect, no drag, no bind . . . equals more horsepower, less breakage potential. 1956 KHK with factory 4 9/16" stroke.

Index Plugs

MC casting, CP1038, reinforced racing cover, aluminum mounts . . .

Firestone ANS Repop 4.50-18

I had this baby spinnin' . . . throwing rocks and sand at 6000rpms moments earlier on Iowa backroads.

Goodyear Racing 4.00-19

Similar to the All-Traction, but tread is left open in the center. Diamonds around the outside. Vintage class racing tire . . . 2 minutes after photo . . . I cut the cable shorter and used shrink tube to keep cable end from fraying.

9.23

Sometimes it seems motorcycle drag racing is going backwards ? 40 years ago 9.23 with Sportster Ironhead motor.

Dot Robinson Revisited . . . and UPDATED !

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery I truly believe. As to whether the young model above would immediately lose her helmet, and possibly be splattered with oil and grease stains . . . and since the bike is strapped in the back of a truck - she's appears more distance than a tribute to Dot then aligned. To give her credit - I still like her look. However, I felt that a couple true photos of the original first lady of motorcycling was in order . . . I present: Dot Robinson.

Early XLCH Primary Chain Shoe

This is the "heavy-duty" shoe for the XLCH tin primary cover. No nylon. The chain rides on a soft metal, brazed to the steel. Just don't run 'em too tight. Last forever . . . and you don't get the nylon shit clogging your door bearing oiler . . . or worse yet, your counter and/or main shaft oil passages.

Tillotson - Made in USA

My dad ran these carbs for quite a few years since there really wasn't anything else. He said they actually worked really good. I restored this one for a little-o-nothing. No float bowl. I guess you can leave that vent open if you want(don't have to run to fuel tank) - and they have an accelerator pump. You can make a tickler for the bottom if you want. The most expensive part is the diaphragm gasket. The most difficult part is Tillotsons have a zillion tiny parts, springs, o-rings, etc . . . The carb was $10 - I got like $30 in it - and it's worth $200 to right guy. The insulator spacer block was originally silver painted (as is). I'd like to try it on something, since you never seen them on anything. Gain respect from your elders . . . with a grabber, snapper clutch, spool front, 30 over - runnin' a Tillotson, or a Lake or Posa . . . or ?

Cast Iron VS. Aluminim

I run the early cast-iron tappet blocks in my '64 motor. When I see these at the swap meets, I always try to buy them if the price is good. The aluminum blocks wear out faster, and usually the iron ones are straight and tight. The only difference I really see (besides the obvious weight difference) is a taller "lip" where the cork seals sit. LEFT: Cast Iron(painted silver) RIGHT: Aluminum

You can see the taller lip, Photo below . . .

When Sportster tappets wear, the motor sounds noisy
as the roller followers rattle and become loose in their bores.
Cam timing may be affected or varied.
_____________
I've always assumed the aluminum tappet blocks were originally produced for the XLR race motors, and H-D began including these on consumer model engines for cost effectiveness in 1962.

Harley XLCH 43008-60

Vintage OEM H-D rim with stainless spokes and NOS hardware. Spoking and truing wheels is a good trade to know. These wheels are easy, whereas others are a real bitch. Tries your patience.

Late Night Snack

Vintage iron after dark. I try to keep busy with projects (instead of television). After 10pm, usually just me and the cops. I sleep after a horseradish sub - and a book on indians, ponies and warriors . . . My Life on The Plains . . .

Nostalgia Vintage Parts

Someone show-chromed these cast iron Sportster tappet guides many years ago. They're really cool, but kinda wore out and loose. Harley only ran these from 1957 to around 1961. Using the vintage, circa 1947 Sunnen hone, I set up a 720, modified a push-up shoe, and a used SL-7 stone, trued it up . . . and honed each block a heavy +.005 for new +5 OD roller cam followers. This chrome cast will give his '66CH nostalgia race aura . . . It's all about slicks & smoke !

High Pipe

1965

Fort, Jeri, Lucas, Auburn, Dorado

Above are short names used by local folks to describe small towns and inhabitants. I got my frame fixed again, and was eager to ride. A perfect day jammin' down some of the most beautiful roads in the state. Golden crops, harvest and small town bars with local chat. Clear your mind and light your soul . . but, stay alert for tractors and wagons !

Fort Atkinson. A fort built to protect the Sac & Fox tribes from the Sioux. Now groups of buckskinners operate behind it's walls. I know a few personally, so I stopped in for pickled onions and mushrooms. Smoke for peace. Trade carbon steel knives.

On to Gunder for superb burgers & American Fries . . .

I met up with some locals for in-depth discussions on a variety of subject matter
at a tavern in "Brick City"

Found a new place off Hwy 18 near Hawkeye . . . Country Chrome.

After my knife throwing lesson at the Fort, I was anxious to try my new skills and found I'm very good at something ! Throwing knives ! A couple dudes who had too much beer were certain I had American Indian blood in my heritage . . .

Cal Custom 7100, Carson, CA

I got this thing all sanded - then red & gray scotch. Between fins is Harley Hi-Heat Silver Jug Paint. The inside is blasted clean - Tune in later for my secret Windage Tray upgrade . . .

RH's '66 XLCH

Engine cases have been stripped, and completely bead blasted. Cylinders too. I'm in the process of washing, cleaning all threaded holes, oil galleys . . . I'll hot wash with soapy water and rinse & dry with scalding hot clear water. Blow completely dry. Ready for lapping, boring, bushing replacement . . . whatever. Maybe a Miller High Life and stare at them for awhile?

Ride Hard - Park on Main

Original, Signed . . .

Many many years ago . . .

Light Bulb Karma

It was Two Wheel Tuesday . . .

It's only fitting I ride an XLCH to work an XLCH . . .

This is an original, early pump with split key breather.

Scrape gaskets, then wash, dry, blast, wash & dry again.

Then I loaded everything in my back pack - and rode home.

My new, piece-o-shit Chinese Made H4 headlamp bulb went out - so I rode home in the dark with people flashing at me . . . Ironically - it was an oriental lady who was the worst -
It just made my blood boil and I almost flew off the handle . . .
"Oh, go F8#K OFF !"

Then I calmed down, got home and washed up the XLCH parts . . .

Then I decided to lace a wheel for awhile . . .

It's a rare Harley-60 Aluminum Rim - and I tried to use all NOS parts when I rebuilt the rear hub. Then I noticed my new, stainless spokes were Made-In-China (when they were Made in USA last time I ordered them) Shit.

I decided to watch a movie and stay up late . . .

So I watched vintage VHS Bruce Lee
(and ate leftover Chinese)

Can't beat 'em - join 'em