Bonneville, Utah - October 1970

Bore: 3.365"

Stroke: 5"

89 cubic inches

265.492 mph

. . . with a single engine Ironhead stroker.

I would like to have heard that sucker wound out to 7,8,9 grand inside the tube on that
record run . . . wow !  Only Cal ever knew . . .

Chris' 1963

We get the lower end all rebuilt, pump set, cylinders fitted . . . short block is rebuilt after discovering the "welded Timken" and melted seal . . . and a way-ward spacer floating around in the gear case????

 Heads next: revealed a loose guide (pulled out with my fingers) and a valve seal that had fallen off (which Noot said acts like a pumper and can really make it smoke, since the guide is shorter now - to make room for the seal) . . .  and a galled valve, and one that looks like it hit something (might be bent?)  Changed the "grinding" throwout bearing and kicker gear in the tranny too . . . Enuff Znuff !

Motorcycle Collections

The "Billy Bike", a real 1945 "45 cu in" and the 1963 FL . . . that '63 is so cool.  When a dealership or museum acquires an old motorcycle that's traded, etc . . . it now sits idle for everyone to enjoy.  But, to me it's almost like the bike is being held hostage all of a sudden.  The life it once had with the owner that rode it for years and years on countless excursions and adventures is gone for now.  It's dead in the water.  Nobody is enjoying the whirring sound of the pan motor after a long weekend on the road.  The smell of oil and fuel, the heat, the snicka-click of the 4 speed.  It's just there in body - but, the soul is now stagnant.

TZ750

. . . race wired !

1961 Trivia

Eisenhower and Kennedy were both President

The Beatles played the Cavern Club for the first time

Gas was 32 cents a gallon

The numerals 1961 look the same upside-down !

Learning Curve . . .

I'm building a new? motor from broken parts again.  I guess that's the best way to learn this craft by doing again and again.  We'll run a vintage Sifton 412 cam (dated 1973), Wiley dynamically balanced the flywheels (his secret %percentage), McFarland milled the heads and I cleaned up the ports a bit for Rowe nitrate and  HD valves, we'll try the magneto again.  I bored the cylinders +.010 for 8:1 Gary Bang pistons - and my trusty Super E . . . all this for an extra kick in the britches. Thanks to all the new people who sold me stuff that's been in their sheds and basements and abandon houses for years and years and just want to see me go go go go go go . . . .

Dig 'em out . . .

Every once in awhile, the local HD dealership digs out some of their collection . . . I like that '59 CH.  They usually have some old stuff out there . . . a 1945 WL and a pan chopper too.

I like how guys used to race . . .

. . . with t-shirts and/or no gloves . . . care in the wind - just go faster !

Ebay

I saw this on ebay last night . . . If I had a lot of money and wanted an XR750 . . . this would most definitely be the motorcycle dreams are made of . . . . just run & jump !

New WRENCH Magazine

I still read magazines.  My attention span has not suffered so bad from internet crap that I can't sit still to read a motorcycle magazine.  My biff is . . . many of the "chopper" mags have all kinds of typos.  I'm not an English teacher, but the stories are bad (and uninteresting) and the photos don't highlight the details of the motorcycle that deserve "highlighting."   Wrench is not too bad in this department . . . however, the article on Jeremiah is real general (could have been longer and more informative).  The "Snowblind" article was probably the best one . . . and for Born Free being such a big deal, I still haven't read a decent article on this event with detailed photos and technical data.  I can't be the only one who spots a bike in the background I'd rather look at . . . I guess I'll just have to cover an event, send in my submission, and see if they print it? 

I'm in The Horse . . ! Well, sort of . . .

I see my name in the latest The Horse Backstreet Choppers.  I was probably talkin' and not paying attention when the pictures were being taken (doesn't surprise me).  Now I know the names of all the cool people I talked to during the show.  It was really fun that day . . . Me & Ricky Anchor hangin' at the show - Hope we can do it again somewhere, someday. (I'll bring the pan chop !)

WTF? New Sprocket Shaft in the package . . .

OD run-out on splines is perfect - no run-out, Zero

OD run-out on Timken surface has +.003 run-out, Bad

It was a new sprocket shaft in the package.  

Noot thinks what happened was the surfaces were ground separately, 

and they got a shaving on the center after they ground the splines.

The Timken bearing will be shaking and probably destroy itself.
You can't just throw the shafts in and start assembling . . . 
You must check run-out on parts during assembly.
You really have to check this stuff, 
even if it seems rather mundane.

Florida get-a-way . . . on the cheap !

Superstitious?  Row 14 is really Row 13 . . . Flyin' on the 13th !

Anna Maria Island:  Fishin' Drinkin' & Swimming . . . Fun !

Our beach bungalow . . . . cool pad

Anna Maria Island is known for it's excellent fishing !

Mackerel dinner - Fresh catch !

Canoe trip down the Weeki Wachee River . . .

I like to travel - but, it's kinda expensive unless you ride a chopper and sleep on the ground.  We do it on a budget with mom & pop motels, public transportation, fishing off the dock with the locals (no charters).  Cheryl and myself have lots of fun all the places we've been - and all the sites we've got to see off-the-beaten-path.  Weeki Wachee and Homosassa are weird names for towns . . . but, it's really cool there.  Anna Maria is another place that time has forgot.  Old Florida the way it should be.  Mackerel and Jack until the Ladyfish and Blacktips move in . . . then it's $1 draws and watch the sun go down again . . .

Hi-Tech Knuckle Chop / / /

This bike is trick.  I like the juice brake set-up, the rack, fender strut . . . many custom, yet functional fabrications - and it still keeps the old-time vibe.  A true custom - rider !

Small shops . . .