Noot

South & Central America, Mexico, China, India . . . . it's the most basic transportation. Where did I park? I stood on a corner in downtown Cancun . . . the light turned green - and the two-stroke smoke ! A moped induced cloud of vaporized 2 cycle oil mix . . .

Kevin's KH

The cases have been repaired, welded and machined and bead blasted . . . now it needs some heli-coils and I'll check the races . . . see what we got here.

McFarland machined the aluminum "donut" which was pressed onto the existing (cracked) bearing boss. The crack was ground out, cleaned and then Pat Lehmann welded in our new, reinforced countershaft bearing support. I used an old bearing (loose fit plug) during welding operations (suggested by Jeff Wiley) to keep our bearing OD at approx. correct size for press fit of the new Torrington. It worked ! This will offer a stronger alternative to the stock case configuration . . . ready for Teach gear jammin' . . .

Poole Aluminum Shovelhead Cylinders

Special washers for under the base nuts. S&S head bolt washers are nearly the same size, but they have a bevel which would "dig in" unfavorably to these aluminum bases. These washers are flat on both sides. I know what I needed . . . How could finding something as simple as a correct size washer be so difficult? These were custom manufactured.

Wait 'til you see the heads and rockers . . .

Oliver & Stanley

So Tough

A Very Rad Bike . . .
Hydraulic Clutch
Burkhart Mag ?
Rigid Frame
Weber ?
Big Rear Disc
Dual Up Front
Set up for Total Street Domination !

RACE ONLY Generator Block Off Plate

I sanded, highlighted . . . then painted it cast iron gray and scotch-brighted the lettering. Special low nylon insert jam nuts and brass washers. Lights are over rated anyway . . . Dad always said I was a bit in the dark.

It's 52 degrees on December 9th

. . . so I rode the '52 WLA today. This is the first real test ride since I put it back together. This thing gets ridden pretty darn hard all summer . . . and it's lookin' like . . . all Winter long.

I had the tranny all ripped to shit at my dad's garage. I was in the process of gettin' it back together, but when I came back a few days later - he had it all assembled. Which is good, but I asked a lot of questions like . . .

"So did you make sure . . . ? His answer: "Yup"

"...and did you check the . . . ? His answer: "Yes"

"...and what about the . . . ? His answer: "Oh, Yes"

I guess it's good to have a dad who knows how to fix a bike ! ? !

It shifts smooth as silk . . .

I also replaced, honed and fitted a new rocker clutch bushing. It stops on that special long-nut like it should now. It was so loose before . . . wonky all over the place. A total pleasure to clutch and shift now. Aren't these 45s crazy, weird with all the gadgets and gizmos ???

Nagoya, Japan

Maki's CH . . . Probably vintage iron runnin' everywhere around Yokohama. So cool.
PIC totally stolen from Polgreen's Instagram

1957XL Motor

These friends of mine (brothers who are total early Sportster and K-Model crazy addicted) have a 1957 XL. They (one of them) blew this thing up years ago. The motor started knockin' and grinding, and he just kept going. All the way home. The motor sat for years and years. The rod rollers looked like square, woodruff keys. I don't know what they ran for oil in this, but I hope the company doesn't make it anymore.
Damn. What a mess.

Show-N-Go 1966 XLCH

Hartman's CH runs a full set of Andrews PB+ with 40 over slugs, Hastings rings, Raybestos dry plates and it'll be fueled, (yes mother) by dual mono-blocs . . . Holy smokes Big Daddy ! Ryan hand-sanded & polished all the covers - AND check out those totally crazy rocker boxes . . . . . . .
Tappet blocks were honed and hand fitted for new +.005 rollers (with the trusty circa:1947 Sunnen). An almost perfect set of 900 iron cylinders get smooth bored via 1967 Van Norman 900 boring rig.
A 900 doing a 900 - Perfecto ! Vintage machine tools restoring vintage iron - USA is Here to Stay . . . Don't get much better than that folks . . . . . . . . .

Mag is timed and is set for (by hand) Retard & Advance. No extra cables, levers or janky bull on this street sweeper. These CHs are the beast, the ruler, the vibe of the boulevard. Look closer, you'll notice the rockers have lost that square right-side edge, and factory drill hole. Ryno chiseled, cut and tig'd his way to a most, unique set rockers - Only set on the planet like these . . . Far Out !

Scott Weiland - Newpaper Man

There's a neat article ( Search LA Times "When Scott Weiland Was A Newspaperman") I worked as a Layout Artist at a university newspaper(same job as Weiland) in 1986-88. This story made me smile, since I also rode my skateboard (across campus) to work. It's sad when good people get hooked on drugs. It seems some people handle their drugs better than others. Maybe the drugs didn't have anything to do with his death . . . maybe they did? But, when the local radio station recently did a tribute to Weiland, with an entire hour dedicated to the songs, it made me really realize what a talented musician he was . . . and how his music has rocked me and moved me since his voice hit the airwaves.

Pump It Up

Custom Manifold for the 38mm Pumper. Air & Fuel. Fuel & Air.
Aluminum Top Mount
Air Cleaner Flange

Minnesota backroad . . .

On my way to Pat Lehmann's for some aluminum welding. It's rare to have 40 degree temps in Minnesota on December 5th . . . and Pat is still riding his motorcycle.

Hux's Shop

Everywhere you look . . . nostalgia, memorabilia and FXRs !

Influence and Inspiration

This motorcycle was raced by Larry Weiss. I first saw it on the auction block, and now I've been told it now hangs by chains in some California custom shop. It was my inspiration for my KHK Project - Kinda a KR with rear loop, but a rear brake. I really like riding my '52K, handles well, a little under-powered, but you learn how to use that power. It's actually pretty quick in town. I thought if I had something like the K-Model with a lower center of gravity and a little more power, little less weight - I could maybe run some of this vintage stuff - indoor syrup, a little dirt, maybe some ice? You just need 3 sets of wheels, special tires on each. You need a carb(on the left) that can fall off without breaking the cylinder spigots. You need some boots, pads, leather pants would be nice. I had all this stuff once in my lifetime, but it's so expensive to relive your youth. Buy it all again. Just to spend about $100 in gas, $25 to enter, $25 in food, $20 in beer - to get a 4th place trophy made from a worn out motor sprocket and a burnt piston. Make sure my health insurance is paid - and I have my card in my pocket. Take an Advil before bed.

Bike Shows

Velvet Ropes.

Colored Christmas Tree Lights.

Trophies.

Flashbulbs.

Fuzzy Carpets.

CC Rider sounds . . .

So am I reading this correctly ? Carl Morrow and Leo Payne's Sportsters were used for motorcycle sounds on the movie C.C Ryder with Joe Namath and Ann Margaret ? Huh . . . I have that movie. I gotta listen.

That motor on the ground at Bonneville has some strange lookin' cylinders.
Block off plate, oil lines up in the air. All sittin' in the salt !

Let's go race Bonneville and just take a '67 El Camino - then go 202.378mph. The transportation to the event is about as historic as the record itself. Similar to Munro's motorcycle trailer . . .

Air & Spark & Space

This motor will run a modified breather, with ramp and elongated slot to get that air moving quicker with improved velocity and less restriction (vs. a breather with stock screen and no ramp). You'll noticed a bevel gear attached to the end of the (Andrews BH Cam) which will drive "Dual Magnetos" in this specially designed gear cover. The magneto drive gear is held to the camshaft via screw, similar to attaching a set of advance weights.

The 2 magnetos will rotate in opposite directions, so I assume one will have a reverse-type cam mechanism? Another thing that came to mind . . . Timing is most accurate when all the gears are going in the "forward" engine rotating direction - and now we'll have a timing mechanism(a magneto) rotating in the opposite direction, with opposing forces on one small gear, held in by one small pin, and a small screw. Usually a cam carries the drive gear in the center of the cam, with bushing support on the end-of-the-cam . . . and in this case, the cam gear is kinda hangin' out there on it own, now trying to turn double the load. This design must work, or they wouldn't sell it, right? If nothing else . . . it's gonna look cool !

After some dowel pin modification, and a bit of alignment issues . . . our dual-mag gear cover fits correctly. We try to keep cam-end-play to the minimum side of specs., since accurate timing is all reliant on the mag drive gear. Some manufacturers say .001 to.007 . . . others more. These aftermarket cams can grow when hot . . . to be safe, keep it close for timing - but not too close. Our trusty Last Word Dial Indicator indicated end play of .005 after a few minor adjustments. We'll go with that.

1968 Goodyear All Traction

A 48 year old tire with nothing wrong with it.

Looks like JAN '68 to me ?

MADE IN U.S.A. (don't see that on tires much anymore)

For Taper Bead Base Rim Only . . . ?

I know what it means, but I've run them on other rims too.

Snow Outside . . .

. . . Work Inside (nice to have a place to work, eat chocolate chip bars and listen to
the Tour Bus radio show . . . )

No Motorcycle Ride for Friday Night . . .

First snow of the season, and we get about 9 inches - Yuk

Bill Mize is coming for Thanksgiving . . .

I like his custom motorcycle builds. Mize builds some of the best period-correct customs, shiny & polished, basic classic choppers, some crusty stuff . . . they all seem to run and perform, since I've noticed 'em packed with gear, on the road. I wonder what he's got up his sleeve this time . . . ?

Gary Nixon - National Champion !

One of the best American motorcycle racers ever. Nixon won on almost every type of track professionally, at the national level of competition. Not always on the best equipment . . . and many times with smaller displacement engines. He also raced (and won) many times while injured. Fellow competitors would think Nixon was out for a few races, due to a serious crash. Gary would be at the next race, qualifying . . . if he had casts, stitches or bandages, it didn't necessarily indicate he was there just-to-watch !

Nixon (cigarette)

Nixon (low tire)

( click photo for FULL VIEW )

Aldana & Nixon (injured)

Gary Nixon's racing career spanned 20+ years. One of the longest of any professional motorcycle racer. Nixon rode for 4 factory teams. He won the Daytona 200 (back when it was "the" road race to win). I got the opportunity to overhear a couple of his racing stories while he talked to Bubba Shobert in Springfield one year. Nixon was a great story teller . . . everyone was in a big circle taking this all in . . . it was great.

Get Your Kicks With This '66

1966 XLCH Street Screamer. Show-N-Go. Real USA Vintage Iron. Hangin' at the root beer stand.
Stop Light to Stop Light. Compression. Kick Start Ironhead Magneto Rigid Chopper. 1966.

Sprints

I see Big Noot is setting up some Sprint cylinder heads. They have similar traits to another popular H-D cylinder head that starts with a K, and then an N, then a U . . . .maybe a C ?

Made in USA Parts

A majority of aftermarket parts are good, usable . . . many are excellent (better than oem). As time goes on, even the best companies seem to have some problems? Quality Control is an area of manufacturing that can always use improvement - and it's the most overlooked. Sales and Profitability First. Everything else sometimes comes Second. This company is as good as it gets. I had a problem, they addressed me courteously, via telephone. I got a return authorization and they were responsive to my questions and problems. Made in USA is superior in other aspects than just the part itself - this is one of them. I don't have a phone number for Taiwan or China or Bangkok, Thailand.

Early Ironhead Mill

Workin' on Hartman's XLCH engine . . . . all weekend. His custom Sportster will be a premier motorcycle at February's Mama Tried Show in Milwaukee.

In a Flick of the Switch . . .

. . . I had it laced. Grain Belt.

Powdercoat Over Chrome ?

Yes it works. I've had it done many times with excellent results. The parts are sand blasted. If the chrome is weak, it usually blasts right off at 200psi air pressure. You may want to screw thin metal covers to plywood when blasting to keep them from warping. My blaster guy is really good not to warp stuff. If the chrome is sturdy, the blasting will rough it up enough for the powdercoat to stick. I use that special high-heat powdercoat tape (it's white, and kinda cloth-like tape) for large threaded areas, and areas where engine mounts go, etc . . . I plug all small threaded holes with bolts. Steel or aluminum rims, metal engine covers, hubs, headlight buckets and oil tanks are all good parts for powdercoat. I still like a painted frame, since powder can look too thick and smooth. It's great to have local company in the business !