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Chase & Co. in Japan

Neato 52K . . . he gets to feel & hear what a K is like . . . across the way.

Vintage Ks in use today

Drag Bike - Minnesota

Sunnen

Perfect Stance !

1958 XLCH Kicker Pedal

I think this is the only year H-D would have used this?  Maybe '59 - and I saw an original '60Ch had one, but probably added later.   I'd have to read for sure, since KRs and XRs didn't have manual starters.  This part originally had a straight rib sleeve (which was weather checked).  I use a length of rubber hose instead.  It appears H-D just disassembled a bicycle-style pedal, and only used the shaft, washer and nut. ?

Mikuni 38mm

It's a good idea to start a fresh motor with a carburetor that (you know) works, or has proven itself.   Then you aren't flooding or starving your motor of fuel during a crucial "break-in" period.  I've seen bad results from incorrect jetting, starvation, washing the walls, etc.  I know this Mikuni works - it's broke in about 6 motors now.

Bryan Smith & Kawasaki

Smith took the win at the Springfield Mile.  His Kawasaki was fast, but Smith is probably one of the best milers at the moment too.  He's smooth and knows how to work-the-draft.  I watched the race (thanks Hux) and you could see Smith just had the power - and was controlling the pace.  He's had some bum breaks the last couple years, with rules, sponsors, etc . . . but,  I've always been a fan of Smith, he came up through the ranks to get where he's at - not always with the best equipment or the best bike.  He's a pro motorcycle racer - a tough way to make your money.

Me & Morty - Workin' on stuff - Memorial Day

A busy weekend . . . after the Mason City Car Cruise, Harley Open House, bike ride, yard work, hike, a graduation party and another bike run . . . it was time to spend some quality time, just me and Morty in the shop workin' on stuff for Chink, Shaun, Gordy and Polgreen . . . all names the Mort has heard many times.  We worked on our own projects too.  Cheryl had us take a break for some wine & cheese . . . a perfect weekend.

 Rebuilt a Tillotson HD1(1966-67) 57 Main Jet

Making my own pipes, due to short cylinders.
Chad at D&L will assist in pipe expansion and flange fitment.

Correct top mount with flex-loc nut, Cadmium !
Factory galvanized intake clamps.

Factory steering dampener, CP1038 pinch bolt, rare steel top tree.
Cadmium, Chrome & Parkerized

Break Time: Brambleberry Wine from Marquette.

Factory Clutch Bracket (Anderson cable)

Goodyear Diamond 4.00-19 (Triplet Distributing)

 Horizontal FM magneto with .032 safety wired Sifton Copper Cores,
John Penner mag gear(thanks John), Joe Hunt rotor, Carl Patrick helped too.

 I thank all our men and women veterans and current enlisted for their service to our country.  I can do the things I love to do, and live in a free country because of your efforts and commitment.
God Bless America.

I like the Red One . . .

Cisco's Hub

I see he ran one of those crazy front hubs like Mike Geltz showed me.  It's called an Apollo.
But, I guess ya'll know that already . . . ?

Heavy Duty Sissy Bar

Heavy welds and large fender support help keep away cracks and breakage.  Those aftermarket bars need upgrading - I've seen a lot of broken ones.  Wait 'til you pack it with gear and ride Iowa roads.  Nobody ever notices my knucklehead axle and spacer running through the big juice brake either . . . Took some time, measuring and calculating, for nobody to notice.  I think those axles look cool . . .

Orange & Black

Chad's paint must be good since my screwdriver slipped installing a pushrod clip and the end went right into the side of the tank . . . and it didn't even leave a mark.  Whew !  I should not have the paint on while workin' on it . . . almost a battle scar before I get it off the lift.

Allan G.

No. 94

BF7 JW's KZ via MLW

3.218 stroke X 3.004 bore @ 7000rpms

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Dick Allen & his gal . . .

Pit Stop Speed

Jack it up . . .

Buzz out 5 lugs . . .

Pull axle . . . drop spacer . . .

Fix Spoke . . .

Bolt it back up - Off you go !

Shovelhead Valve Guides: PART 1

I'll install a unique guide with undercuts for snap on type valve seals.  It requires a special fly-cutting tool for proper lower collar fitment. 

Rick's Run No. 10

I've had 9 rides in a row, then waited 5 years for this 10th (don't ask me why, just kinda tired I guess?) I always invite a variety of riders from young(newbies) to old.  I'm waiting at the gas station, the weather is overcast and foggy(but warm) and a chance of storms by late afternoon.  It's now 9:30am and this ride is scheduled to leave in 15 minutes, and I'm thinking nobody will show, and I'll just go home.  Oh, well.  

But wait . . . I hear a bike, then another . . . It's kinda funny, whenever the weather is a little suspect, it's always these same "old-time" riders (mostly now all 60+ and yes, 70+ years old) that show up and keep you on your toes.  Real riders who've been doing it the longest.  A little heavy fog, chance of rain, wind, cold, etc . . . won't deter this group.  They just want to ride . . . and we did just that.  Fog, then a bit of wind, then clouds, then SUNSHINE !  It was a great trip, everyone out havin' fun on motorcycles with all the beautiful scenery . . . and the stories are the best part !  If you're ever looking for a place to ride and eat in southern Minnesota, go check out Stumpy's in Rushford - great food and great roads to ride on . . . Thanks to Gary & Judy, Russ & Raylene, Peters & Co, Frosty, Jamie, Booger, Killer Carter, Wally, Pete & Kory(for a beer) . . . and for the first time ever - my Mom, Dad and my sister Betsy all rode together.  Kinda cool.
See you all soon gang ! . . . -Ricky Noot 

Heavy Biker Fiction

I saw the neighbor lady only a few times in the 5 years I lived at this new address.  She kept to herself.  The house she lived in was small, peeling paint, flowers coming up each year through the weeds that blocked the screened in porch.  The front sidewalk cracked.  American flag out front.  She didn't keep her car in the unattached garage, since you could see it was full of stuff and junk through the missing door window.  The other windows were covered with yellowed newsprint.  Recent high winds knocked down sticks and tree branches, and as I picked up the street and filled my old pickup box, the lady yelled . . . "Hey, Rich or Rick excuse me - could you take a few of these sticks to the dump too for me?"  I said, sure . . . and came over.  This was the closest I had been to her garage, then I noticed another little shed out back, door propped open . . . AND the front of a motorcycle wheel . . . a thin tire, a spool-type wheel.  Shiny steel fork legs . . . She was still talking, but I wasn't really listening - just focused as I moved a bit closer to aid my aging vision. I gathered sticks and made-my-way towards the open shed door.  I could see a large, old oil spot with dirt and leaves stuck to it.  The bike looked a dull gray color from years of dirt and dust.  A garden rake, a seed spreader.  I said, "I didn't know you rode motorcycles?"  She chirped, "I don't... Just on the back a few times.  You want to look at that bike, go look.  I could hear her . . . under her breath say, "I really need to clean out some crap, then louder; Maybe you'd be interested in that thing? I'm sick of trippin' over it." She knew(her name was Krystal) I rode a motorcycle.  She had that look to me riding by like I was wasting my time, sometimes giving me the "fingers in her ears" symbol.  You might like this one? Maybe not? Probably needs some tinkering?  I know it's a Harley, pretty sure, back when they didn't make them very good. I know it's loud, so you'd probably like that?  It don't run.  It broke or something. It was my oldest brother's bike, he shut it off here one Summer day, it didn't start.  He moved to Oregon, passed away 'bout a year later.  It's been 25 or 30 years ago.  I do have a pink slip paper of ownership, still with his name.  Tell you what Rich, you helped me today, you can have this if you want it? . .  heck, Go ahead, take it - drag it out if you want, don't get hurt. It's really Heavy.  "I need room for my new mower comin'."  It was as simple as that.  Then I woke up.  Shit.

S&S SUPER B 1 7/8"

This early Super B Carburetor has the vent hole plugged?  Is it internally vented?  I see there's a passage that runs from one end to the other, inside.  Serial No. 3275.  Must be from 1975-1980.  Kinda cool with just the single throttle cable.  I could run this on the 80"er I build someday . . .

Cool Bikes

Troublehead

That's what I call 'em . . . but I'll probably end up building one for myself eventually (maybe never) who knows?  Going through this motor for our buddy Shane.  It was making funny noises . . .

As we tore it down . . .

- Wrist Pin came out - galled cylinder wall

- Found snap ring pieces in oil

(different type of snap ring than where it's used)

- Plastic breather chewed

- Pinion Gear tooth missing

(and Split down the middle)

- Cam thrust washer on wrong

- Oil pump drive gear shaft kinda stuck

- Key kinda sheared

- Found tooth in oil pump !

- Rods junk . . .

 

You can see the tooth of the pinion gear wedged down in there, 

almost blocking the oil hole.

Carroll Resweber - Always Remembered

Resweber passed away last Friday, May 8th.  He was my earliest motorcycle racing hero, and even though I never saw him race - I've read almost every article and story available about him and his racing career.  I got to meet Carroll and help him at the hall-of-fame races in Springfield one year.  He signed my original 1961 issue of American Motorcyclist Magazine.  He raced in the days without brakes, and was one of the greatest sliders of all time - with the ability to throw his KR into the turn and scrub off speed - or just drift it through the corners keeping as much momentum as possible.  He won a hell-of-a-lot races and was national champion 4 years in a row in a time when it was really tough to do such a thing.  Nobody had ever done that before - and his records stood for years.  Resweber will always be remembered as one of the all-time best flat trackers to ever swing his leg over a motorcycle.   

Classic Photos: KHRM & Panhead

Everett Schilling is a cool cat !

Orange & Black

 I like choppers as much as anybody else . . . but my true soul rides with the early Ironheads.  I ran into a couple snags with this project and had to slow down a bit and regroup.  With the excitement of everything coming together, a lotta guys start rushing and you end up with a ton of stuff you're gonna "keep an eye on" and you have parts falling off later.  Just do-it-right the first time . . . now I can move forward.