How to bead blast engine parts . . .

From personal experience: 

Many don't know the proper way to bead blast engine parts. 

Here's How You Do It . . .

1. Wash Parts in Solvent (whatever works)

2. Blow Dry

3. Wash Parts in Very Hot Soapy Water

(use Dawn or Ivory Liquid)

4. Rinse Parts in Hot Clear Water

5. Blow Dry

Now if you really want to do it Correctly, Cap critical, hard to reach oil passages, threaded holes, etc. BEFORE YOU BEAD BLAST - Then you lower the risk of bead particles remaining in your new engine.

6. Bead Blast Parts

7. Blow Off Parts (in the blaster) with Clear Air

8. Remove Parts(& cap plugs) 

and blow off (outside blaster) with Clear Air

9. Wash Parts in Solvent (again)

10. Blow off parts with Clear Air

11. Wash Parts in Hot Soapy Water (again)

12. Rinse Parts in Hot Clear Water

13. Blow Dry with Clear Air

14. WD-40 (on a towel) and wipe bearing surfaces

Note: If you blast your parts before washing all the engine oil off - you get that bead stuck up in there - and it don't come out - It recently took me actually about 3 hours to clean under gear cover bushings to get all the bead blast out that was stuck in the oil that someone blasted without washing it first - what a mess . . .

 

 

Harley 4 Speed Leak Fix

This fella I know sent me this print on how to machine an o-ring groove in the ID of the spacer (the spacer that's driven by the small "L" key the main seal rides on)
The part number of the Viton O-Ring is available from McMaster-Carr Supply.  You can get the actual dimensions of the o-ring in the catalog.  The spacer is probably pretty hard, so you need a good, solid, rigid lathe - and a qualified machinist. 

Couple things to get your heart rate up . . .

1960 XLCH

 . . . building a Sportster motor for Polgreen.  It's a challenge, since half the parts are great - and the other half are kinda screwed up in one way or another.  That's the way all ironheads are . . . tough motors, but they get abused throughout the years.  McFarland will attempt to repair broken fins (cut from an old cylinder head) . . . the heads & cylinders are back from being freshly blasted.  New guides, valve job, bore job . . . and high heat gloss black engine paint coming soon . . . I need 30 hours in a day.

JUNCTION: Lincoln Hwy(30) & Jefferson Hwy(65)

The only place in the USA where these 2 historic routes cross paths . . .

The Lincoln Highway (New York to San Francisco)

The Jefferson Highway (Winnipeg to New Orleans)

They cross in Colo, Iowa !

America's Heartland

The history of this ground, 

The people who passed through here over the years . . .

 The famous and the not-so-famous.  

Outlaws, politicians, musicians, actors, 

preachers, doctors . . .

Your grandparents . . .
As I walked around, now it's just quiet.  A slight wind in this clearing.  I sat on the bench under the awning of the station - what a great place to work I bet this was . . . helping people with flat tires, fuel, checking oil.  Checking out the guy's trophy wife . . . "Like man . . . he is a lucky guy - new car with the big V8 - a hot wife, he's got the week off, goin' to New Orleans - Man, someday I'm goin' down south, go hear me some blues, see the ocean . . . someday soon - get out of this turkey town - New York, California?  
Where should I go . . .? "
It all starts here . . .

FTW Co. Baseball Cap Review

From: FTWCO.

I've only had this hat for 48 hours . . . 

but I've already had many comments on it.

A few . . .

"Neat hat, I like the color." (lady at HyVee)

"I like your hat." (wife)

 "What's FTW?" (cashier)

"Does(FTW) have a retail store?"

(desk clerk) 
"Where's mine? (a friend)

The fit & finish: I rate as very good - to excellent.  

This is the Maroon color . . .

Quality Construction.  Heavy Stash Flap

Heavy-Duty Bill (visor) Nice-n-stiff
_____________________________________________________
 Like all FTWCO products, I know they do some testing 
before they go on the site.  I really like the shirts 'cause (necks aren't all
stretched out, colors last, not much shrinkage) so you can
be confident you're receiving a good product.

Des Moines weekend . . .

I-35 South to Des Moines, you see all types of travelers - race people, ebay buyers, military on the move . . . slow & fast people, on their phones, etc.  Cheryl went to rock with the Eagles(and Joe Walsh) - I checked in to Hotel Fort Des Moines, El Bait, Spaghetti Works, GT Lounge, Church of Choppers & FTW Co., met some new friends, and saw some old ones. We shut down Kung Fu Tap . . . and by 3am I was back at the hotel, wandering the floors, taking in all kinds of history of this place.  The good and the not so good have stayed here . . . Nixon, Lindbergh, Woodrow Wilson and Krushchev all walked these floors as I do . . . I like this place.  Quiet rooms, solid floors, tile, granite and woodwork. History. 
Shower had "mega" pressure ! 

Thanks Jeff !  Thanks Cheryl too !

Harley WL transmission jumping out of gear . . .

My 45 is jumpin' outta 2nd . . . The first time it was a broken(cracked & bent) shift fork probably due to the dogs being worn.  I shimmed the shift fork to sink-it-in a little more - and help keep it in gear.  It lasted over 6 months - and it started jumping a few times again, slightly bending my NOS H-D Fork . . . and once it jumps a few times, then the dogs are really rounded off - and it "ain't gonna stay in gear no mow."   
In my travels, I picked up an almost new set of gears, and shifter clutches - so it's time.

1. Remove transmission

2. Remove top cover - Remove shift drum

3. Remove sprocket and side cover

4. Loose Rollers !   

(Don't worry, the main shaft and

counter shaft rollers are different lengths)

5. Remove mainshaft, gears, thrust washers, etc.

6. Replace bad stuff

7. Assemble in Reverse Order ???

Corvette Show

I sat in 6 different 'Vettes that day . . . I didn't fit in any of them.

However, I do fit in a '65, '66 Corvette (weird)

Waubeek, Iowa on the Wapsipinicon River

It's a humid Iowa day, and you're burnin' down a blacktop through fields of corn dotted with small woods and rock quarries.  You come up over a rise and descend into this spot in the road - called Waubeek.  There's a big, two story limestone building with a bar, and a stage out back forming a natural theater for bands and acts of all types.  We parked in the rock lot across the way and walked up wooden steps to a screen door - and were welcomed by cool air fans, and scraggly locals suckin' down cheap brews.  The ice cold Miller High Life can really hit the spot.  We sat out back on the wood deck and listened to the waters trickle down - as old, rusty pick-up trucks idled by with hay, junk or kids in the back . . . What a perfect place for the moment.

New Pool Hall . . .

A new "billiards bar" is opening soon in my town . . . 

but, I don't think it will be quite this crazy?

Michael Bickerton 28p

Itchy opens a can of Whoop Ass !

Parkersburg Car Show

Plenty of "California Cars" I like to call 'em . . . 

Malibu, Ventura or a Bel Air ?

This is becoming a premier show in the area for it's

laid-back atmosphere - and great food !

Summers in Iowa

The tenderloins at the Parkerburg Car Show are very very delicious.  The guy selling them is covered in this white flour and slicing them up fresh for you.  Seasoned fries (I ate every last one.) 
Then a stop for an Oliver 88 with a flat rack of produce . . . Mmmmmmm.

Catnip

Off the fence . . .

to the hose reel . . .

bank off the side of house . . .

to the window box out the kitchen window . . 

Morty's acrobatic quest for Catnip !

Bacon

His shop in Spicewood, TX is doing good - and if you need a nice set of knucklehead engine cases - check out DC Choppers and Dan can get you set up. 

PS. A few years ago, I rode with Bacon in the Black Hills through Vanocker Canyon.  He was riding this knucklehead rigid with ultra skinny tires - way thin bike - mechanical on the rear only . . . and was just road racing through the turns.  I would accelerate on the straights, and downs - and catch him going into the corners . . . then he'd kinda pull away in the turns - and we'd do it again - turn after turn.  He could really ride that thing.  I was scared shitless - and he was just having fun with me I think?