Kung Fu Tap & Taco

Whenever I go to this place with someone who's never been there . . . they always get all excited like it's this wonderfully awesome bar that's gonna be so cool . . . and you get to chow tacos and drink Hamms beer (or Old Mill) and just check out all the biker stuff on the walls, and meet all these people who are really cool and see some bikes out front or hot rods or hot chics or gray beards . . . and it's just so awesome.  It really is a fun place.  Kung Fu Tap & Taco - Des Moines, Iowa USA
(Thanks for goin' Brandon - Fun Times)

Old Milwaukee

Best consumed Ice Cold !
When in Milwaukee . . . soon.

The future of the Basket Case ?

It started with bushel baskets . . .

Then, years of cardboard boxes and milk crates . . .

The plastic tub is here today . . .

What does our " future hold " for vintage parts ????

Des Moines

Took Brandon to DSM for the swap, Kung Fu . . . met up with DA and Gilly . . . good times.  DA had this "Blast from the Past" in his swap booth.  Tator Gilmore's first real drag frame . . . later raced by Mark "Grizz" Huxsol.

Lines & Letters

Fun with One Shot . . .

94 chasin' 4

"No brakes is best."  Resweber and others said (brakes) screwed up flat track.  It rutted up the tracks and put everyone in different lines with different speeds . . . different brake points.  He'd run the same tires for many races.

Roeder

That KR 94 is gonna pull out and zap those two Brits . . .

Robby Krieger - Surf Ballroom March 26th

Get lost in The Doors original guitar riffs & runs from the original hands that held the pencil that wrote the music and created many of the songs . . . crazy heavy moods will be generated with visions of the eternal spirit of Morrison and all that encompassed one of (if not "the") most cutting-edge, influential band ever formed . . . They created a genre of their very own.  Robby Krieger brings the music to Iowa.

Des Moines Swap Meet this Saturday - It's a Gas !

It's gonna be a colder one . . . sometimes it's a warmer one (motorcycles parked out front).  Go see Fatty, Darrell, Tator, Gilly, Biggs, Charles, Pete, Sully, DA, House, Cyn . . . stop by Cyclepedia and see Dennis . . . then to Kung Fu and see Maggie . . . then to GT and see more bike and hot-rod stuff . . . then home to see my cat Morty, and we'll look at all the junk I bought that I didn't really need.  Valentine's Day on Sunday (Don't forget your sweetie !)

Rich King

I heard he may come "out-of-retirement" (if he's ever really been retired???) and run a few more races in 2016.  King and Hawbaker teamed up for the Kansas Flat Track Series last year and won convincingly.  I watched King race at Des Moines back in the late 70s, and I've been a fan ever since. George Garvis backed him up with Honda power for many years.  Craig Rogers, Sam . . . Bill Werner . . . but, Rich knows how to set up a bike - what works for him . . . and if he's on his game on race day, you about have to be the national champion to have a shot at beating him. 

XLCH Oil Tank Mounting Plates and Bolts

I recently purchased an XLCH Oil Tank(No.25)  My first tank came with my 1961 XLCH, so the cost was included with the purchase price of the motorcycle.  I bought a 2nd tank for my '52K project around the year 1995 (at the Farmington AMCA Swap Meet) for $75.00, and I remember the guy didn't really want to sell it (I had offered $50).  I bought my 3rd tank(for the Iron XR project) in Florida for $75.00 and ended up with about $175.00 in it.  I just bought my 4th tank in a 'round about way, magneto parts trade and cash . . . and I'll have about $300.00 in this thing, and I don't even have it yet.  Prices have gone way-up on these things.  They are golden all of a sudden.  H-D manufactured 3 different XLCH versions, and this is the First Version -52 part number.  There's a -52A and a -52B also.  Now that you know the story of my oil tanks, I'd like to tell you my real reason for this post.

The price a person pays for vintage parts, or things you want, is a funny thing to me.  If you really want it, you'll do anything to get it.  Sell stuff.  Work overtime.  Trade, Sacrifice, Loans, Etc . . . or if you have the skills - You'll make the part.  I've made a lot of little parts, since I didn't always have money.  As a guy gets older, more financially secure and possibly (and most likely) more lazy . . . it's easy to just pay the extra and BUY IT NOW.  Why go though all the fuss?  Just buy it.  That's what I've done here, and I feel kinda like a wanna-be fake bike builder.  I feel I didn't wait or sacrifice enough to get this.  Just got it too easy.  I don't know why, but I'm anxiously waiting for this thing to arrive, and hoping I don't have to do too much work to make it correct (since it's rusty, dented, and needs the chrome stripped), but I may feel better about it . . . if I have to work to make it right, other than just buying a perfect, whatever I want. 

I need No.29 and No.31 too.  These parts are special mounting plates with bevels, countersinking, and special bolts with special heads and diameters. Should I make them?  Get some steel?  Take the time . . . but I see this guy on the internet has beautifully made plates and bolt kits, Parkerized, ready to go for $49.99 + Shipping.  BUY IT NOW ?

 These things really are beautiful !
(Tank No. 3)

Travelin'

This thing really ain't that bad to ride long distances.  You get a little sore (like any long bike trip) . . . but, it's kinda relaxing just buzzin' along at 65mph and stopping every 150 miles for fuel . .  and maybe a cookie? Maybe some water?  Maybe a beer?  Maybe not.

KH Flywheels

How do you know?

They have a -54 Part Number

The crank pin nut is up higher . . .

You can run them in your ironhead and make it a "stroker", but you have to install the later (XL) Sportster sprocket shaft, and to do that, you must cut off a flange on the left flywheel, or your flywheels will be too wide and won't fit in the cases . . . or something like that ? 

Just hangin' out . . . doin' stuff . . .

 

Making Donuts

Kurp has a cracked counter-shaft bearing boss.  McFarland spun me out another aluminum ring to fit . . . and I'll have Pat Lehmann weld it up.  It's a decent way to fix these, and save blowin' your corner someday.  He can't run a speedo no more . . . but, Josh can just stand on his pegs and lean over to the guy beside him.

Bead Blasting

I go to my blasters about once-a-week . . . Sometimes,  I forget to tell him something before he starts blasting.  I said, "Hey, how do I get your attention after you start blasting?"  He said, "Well, you don't."

That "pile of snow" behind him, ain't snow - it's the largest pile of glass bead I've ever seen !

Southwest Run . . .

 I might run my '64 Sportster through Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona this summer???  I don't know, it's a long ways.  3000+ miles in one week.  I like these Raybestos plates (less rotation weight) . . . just keep 'em dry and they work so nice.  No slip and No drag.  I got this big 23T hoop for the front.  I ran this big gear one year, and it worked - but my motor is kinda soft with it.  Lugging your motor for long periods is a good way to get it hot . . . and Arizona is already hot !   Ironheads like a little bit o' revs . . .

Freezing Cold Solvent and Orange Goo

We know the temperature water freezes at . . . When does Safety Kleen solvent freeze?  It must be way down there?  It just burns your hands.  I don't like blowing off parts inside, since it flies all over everything.  I have a "special stand" for blowing off parts.  This job sucks.  Check the casting date code on this one.  Got to love that old, Orange Perma goo . . . I like the H-D Case Sealer - Gray (it's a nice gray color) available from your Harley-Davidson dealer.  Let it tack up for a few, assemble cases, let tack up a few more minutes, and it wipes clean and looks correct.  Comes as a tube in a box. Part No. 99650-02

Speaking of Parker . . .

 

Posters look better framed (then stapled)

The old Camel Pro Parker #11 . . . kinda rare.

Scott Parker

I'd never seen the photo before.  He must be about 15 or 16 here?  Pretty damn good already with a matching suit and helmet.  Already decided in his head what he wanted to do . . . go out and win some races and be a professional motorcycle flat track racer.  Do this instead of school.  He wants that Pro License. Go race at all the tracks - the entire circuit.  Go to California and race.  It's only the beginning, he just doesn't know it yet.  Go Parker Go.  He's goin' around this track so fast, he's gonna put this thing in the Main.  If the motor holds up, if she don't break . . . he's probably gonna win it . . .

I can just hear the people in the grandstands talkin' " . . . that Parker kid is lookin' good today." 

I've been saving this picture . . .

This bike is rad.  I like it.  I might change a couple things(just personal preferences), but this builder did a great job.  1938 ULH - 80 cu. in.

Toby's Tired Twin

Cam roller had failed (ate the cam)

Upon further engine dis-assembly and inspection:

Broken left side bearing cage

(lucky that didn't 'cause some serious harm)

The bearing spacer wasn't between the cages.

Head bolts weren't real tight . . .

You could see where the head gasket was ready to leak or blow.

Crank Pin nuts weren't very tight either . . .
Rods kinda loose too . . .

Low compression pistons with stock cam wasn't really takin' advantage of those STD heads . . .

but, I'll see what he wants to do ?  

Build a solid, reliable engine.

Roberts, Goss, Jones & Pooh Bear

1969 XLCH Engine

Completely rebuilt top to bottom.  New cylinders & pistons (std. bore).  P-Cams.  Hot Spark Magneto included(it has about the best chrome I've ever seen on a magneto, needs a lock or custom plug) This thing is a fresh, Noot's built, complete.  $2500 or offers?  Includes: Complete clutch set-up(not shown) and an aftermarket, chrome primary cover (that round, chrome steel Paughco one) My dad is fussy. New bushings, bolts, races lapped, new rollers and seals, tight transmission - Chrome rockers and gear cover have that "character" weather'd chrome, looks good.  New kicker cover. 1968s and '69s were the fast ones with factory complete set of P Grind Cams and Tillotson Carb . . .

Hold On - Ready to fly !  

Serial numbers checked out clean (no title)

Matching cases & belly numbers.

Call 641-228-6038 and ask for Noot.
POSSIBLE DELIVERY TO MAMA TRIED SHOW