Noot

Winter Fun

I guess if I don't get my bike going . . . there's always this option ?

Drew's Ride

Here's a pic I found of me and Drew's bike (a couple years before he let me sleep on Dolly's couch).

My buddy Kike has a tricked-out Victory. I've rode a lot of miles with him. It's an all black bagger with 100cu in motor - and it never failed. When we'd be at a stop, the old timers where gawkin' at my panhead or ironhead. The rest were checkin' out his Victory. I saw him pull away from many Harleys - it runs hard, looks trick - and I wouldn't feel stupid riding his bike (like I would a new Indian(yuk). It's too bad the company is closing, 'cause I liked their motorcycles. But, I never bought one myself . . . and that's probably what did it. A lot of dudes didn't buy one. No matter what Arlen Ness or Roland Sands could do . . . they ain't makin' anymore. But that don't mean they weren't any good.

Now Kike will be like me . . . ridin' iron(or aluminum) they don't make anymore ! Hey, she liked it !

1978 Eagle River World's Championship

The Polaris factory team was called The Midnight Blue Express. Jerry Bunke(Rushford, MN) Steve Thorsen(Fergus Falls, MN) and Todd Elmer

I was at this race (12 yrs old) and got an autographed photo of the Polaris Team for my friend Tony Trainer. I'm a Yamaha fan, and they got blown off the track that day. I wonder if he still has that glossy photo? It's worth money now !

116 YEARS AGO . . .

Did you know the H-D Bar & Shield Logo was patented in 1911? (CORRECTION: May of 1910) From now forward, I'm running some of my more obscure historical facts though Bill so we get it correct. I like to keep it accurate on this blog.

'66 Gear Box

Workin' on my friend Eric's (period crusty ironhead resto)

1. Big Noot got the endplay debacle figured out.

(a head-scratcher deal, you'd never seen before)

2. Ground the counter thrust washer

with special tool, - now it's spec.

3. Replaced a bad gear (we had one, last nice gear)

& measured race, shaft and rollers.

4. Replaced kicker bushing & Seal.

(I turn seal wrong-side out, bevel the edge and turn

it back to prevent cutting it with the shaft)

5. Kicker shaft took .014 shims, all tight...

it helps keep hub teeth engaged when starting.

6. New push-rod end seal

7. Dustin fixed/welded rear motor mount
8. I replaced and sized new shifter shaft bushings
in the case and gear cover. (gear cover bushing drilled
for grease zerk, without hitting the inside of bushing !
9. New sprocket seal (leave screws a bit loose, center it
with your sprocket, then snug up screws.
10. Countershaft bearing installed correctly

PS. Another helpful hint: I always take apart the Pawl Carrier and inspect the springs. I bend 'em around, (sometimes they break) and check to see the springs are worn on one side. If these bust, then it shifts like shit or not at all. I grease them up, nice and slippery. I like the factory springs(if you can find them) and the Eastern springs are ok too. Over & Out.

CP 1038 and/or CP 1035

I like to collect fasteners . . . even better when I buy a part and someone left the original bolt or screw to fill the threads. CP 1038 bolt head designations. Slotted, fillister heads. 1/4-24 threads. All that is H-D fastener glory. Kevin Baas' KH is missing the original gear cover screws - Hey, I got 'em.

Bolts stored in coffee and nut cans - Keeping traditions alive ! I'm back home from the swap, and she asks if I had fun, etc. - and I'm all excited to show her my rusty bolts and my nuts . . . ha ha

Swap Meet Scores

. . . and I really don't buy anymore unless I can use it on my build, or need a good spare.

Old Timer

This guy came up and politely asked me some early ironhead questions, which I answered for him. As usual, we got to talkin' . . . and he built this bike himself. It's got all types of neato modifications. He was a customer of the Harley Hospital (Leo Payne's venture performance business) and Payne had his hands on this very engine.

It always kinda blows my mind that I can meet someone 25+ years my senior, and we get into the same stuff on this very day. We've had all the same failures with these bikes, and know what works and what doesn't - and it never fails . . . I learn something new from all this. These ol' timers that still own their original bikes are the total shit. The guy and his trusty old bike were just the coolest . . . right down to the boxed Camel pack, still in his front pocket.

(that's him in the old framed photo, deerskin vest, same bike)

Terrible with names, but I remember faces....

Iggy Pop on CBS Good Morning Show

Old rockers are the best - and they always seem so normal, and make perfect sense, but they're often portrayed very differently by the media. A true classic.
Great story and interview - Well done.

Factory Harley-Davidson Leathers

Eric owns King's old leathers, complete with dirt.

(I'm sure Rich remembers the spill, or maybe not!?)

Retro Rewind - Dubuque, Iowa

. . . is Up in Smoke !

If you missed it, you'd better go next year for sure - It's Fun !

Dave Barr is Riding the Edge

The first time I read this book, I somehow got Dave Barr's email, and he called me at work. Holy Crap . . . it's Dave Barr on the phone ! We chatted, and it was way cool for him to call me(some nobody) and talk about his trip. Now I'm reading it again. (every morning for 1/2 hr. before work) . . . and like any great book - it's better the second time (since I'm a shitty reader anyway).

I've been inspired, and educated by Dave Barr in many ways. Because of Mr. Barr, I've become more Active - and less Stagnant. Life is short, and if you're sitting on your ass, you can't get that day back. I'm more careful with money. I exercise more. Small, problem issues don't bother Dave Barr(he may disagree) - and I try not to let them bother me. It's a great book.

Before I knew the book existed, I saw him talking at a dealer show one year, not knowing who he was. Dave Barr is a fighter and stands up for what he believes in . . . and a really nice dude too, just to call me up that day. Thanks again Dave. I'm at the paragraph where you're riding through Iowa right now . . . which I know was 'cake' compared to rest of the trip. Incredible Reading !

As done in Iowa and in Russia . . .

Russian ice racers . . . probably, the best in the world.

Sergey Tarabanko - One of my favorite Motorcycle racers !

One thing hasn't changed . . . the engines still burn alcohol . . .

The fastest form of motorcycle circle-track racing - pure traction.

150lbs / 80hp

You can find a 7 Minute Trailer on this movie (on You Tube) It features a 60 yr. old racer who's working on the upcoming season with his tuner. It's quite interesting if you know anything about bike building and/or racing. This documentary is well respected in the ice racing world, and it's garnered many awards. -Noot

I think it's safe to say . . .

INDIAN IS BACK !

Down on the Broomsticks

. . . tach needle is outta sight !

#HarleyKR #SmithsTach #Daytona100 #beachracing

80mph and thin rims . . .

One of the oldest known paintings of motorcycle racing in existence.

80" Sturgis Mill

Big Noot has been meticulously building this shovelhead motor the last month. About 4 different kinds of black finish . . and now we gotta do the heads, and highlight the fins.

McFarland surfaced the heads, and cut down the steel inserts. This allows the head gasket to squeeze and seal a bit better, and if the inserts pull a bit, we're still good. A fresh valve job and guides - and we had the broken(and boogered up) exhaust thread welded and fixed, ready to be tapped for a stud. She'll run a J-grind Andrews with 8.5:1 pistons, bored and fitted by, Your's Truly.

Bruce & Cal

In many of the film scenes . . . The helmet-cam (on one side) was counter balanced with a big weight on the opposite side. Bruce Brown got these guys to trust him, and all the racers worked with him to make, really . . . a hell of a movie. It's never been equaled to this very day.

King Leo

Jeff Wiley could tell us a lot about this photo . . . but, he has a "regular job" now. Boo. It's like Einstein workin' at 7-Eleven.

Fuel Efficient

Gift Card Book Ideas . . .

If you received a gift card for Christmas, and you want to buy a great H-D history book . . . get this one by Wolfgang Wiesner. I've had this very book for over 20+ years.

It's probably the best book on Harley-Davidson history I've ever seen. I don't believe there's one better, and Wiesner (a German) did a spectacular job. Wiesner had help from Vaughn Beals and Willie G. The photos and information (especially on early models) is very good. The cover doesn't really offer a good insight on what's inside. Here's the author visiting the USA, on Wisconsin backroads . . .

In it's day, this JDH Model was the most powerful motorcycle engine.

There are period photos of many familiar faces (in their younger years), from Bud Ekins, Knievel, the founding fathers, etc..... Here's the late, great collector/historian: Mr. Mike Parti.

The book is full of factory photos - excellent for knowledge and reference.

If you watched the short series "Harley and the Davidsons" . . . Here is a photo of the actual race where Shrimp Burns made a name for himself !

Another, fresh-off-the-assembly-line 1966 XLCH, going through a battery of tests before being shipped off to a dealership. One word: Tillotson ! . . . with the new Ham Can.

Speaking of the XLCH, here's a promo shot of Clyde Denzer showing the off road potential of these ironhead beasts. My dad used to call Denzer with questions back in the old days.

You can tell Wiesner is a true enthusiast, he wrenches on his own machines (below) and is a buff on all aspects of Harley-Davidson from antiques, racing, history - and the modern era. An excellent book that can make you an expert on all things H-D. I don't know if it's still in print, but I'm just saying . . . Hope you enjoyed this post? Happy Holidays !

The Dragons M/C (below) Wonder if these guys are still around? That's a row of the best lookin' choppers. Perfect. The way I like 'em personally.