Early Days of Arlen Ness

I see frames listed for sale (or add-on hard-heads) on craig's list and chopper swapper, that list them as " an Arlen Ness Frame " and I know it's not a Ness frame 'cause the gusset is ugly shaped, the tubes are huge . . . and Arlen would never made anything that looked like that !  My frame (above) has a genuine Ness hard-head, since Donnie Smith looked at it and told me it was real, since Arlen was meticulous about that front gusset, and it had to look a certain way and be a certain shape.

Swap Meet Scores

This guy was well prepared.  I hope he restores it to all it's ironhead glory. 

I traded labor for some XLCH Speedster Bars, a dirty white Guiliari Seat, New Old Stock MCM chopper pipe upsweep extensions, and I bought a weird Saturn-type gas cap cover, a pitted chrome panhead footshift lever(for smooth shaft), a tiny leather 50s flat track fender pad, a chrome Trock Cycle ironhead brake drum cover, a gold plated generator end cover - and a crusty (non chromed) SU Eliminator carburetor (with no air cleaner) and a Made-In-Japan dash ignition switch -  What a score, Eh ?

Young Upstarts

I saw Michael Geltz(Flying Weasel), Panhead Steve and Sheazilla this past Sunday in Cedar Rapids, Iowa . . . still doin' it.

Young Upstarts

I'll see Dave Perewitz and Donnie Smith at the end of this month in St. Paul.



Knuckle, Shovel, Shovel

In the old days, there were knuckleheads, panheads and shovelheads. Our shop just called them Shovelheads.  Period.  Or maybe a generator shovelhead?  Now I get corrected if I call dude's shovelhead (" A Shovelhead") instead of a "Cone Shovel."  What the hell?  I want to say, "Look you skinny little turd shithead - it's a freakin' Shovelhead - or better yet "A troublehead" and you probably couldn't even set the valves on the thing.  I don't know why it bugs me, but it does obviously.  One day a guy was telling me about his Ironhead Sportster (and he called that a Shovelhead Sportster) and I know what he meant, and it didn't matter, 'cause some old timers call them Shovelhead Sportsters since they were actually alive when Harley-Davidson went from the flathead K-Model - to the Shovelhead Sportster overhead valve (which just may be the first actually named Shovelhead?) and not the Shovelhead the shit-kid calls a Conehead.  So take that, shit-kid ! 

Tire Tread Progressions

( . . . those poor factory workers ! )

I like these early Goodyear Dirt Track Tires . . .(below)

It's an art form - these vintage treads.

A Gift from a Friend

This book is very informative.  The new Harleys don't come with a manual that gives the detailed information (as in the book). 

Above:

I run the dry clutch in all my bikes.  They work the best, don't slip, don't drag . . . keep them dry and they're maintenance free.

Above:

Basically, 6.5 to 1 compression is all you need to win multiple national championships.  The key is to keep your tire from spinning, and your motorcycle moving forward.  6.5 to 1 compression and a dry clutch did the trick !

The Clutch is easy-to adjust . . .

 The Cams are easy-to-install and time yourself . . .

 The Valves are easy-to-adjust too . . .



All maintenance is possible with common hand tools.  The Harley-Davidson K Model designed for the "street riding enthusiast" or the "privateer racer" . . . either route you take - a simple machine with adequate performance . . . Where shall we go today ? ! ? !

__________________________________________________________________________________

In the back of this book are some simple riding suggestions.  These are included in many Harley-Davidson rider hand-books.  These simple guidelines have helped keep me safe, and out of harm's way in many instances. (ie: No. 1,3 & 11) (No. 2, I don't sound my horn) These tips worked in 1952 and still work in 2017 . . .

 

Spring is coming - Ride safe -Ride smart.  -Noot

 





 







Inflation

1975 = $13,000 (if that) in WL springer front ends

2017 = $260,000 in WL springer front ends

. . . and we don't even want to talk about the sheet metal !

The King's Return to Springfield

When Robert's returned to Springfield for the 1985 Mile . . . he may have raced an XR750 at the event?  I know he rode one at a later Springfield Mile.  It might have been this one?

This bike wasn't real competitive anymore, and maybe Yamaha let him do whatever in flat-track since they were concentrating on road racing? 

Gene Payne's Front Hub

I like Gene.  He loves the KRs, XRs and XLR H-D race bikes.  Most of the time, he doesn't start with restoration of an entire motorcycle . . . mostly just parts.  Frames, engine cases, heads, front ends . . . but he expertly assembles it all together, like they ran it back in the day.  Gene has some parts recreated - like this front hub.  Starting as a stock '64 up Sportster front hub.  Machining a large hole, covering it with a screen, cutting up an aluminum clutch cover for a scoop . . . The cool air gets sucked in on this side

The hot air comes out this side (or that's the idea) More precise holes are cut in this side with screens to keep out dirt and dust.  The "fins" were copied from Belland's Goliath (Milburn's restoration) and re-created exactly.  I supposed the fins help draw out the hot air, or keep dirt out when the wheel is in motion, etc.  Gene did a really nice job, it's something you notice right away, and it's functional.  Spoked to the correct rim with Ceriani forks . . . beautiful.  Probably cost him a small fortune, but it's cool (literally) !

Flat Track Motorcycle Stand

I think McFarland might be a good person to make me a stand like this ?  We had them for our Yamaha TTs and Honda XLs . . . I need one for my KHK.  I may have (1) Oakley III for a grip?

Collecting Bearing Rollers

We've got boxes of these things.  Quality bearing rollers.  Many are stored in small tin jars with a light coat of oil, preserving them for years.  The best rollers (consistent size, etc.) are made in USA or Japan.  The quality control of these rollers is better too.  Many of the Chinese and India rollers appear this shiny chrome-like appearance, with sharp edges. They measure inconsistently - and I frequently find varying diameters in packaging.  You MUST measure each roller, since a single larger roller would destroy your bearing races.  I can never assume the rollers are all the correct size. 

Unless you rebuild engines, these rollers are kinda useless.  Nobody really wants them otherwise.  I have a good supply of Shovelhead (later aluminum cage) rollers which I hoard.  It's a great feeling to be rebuilding a set of connecting rods (like the one's below) and get the races all honed and straight.  The crank pin has been measured, and it's a perfect 1.249 like Harley-Davidson wanted.  I decide I need +.0006 rollers for a perfect fit - and dig through my stash to find NOS rollers, Made In USA, all oiled up - all measure perfect, all is right with the world on this sunny Sunday afternoon, in the garage with classic rock on the radio.  Nothing better . . .

Setting Up Spring Travel

It's a good idea to measure and "coil bind" all your springs.  A couple of these measured drastically different . . . which could lead to disaster.

Winston Pro Series Ads

When Camel and Winston cigarettes sponsored the AMA National Dirt Track Series, all the race programs had these (front/back cover, inserts, etc.) full color advertisements.  Some of the ads picture actual pro racers (Mike Kidd comes to mind) sitting on their machines, smoking a Camel or a Winston.  Some ads (like the one above) just have a fashion model pictured with race bikes somewhere in the ad.  It's funny.  You'd see a new one and the model guy is someone you've never seen before sitting on Springsteen's bike, with a weird number plate on it . . . You know the bike, not the model. 

Heck, first thing Dick Mann did after a heat was take off his helmet and light a smoke.  After the main, maybe a smoke and some suds !  Some things don't change.  The beauty of flat track.

Full Race Bike

I've never seen a tire like that ?  A car tire ?

The Most Beautiful Flat Track Bike

(CLICK PHOTO) It's absolutely perfect.  Fast and functional.  The Wood Rotax changed short track and TT racing.  If you could have bought one from Ron Wood back-in-the-day and locked it in the closet, and got it out today.  This 600cc model has the liquid cooled cylinder head and special muffler.  After actually hitting the track, it wasn't the most successful design - and the air-cooled, single pipe version won more races and was favored by tuners and riders. 

This model, to me . . . was The Racer's Choice.

Click Photos for a FULL VIEW: Mama Tried 2017

Chopper Dave's BORN FREE Bike had cast aluminum foot pegs installed that referred to "the fire" the bike had at a gas pump last fall . . . Flame Proof (or something like that?)

I assume Harpoon painted the Wretched Hive bike?  Every year, there's kinda a bike that's "the bike" of the show.  This year the chopper by Moon Haint (that candy red one) was just so purty & sweet . . .
like eating a hot cherry !

I liked the club colors . . . Steel Justice.  Cool name and righteous dudes.

Warner W. Riley - The Scientist

Warner is still alive, living in Illinois.  He always reminded of a high school science teacher, or some type of scientist, who's "into" properly designing and engineering a motorcycle that will propel himself at a speed of 200 miles per hour without engine failure.  He's very intelligent.  Riley utilized mathematics(bore/stroke/compression, overlap), physics(aerodynamics, resistance, wind drag) and chemistry(nitro fuel, oxygenation) . . . and a bit of meteorology(atmospheric pressure, air density) to get this Ironhead Sportster to set a multitude of motorcycle land speed records.

Incredible stuff here folks . . .