Noot

Over the River and Through the Woods . . .

. . . to Pat's House we go !

Pat is restoring his sister's 1979 Sportster. He's polished all the covers and rocker boxes. Rebuilt the flywheels and set it all up by the book. Looking really nice so far.....

I drove up early, with a 40mph wind pushing me north.

Pat has the "45" . . . sitting outside, decorated with Christmas Lights ! Lil' Joe is hangin' out 'til he can break ground on his new shop (with two bedroom living quarters). We had a beer and talked about the old days - Thanks fellas. -Noot

The drive back was kinda ugly.

Dupli-Color Spray Gun

I bought this in Paducah, Kentucky. Cuban Tan for your 40s Packard ! I cleaned it out and it's ready for a test. This could be the beginning of a whole new career . . . probably not.

I could always use it at the Star Trek reunions . . ?

Magneto Work . . .

Worked on my magneto while the rain turned to ice, turned to snow. Everything fitted for good after mock up. Joe Hunt base with Ace Hardware stainless socket head cap screws. Don't know if I like the funky plug wires - but, they have excellent continuity with copper cores.

NOS Harley(in original package) drive gear with hardened roll pin from Lessin Supply Co.

1975 TZ750

If I collected vintage 2 cycle race motorcycles, I'd buy this bike. On Ebay now.

Borrani Front Runner

I found this at a late (Fall)swap meet. The rim was tweaked, so I used a rubber hammer and got it much better. I'll true it more, once I get the bearings and spacer installed. I sourced some 15mm X 40mm(OD) ball bearings to match my current axle/hub combo. I also sourced a 19" knobby (so I can use a bald, worn-out 19" Avon Speedmaster) for a tire liner. Then possibly screw up a tire with 5/8" Kold Kutters for a front ice tire? Going in circles on the ice on my KHK . . . sounds easier than it probably is . . .

Looks like somebody "peened" the bearings once-upon-a-time. The new 40mm bearings I bought, after close measurements, should have some press fit. I don't know what they had in there? You don't want anything too nice on the ice, since it'll probably get "augured" and gouged by ice screws. It's sorta outlaw around here. Nobody uses fenders and all the cluttered, safety shit. Shredded Carhartts and frayed pant legs are the fashion . . . .

Morty "The Official Shop Cat"

He lives outside, and doesn't mind the cold. I lock him up at night, or he gets in trouble (cat fights). Last night we worked on cleaning Bill's panheads and rockers. When he hears the air-compressor turn on, he knows it's time for work and shows up. Mort's my best employee.

Golden Era of Motorcycling

This photo has big twins and K models. I like the young scrapper towards the left . . . he's got his rig all stripped down for speed at Sunday club meets.

My weird little town . . .

Our Main Street businesses bring out these wooden elves (all different) at their store fronts for Xmas. They are all this "cartoon style face" except for one particular business . . . Darby's.

. . . This one looks like Jennifer Lawrence ?????

80" AMF

We're working on a motor for one of these . . . Can't remember which one? We better find out so we paint it correct. Sturgis? FXR? 1982ish . . ? They look alike, but two different motorcycles.

Fun in the Sunnen

Measure valve stem = (a shallow) .310 all the way up and down the valve. It's straight.

I found a precision ground "pilot" that measures (a heavy) .311 which I'll use to determine the correct clearance for this Intake Valve. I'll hone the new guide until this pilot just fits in each end of the guide(all the way through) - then I'll know I have the correct clearance, so he don't stick the valve.

The Sunnen HONALL is a miraculous invention. It hones these Rowe cast iron guides perfectly. It's honed hundreds of guides from the old Noots' Custom Cycles days . . . and it's still in use. They ain't cheap, but it's better than a reamer. Cast iron guides have better lubricity than steel guides.

The pilot fits in both ends . . . and the valve has proper fitment.

Now I'll hone the Exhaust Guides, cut the seats(you can see they're pitted) and we'll have a fresh set of heads, ready for another 30,000+ miles - (hopefully)with today's unleaded fuels.

Heli-Coil Ironhead Case Bolt Threads

The front-left case bolt was a sawed off bolt, with silicone around it, just stuck to fill the hole. The threads were gone, with a cheesy, cheap insert deal stuck in there that it's own threads were junk. I dug out the old insert (took a long time, but it's not something you can really charge the guy for, it's just an unfortunate situation). I set up the case in the drill press, and carefully drilled it out for a new 5/16-18 Heli Coil. Installed it correctly, and it's fixed. Welding and machine work averted.

Tom . . .

Honor to know you . . . and we'll keep your spirit - buildin' and riding 'til the wheels fall out of true.

Back Row (2nd from Left)

John is my Great Great Great Grandfather.

Greenberry(gray hair) is my Great Great Great Great Grandfather !

(George looks like a tough SOB)

Life is faster than a panhead chopper.

K Cam vs. KHK Cam

The stock (1952-53) K Model camshaft on the left, and the (1956) KHK camshaft on the right.

The K lobe profile is more "pointed" with less duration. Shorter.

The KHK lobe is more "wide" and lightly taller (more lift)

McFarland made a shaft for the KHK cam. The gear teeth (on the KHK cam) are narrower for less resistance and quieter operation.

I fixed up a set of cams for Kevin Baas' KH racer.

A guy(reputable source) told me when the 1956 KHK came out, and you took the engine apart, the cams were marked 1KHK, 2KHK, 3KHK, 4KHK. If you wanted to "hop-up" your KH or K Model, and went to the dealership to buy a set of KHK cams.....the cams were marked 1,2,3,4. The KHK profile is the same lift and duration as the first KR cams (in 1952 and 1953). You can look at the Enfield Racing website and see a chart with the various cam lift figures for reference.

Santa ( by Mark Patrick )

Every year around the holidays . . . I forget to take Santa out of the box and display him. No shit, when I take him out of the box, and look at his face - he's got a scowl, mad face. After he warms up in the dry heat of this old house . . . his face lightens to a warm smile.

Only 5 days 'til Christmas !
You just got to believe . . .

Modern Motorcycle Superstars: Springer

I bought this at a book sale years ago. I see it was once property of the Neenah Library.

It has stories on many great riders, like Jay Springsteen . . .

The story on Springsteen focuses on his 1978 season where he battled (the late and great) Steve Eklund for the title . . .

Steve Eklund was also a talented flat tracker, and won the National Championship himself later . . . I didn't know that another rider accused Springsteen of drug usage during his career - or that any time he was "Boo'd by the crowd."

Gradually . . . the boos stopped - and Jay Springsteen went on to become one of our top champions of the sport, with one of the longest careers of any rider, before or since.

I took this very book with me to Springfield one year to try and get autographs. I carried it around with me after I went in the grandstands. It was sort of a pain-in-the-ass carrying this book with me. I went under the track (through the tunnel) and found Springsteen talking with, none other than Parker and Carr and Atherton, sitting on the tail gate of a truck. I listened to all these stories they were telling (me and a couple others) . . . and I handed my book to Jay and asked him if he could sign it? He said something like, "Hey, this is neat, I've never seen this one before." . . . and this is the page he signed for me . . . winning again in 1978 ! Just like the story goes . . . .

Rowe USA ( Out of Business )

Rowe has been closed for a couple years now. They manufactured great products. Excellent quality. I'm a 2nd generation family member (user) of Rowe products. We've installed hundreds of valves and guides. The parts were plentiful, but now they're becoming scarce. I have these cast iron Intake guides for Ironhead XLs . . . and (2) of them will be used in Eric's build - then I'm down to 3 . . . then 1 . . . then none. Even their name etched on the guides is Quality.
Quality in the Name: Rowe USA

Mr. Rowe graciously retired . . . and he couldn't find anyone to buy the business, so he closed. Crap, for the rest of us . . . but please enjoy your retirement - you earned it.

'66 Flywheels

Eric's sprocket-shaft side flywheel was wrecked. Broken taper lip. His center rod was ate. We replaced the parts (found an excellent OEM center rod in our stash), new wrist pin bushings, honed the races for new oversize rollers . . . checked the shafts, trued up the assembly - ready to roll again !

Motion Pro

I received my "Custom Manufactured" throttle cable today from Motion Pro of California. Years ago I attended the Cincinnati Motorcycle Dealer's Show, and chatted with a guy from Motion Pro at their booth about racing, etc. Towards the end of the conversation, I asked how long he had been with the company? He said "I'm the owner . . . I started it." Nice fella.

They included a sticker ! Just like the one's you see on the flat tracker seat cowls, forks and number plates of the XRs . . . all tucked in on the mile . . .

Tom Fugle @ Mooneyes Japan 2014 REPOST with added paragraph:

I just wanted to say(for 2014) it's pretty cool Tom built a bike for Born Free, went to Japan, got recognized for all his talent and work he's done in his life. His close friends already knew this - they already knew Tom was a special guy, but we wouldn't have known (or at least I wouldn't have known it) I just knew Tom from the swap meets and bike shows as a kid, that knew Tator - who bought and sold parts and had a chopper, etc. Then, Jeff Wright met Tom and showed us all pictures of Tom and his talent - and it just kinda snowballed for the rest of us. I mean Tom is really an artist who does his own thing, and does it uniquely well. All that practice and fine tuning of his skills takes work and dedication. - Heck, by the time we get to be his age - we might not even be into bikes, or have so many aches and pains we won't feel like doin' nothin'..... but, Tom is still goin' and it gives me inspiration to do something and keep creating things - and keep building stuff - and honing my own talents.

Well, the above post of mine was a couple years ago - and time just keeps going on. People don't change much, but times do. Tom is heading down life's road, and nearing it's end. He's been sick for a bit, but he just keeps changing lanes and passing all the exits. His tank is on reserve now, but that panhead just keeps pulling . . . flying down the highway of life. You got to take your hat off to a man who did it his own way, and tried his best, and influenced 2 or 3 generations(so far) of motorcycle enthusiasts who just wanted to chop and customize and build badass motorcycles, that shined in the moonlight and blasted in the wind. Your inspiration and motivation didn't go unnoticed - and you'll still be an influence for many many years to come. Thanks again Tom Fugle. My warmest wishes for little pain and lots of good memories in your final run in high gear . . . left foot on the tin primary, right foot on the case, tone of the pipes in your ears. Respectfully, -Noot

Classic Photo

The K Model (center) has a weird speedometer set-up - I've never seen one before. Cables and it seems (a calibrator?) Also a different front fender and knobby thread. I'd say they're more into off-road riding, than street cruising? Tough gals.

Ladies Love The 80s . . .

These 80 inchers are now +.040 with +.0015 clearance. I got my 60 degree cross-hatch - and they turned out nice . . . for a local, gray haired ruffian.