Messin' with Wico Magnetos

I remember seeing Wico magnetos for sale in my earliest memories of swap meets.  A vendor had an entire box of H-D Wicos at a swap in Rockford, Illinois.  I didn't know how they worked.  They looked kinda ugly, and who knew they'd become popular again for racing and restorations???  I bought a Fairbanks-Morse Sportster magneto in LeMars, Iowa for $100.00 at an AMCA Meet.  The same vendor gave me a choice between (an almost new Wico vertical) or the used FM.  I'm currently working on about the 5th engine with a Wico....and I'm learning.  Interesting little "magic boxes" these things are . . .  #singlefire  #rotor  #don'tmixupthewires 

Sleeves

I've never "sleeved" a cylinder before - but I figure it's a good skill to have.  You can buy cylinders a lot cheaper if they're already .070 over size and rusty.  The 4-fin knucklehead cylinders, '48-'49 panhead cylinders...anything that has the original date codes and markings.  Restoration junkies need the original parts for judging points and originality.  Plus, they just look right on an engine.  It was my first attempt, it's in there, and I can bore it now, and use my NOS +.010 over H-D pistons. 

1975 XLH

 A local guy's bike that was a real rat.  Almost everything was wrong with it - very cobbled and completely wore out.  Dad auction bought it . . . restored it to almost perfect 1975 condtion (with a few custom touches) We're "winterizing" everything, and the only thing this really needs is to get ridden more.... #cycleshackpipes  #Pcams  #borranirims  #goodyearalltraction 

Muffler Bashing - Air Cleaner Snorting

ISSUE #1: Bad sounding/performing muffler.  I keep taking the muffler off this thing and beatin' the shit out of it (internally).  It just sounds like crap.  It reminds me of a wet toilet paper roll shoved in there.  Clogged.  I already cut the muffler in half, gutted out the restrictions, took about 8" out of the length.  Now I took the muffler off again (4th or 5th time) and have a 1/2" steel bar I turned a sharp point on - and I've been beating through the center from both ends.  The bar gets stuck, I clamp the bar in my big vise, then twist and turn the muffler to get the bar out !  I got a long "bell hanger" carbide drill bit (18" length) I'm drilling though the center.  Finally it's better, runs better, and idles like a panhead should . . . pieces of metal flying out.  I just want to use it - 'cause it looks cool. 

ISSUE #2: Motor runs like shit in heavy cross-wind.  I've adapted a stock-air cleaner to my Super E because I like the stock look.  But these air cleaners are known for "wind issues" and this is no different.  I'm in-the-process of modifying an S&S B-Series air cleaner backing plate to run on my Super E.  This entails machining new holes, milling for screw heads, removing the air bleed screw on the carb body (since the back plate blocks the outer air-bleed hole) and a bit of burr, fitment mods.  I've never had a wind issue with the S&S air cleaner - they are great, and direct the air into the carb, don't 'cause fires, and give great response and flow.  It just don't look quite right on here, but I may learn to like it ?  I run one of my black Sportster, and I noticed it had a bit better throttle response, and gives you more leg room (than the larger, ugly chrome stock Super E air cleaner)

Just some stuff . . .

Imagination "workin' overtime"

 

Morty says, "Let's work on the chopper !"

 

Current Mood

 

 

I miss the pool . . .(wish I had one)

 

Iggy's House

 



FLORIDA: The Sunshine State

I've been to all the coasts of Florida, up and down the center, panhandle . . . over 24 years of trekking around the state.  This year we explored Perdido Key, Orange Beach, Gulf Breeze and Pensacola Beach with a run up through Foley.  It's one of my favorites.

We like swimming . . .

  . . . but she ain't wild about oysters. (I love 'em)

 Awesome pizza at Lillian's !  When you're from a small town, places like this have all these great places to eat !  I gained almost 10 lbs. !

Fort Morgan (Yes, it's haunted !)  It's quite the place to go inside.  It still smells like gun powder.

Let's shoot a 1000lb. shell 8 1/2 Miles ! 

Don't mess with Alabama...

Gulf shore oil rigs . . . Florida does not allow them.  We're about 10 miles into the Alabama coast at the point, but we're staying on Perdido Key, Florida - The most beautiful area . . .

Above: A similar rig to the BP Deepwater Horizon which exploded and pumped millions of gallons of crude into the gulf.  I ask the locals about it, and talk to people about their feelings towards the big oil companies - a mixed viewpoint as expected.





 

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 This lighthouse on the Naval Base . . . Cheryl went all the way to the top !

The museum is worth the trip - My favorite was this Curtiss (who also manufactured motorcycles).  It was like a show plane - but a deadly fighter !

 

I had the opportunity to visit with different servicemen from all branches.  These men flew hundreds of missions since the early 1950s . . . One particular vet took me up on the wing of his original war plane that he landed on the Shang-Gra-La style carrier - and gave me a full detail of a landing as we looked at a model of the carrier.  Then, we all went outside and watched the Blue Angels practice session.  A few years ago, I stood atop old-Fort Morgan, Florida and they buzzed me a couple times at 700mph with vapor flowing off their wings . . . what a trip that was . . .

Above: Current #7 Blue Angel - Andre Webb

Above: Current #5 Blue Angel Tyler Davies (his last year with the team)

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Most of the time we had the beach all to ourselves.  It's kinda a hidden paradise around here.  The people we stayed (Airbnb this year) were wonderful - and we have new friends in the state.  A couple stormy days in between made it interesting.  A few gators, many pelicans, I ate redfish, gumbo, fresh shrimp, drank a few brews . . . and a couple run & cokes.  Many ice cream stores and beach shops....and of coarse Publix !  I can see myself riding my rusty 45 around here someday.  It'll be parked at the marina (or at Sunset Beach in Perdido) and I'll be out fishing, or paddle boarding on Sabine Bay. 

This is Gulf Breeze, Florida (looking East)  The bridge to Pensacola (to the left) and the bridge to Pensacola Beach (to the right).  The small bay where the bridge meets Pen' Beach is Little Sabine(a calm paddle-boarding bay with a sand bar in the center).  If you keep traveling east, you'll soon hit Navarre, then Fort Walton, then Panama City . . .

Print and Save: Harley K KH KHK KR

The Best Lookin' . . .

Hey Jimmy . . . see Chopper Dave's Casting Company for one of these . . . I like 'em better than the S&S ones . . . and you'll be Loud AND Fast AND Rule too !  NOTE: I've heard they work best if you overlap the velocity stack lip by about 1/4"-3/8" of an inch.  Not in too far, not out even with the lip.

Ride Your K on the 40 Degree Days

This hard-as-a-rock Goodyear All-Traction doesn't offer much traction when it's cold out.

 and Run #10w-40 OIL

The Motorcycle Race

Back went men risked their necks for Cash, a Medal . . .

. . . and definitely - for the Kiss from the Trophy Girl

1961 XLCH

Above:  See anything a-miss ??

I got it runnin' pretty decent in these cool temps.  Starts better.   I bundled up with leathers, insulated denim pants and a full face Bell Vortec. Then put on some back-road miles.  Bar to Bar.

This is the best working old, steel leg Sporty frontend I have . . . It never tops out, bottoms out, or wiggles at high speed.  This bike has the original frame, forks, shocks (and engine) so that might be the difference?  or at least help . . .

Long reach plugs(Autolite 4056)for XLR heads.  My horn bracket broke - so my bud D.T. fixed it.  Now it's good for another 25 years since I did the last one . . . Have a Great Day !

Deadwood, South Dakota

 . . . a few years ago.  Who was this crazy guy?

National Numbers

Lance Jones wearin' 23c . . . who later went on to gain the points for a national number.  I remember him as #28 (who will soon be Michael Bickerton) if all goes as planned.