Arizona Trip

Took a 5 day trip to see my son and his wife in Avondale, Arizona.  They've really got their act together and have a great set-up when the ol' man comes to visit.  We did a Crescent Ballroom show with Red Elvis, Koffin Kats and The Rev & Jimbo to kick start the fun.  Jeremiah (at Love Cycles) put me to work for a day - and I was impressed with his shop and his welding ability.  He's always been really nice to me, and I was honored to get to hang and work in the shop.  Chase Stopnik is a new friend now too - I really like his ideas, and he's just a cool So.Cal cat . . . Nice to meet you dude.  The kids took me to the Andy Warhol show, the Japanese Gardens, old Glendale trolley museum, I went biking about everyday . . . and Eric's Carne Asada recipe is so delicious . . . They like cooking, so I didn't go hungry.  The weather hung around 80, but you can feel those 110s and 120s coming.  A really good time was had by all.  Thanks folks - See you all again soon !

1 Million People - Sturgis 75th

I talked to Alva & Irene (my Sturgis landlords) last night.  They always fill me in on the latest gossip, city council meetings, news, etc. about the city of Sturgis.  Politics, money, big money, corporate money.  I've got to be honest with you.  It's there.  But, the true spirit of this rally is there too.  Alive and well as the day Pappy Hoel and the Gypsies devised this plan to have a rally, races and ride in those beautiful hills.  The stunt man Doug Danger will attempt to succeed in a jump that Knievel failed (on the very same motorcycle) - so that should be interesting . . . and the chics seem interested in what I have to say, so that's cool.

Casting Date Codes: F 8

F 8

June 1938

This is a 1939 case.  It was cast in F(6th letter of the alphabet or JUNE) and the 8(we can assume was the year 1938 since the case is a 1939).  This simple date code is used on all types of older H-D castings like engine cases, transmission cases, gear covers, etc.  Sometime in the month of June, Year of 1938, hot molten aluminum went from a semi-liquid to a solid, cooled - and formed this case.  

When restoring an original-type motorcycle, these date codes are important.  Now we have motorcycles being built with correct dates codes, matching frames, engine cases, etc . . . being sold as "original motorcycles" where as the sum of the parts - were never together as a unit on the Harley-Davidson assembly line.  The larger "raised numbers" denote the actual casting number(part number) of the individual part itself.

25 years of service: Sportster 4 Speed

Transmission story:  This particular transmission goes back to like 1968-1969.  A customer brought in his brand spankin' new XLCH to B&N Cycle Shop (Tony & Noot's old shop) and his transmission wasn't shifting.  The bike was under warranty and the guy supplied a new, replacement transmission.  The only thing that was defective was like a shift roller or something.  It sat on the bench, waiting for him to come back and get it . . . it sat under the bench, in a box for awhile, it finally ended way up on one of those concrete wall support deals that run from the floor to almost the ceiling.  It was forgotten.  Years later when the shop finally closed, it was the last thing they found when cleaning out the shop.  Then it sat in my dad's basement until I bought a 1961CH with a bad transmission - and it's been in my bike for about 25 years.  Still looks like new.  Hardly warn - and it was never out of my bike, until this rebuild.  Nothing wrong with it.  Gears look perfect.  Shift forks perfect.  I only run Bel-Ray 75W . . . a testament to their product - and a testament to my shifting ability apparently - and a testament to the design engineer who stayed in school and listened to the professor and did his homework.

Keokuk, Iowa USA

Lots of talent down in that southeast tip of Iowa.  Bitchin' write up on Steve and his custom panhead for the Fuel Cleveland Show coming up May 9th.  I really dig this photo of Steve's pad . . . Wood floor, proper decor, chopper in the house, leather & leopard . . . just the way we like it !

First Fridays Kansas City @ Fountain City Tattoo

This is a cool deal in KC.  First one of the season at Fountain City Tattoo with Anchor Moto . . . and a slammin' jam session with The Big Iron.  Skate decks, long front ends, sissy bars, straight ribs, hair grease and plenty o' plaid.  Ricky & his friends know how to have fun . . . cool as shit everybody.

My plan:  Leave Iowa early, Meet Ricky & Amber

Hang at Shop, Work on Stuff, Get Coffee !!

Coffee shop had motorcycle parts on the walls, neato . . . so after a delicious afternoon "pick-me-up-java" we strolled back to Anchor Motor for a couple bike tune-ups, brake bleeds and wire swaps, all the while dudes showed up and plans were made for the evening . . .

Downtown KC has all these old, red brick, industrial buildings everywhere . . . now re-purposed into antique stores, art galleries, work spaces . . . and tattoo shops.  Photo below:  I strolled into Billy's little antique store around the corner and picked up a vintage "speed shop" T shirt and an antique can of Oilzum Chain Lube.  

Billy's shovel chop (built with a little help from Ricky Anchor . . .)

 Photos Above:  

Bitchin' GMC and Hangin' wit me Kansas bros . . . 

(see ya next time !)

More Bikes and more people just kept showin' up.  It got busier and busier.

The local Boulevard Brew was goin' down good !

The band tunin' up . . . skates were rollin' . . .

About the time the tension in the air was the heaviest, the beer buzz was kickin' in . . . choppers out front, all these cool cats, fillin' in the scene . . . about that very moment . . . The Big Iron amps came bustin' in and you just about wanted to jump right out of your pants and start mashin' and bashin' . . . Fuck it was great.

Pretty cool havin' a friend that has a badass bike shop . . .
and plays in a kick ass punk-rock band !

It got a little blurry . . . but it was so much fun.  All kinds of eye candy for an artsy gear head like myself.  Really neat and I'd give First Fridays an A+ . . . see ya'll soon.  -Noot

PS. Amber, I need your breakfast gravy recipe . . . Thank You.

Sportster Motor Mount Tricks and other goodies . . .

Usually my system is . . . have the lower-end together with cylinders on, then set it in the frame.  This time I left off the cylinders, assembled pistons (so I could better see the spiral keepers were seated).  The motor is lighter and easier to handle.  Big Noot showed me a little trick . . . to snug up the back bolts pretty well, then pry up on the motor a bit (underneath between lower frame and the bottom of the cases) before you snug up the front bolts.  This takes a little stress off the back aluminum mount . . . and it may help keep from cracking it (like they can do) on the left, top side.  Go over all the bolts again - and you've done your best.
If you ever find the front of the engine "off" a bit with the frame, try loosening the bolts(on top) where the mount bolts to the cases behind the back jug.  Kinda settle it into place with no binding, and tighten all your bolts again.  All this thinking might lead to a smoother ride, less cracks, less breakage . . . less aspirin.
Vintage MC Pistons with 10.5:1 compression ratio, offset wrist pins, set up at .0045 clearance
I also changed my cams around - I'll try P Intakes and PB Exhaust.  I want to try and build some
torque.  When checking the breather timing, I noticed it wasn't opening until like 2" ATDC and was still open "on the way up"  That's bad.  The breather hole was lined-right-up with the notch.  Thank You Harley Davidson !  We moved it a tooth, and now I open much sooner and she closes "right at the bottom."  If you know what I'm talkin' about??? More updates later . . .

Save Fuel . . .

Ride with a friend . . .

Valves next to the pistons . . .

Ironheads Forever

This guy on the (bottom photo) has just got the world by the nuts . . . His ironhead is the set of wheels that does it for him . . . a cool cat with style, performance - a bad ass scoot. I like the yellow, corroded cylinders, KR rigid loop, CH oil tank, '70 primary(so it's probably still a 900) and the springer.  Once you ride an ironhead for an entire Summer, everywhere . . . you'll want at least ONE  - forever & ever.