Noot

Did I mention . . . I needed socks ?

Wow, this is awesome . . . maybe see me in Vans, high socks and Dickies shorts soon ! ?

Christmas Day Paint-A-Thon

While everyone was out either Christmas caroling, playing cards, conversation and puzzle building . . .
I decided to paint some stuff. " 45s Spoken Here" for my buddy Rattlecan . . . and working on a Shoei for the Lady of Rochester . . . Paint, Mistake, Wipe Off, Paint, Mistake, Etc, Repeat. Spina told me part of it - is being able to fix your mistakes.

Happy Holidays to All of You

Best Wishes to all of you . . . who I know personally, who are in my phone, who are in my email . . . who contact me in one way or another - family and friends and close acquaintances and people who read my blog from Iowa, to Minnesota, to Wisconsin, to Colorado, to Oregon, to Phoenix, to Vegas, to Utah, to DC too and to Florida and Mexico and my dudes from Canada . . . and you can't forget Keokuk, Kansas City, Coggon, Cedar Rapids, . . . we all have a lot to appreciate in our lives. Merry Christmas to you . . . . and may the spirit of the season be with you.

Safe travels and restful sleep for this giving season . . . 'cause then it's "back to work !"
. . . . . AND "til we meet again" . . . . Merry Christmas and a Party'n Great New Year to the Great State of California !

TECH: 1948 Panhead FL Cylinders

I don't really notice the difference. One cylinder has a -48 part number. The guys that know will point to fins and a weird, little boss. One thing for sure, these were pitted from "bad storage." The gasket surface was very rough and pitted. MFM (McFarland Machine I call him) . . . indicated, and utilized a live-center cone and turned these cylinders -.010 off the head gasket, and -.007 off the base to clean 'em up. I had to check the fire-ring flange vs. the cylinder head chamber depth - to verify depth to compress the head gasket fully . . and we do - all ok . . . Now we have equal lengths and flat, true surfaces for our head and base gaskets.

Where Have You Been All My Life . . ?

Urban Commute

Legs

Johnny Stripes

Flip Up

Backpack

Brat

She's Tight
Style Over Beauty
(Click it Photo)

Race Frame - Low Neck KH Version

This frame's condition was near a turning point. Either restore it to stock status . . . or chop the shit out of it, and make it race worthy. I've cut off all kinds of brackets and pipe dreams(apparently "on the pipe" during their dreams) from previous owners. With help from Hawbaker, he removed the brazed brackets off the tomahawk, TIG'd holes in the front down-tube and neck forging . . . now she's lookin' lighter and faster. Next, I'll fit the KR Loop . . . for tiny mounts & a tank bung. McFarland spun me a new brake sleeve and bushing, aligned, pressed and welded for perfect fit . . .Thanks fellas !

35mm RACE SHIT

This is my ultra-light 35mm Betor fork set. The stem has been modified to work with my '54KH frame. Special spacers were made for the 1" stem. New fork seals (requires 2 thin seals, seating on top of each other) . . . When used with my factory "low neck" frame . . . this will derake my steering head angle about 1-2 degrees . . . she'll turn on a donut ! Oh, polished to a high luster . . . if it don't go, at least I'll look good in the pits . . .

Early Knuckle Case Race TECH:

When installing an updated style Left Case Race . . . I add the oiling hole, where a hole never existed. The first thing I do is measure on the inner case insert where the oil will meet the new oil hole in the race. Then I die grind a small spot (like center punching) where my drill bit will start, and drill a hole about 1/4 deep (with my chuck about touching the case). Try to keep the angle (as minimal) as possible.

Next, I set up the case at about a 45-50 degree angle, and drill a 3/8" (approx. depth) hole to connect to my previous oil hole . . . so the oiling now works like the oiling on a panhead case . . . and we can use the modern sprocket shaft seal now . . . using this "late model-updated" case race.

I add a little oil-catcher bevel around the hole to help grab the lube to feed my new rollers . . . McFarland has already indicated in this insert, and bored the diameter for a clean, proper press fitment of our new race.
Simple procedures . . . but sometimes nerve racking . . . Don't fuck it up !

Sometimes I wonder if this trade, these procedures I've been trying to learn the last few years will eventually be lost and forgotten. There's like all kinds of different things I could be doing with my life and time (still hip about time) . . . but, I feel I'm helping save a part of American-Made manufacturing that has a huge part in the glorious past of American Motorcycles, especially those wonderful years that Harley-Davidson was manufacturing an engine that would become so popular, that 70+ years later . . . youths in their 20s, 30s and early 40s were breakin' their backs and their bank accounts just to acquire one of these motors.

Wheel Weights & Ham

I found a rim that had the hub cut out. It still had (3)ea of the old-style, genuine LEAD wheel weights. These new style "zinc" weights aren't heavy enough . . . and it takes twice as many !

Two leads and two zincs (instead of 6 zincs) . . . now I'm making some Ham & Wax Bean Soup. Maybe some cheddar biscuits??? We call it "Souper Sunday" . . . every Sunday evening, stay home and make some soup & maybe sandwich.........

Get that ham slow cooked . . . .

Garden frozen-in freshness . . . .

Chop 'em up . . .

Slow cook - n simmer in the goodness . . .

Oh heck . . . We need biscuits with brushed on butter & olive oil !

PS. I'd sell the rim $70 shipped. Needs cleaned. Has sticker pinstripe.
Borrani rear 18" Sportster aluminum rim. 43008-70 I believe?
and it's straight . . .

Style over Beauty

Get some dates on the calendar . . .

We better hit a DICE Party next year ?

Novice #14 National #23

A Michigan native, Atherton's grandfather was a BSA dealer who taught Kevin's dad the ropes of motorcycles and mechanics. This family has many years of two-wheeled experience.

This "new kid" Kevin was really fast, fearless and smooth. Kevin and his older brother Brian are both accomplished motorcycle racers.

Atherton turned pro and was soon offered a "factory ride" with the H-D Team, joining Scott Parker and Chris Carr. Kevin was third-man . . . and tried his best, often upsetting the Parker/Carr championship battles with wins and podium finishes of his own.

He represented his sponsors and the factory team very well. Later, Atherton teamed with TCR, Total Control Racing (a team with Ford family money) and continued to add victories. Kevin Atherton was now a fan favorite. His skill and determination (after a few serious injuries) didn't go unnoticed by his fans. Always a threat to win until the end of his racing career. Or was it? Atherton can now be found in the pits mentoring other professional riders.
I was talking with an elderly man (at Springfield Red Roof Inn) this year who was from Atherton's neck-of-the-woods. He followed the Atherton's racing careers. Knew them personally. I guess sometime recently 'ol Kevin jumped on a bike at a practice (or ice) weekender . . . and ran at the front of the pack - and about checked out. Leaving everyone else racing for 2nd . . .

Ribbed

Green Motorcycles of Japan

click photos for CLOSE UP

Scooters

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.