Current Project Condition

Current Project Condition

Saturday, January 31, 2009

Order Done!

I ordered the front end and some bearing cups and a internal fork stop kit from Jireh Cycles this morning.



And I found a Avon Venom 300/r18 v rated tire, for the back end, from a dealer in Opa-Locka for a great price so I got that also. One to seven shipping days for each. I can't imagine the tire coming from Opa-Locka would take more than a day or two so I will hopefully be looking for someone to mount it on Wednesday.

There would have been much more but the recent bumps in my personal life were once again very expensive. Speaking of expensive have you donated today? This last order was over $750.00. I could really use some help recovering from my last debacle.

Friday, January 30, 2009

A bright spot in the misery!

As a unexpected but much needed bright spot in these last couple days Uncle Sam came through 8 days early and deposited my return today so tomorrow will be order time. I just didn't feel like it today.


Wednesday, January 28, 2009

One for Ms. Gee before turning in.

Until the IRS ponies up no bike parts so a little something to kill the time!


Poor Tom never got the hang of EMD!


Ever have one of those days?

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

I really don't know what else to say...

Someone wrote, and no I don't remember who, that it takes a courageous person to throw down a treasure even in a time of great need. Most people, even under pain of death, will hang onto that treasure. Whether it be gold or an ideology or the familiarity of your life. The fear of existing without that treasure will often times scare the person into hanging onto that treasure even if it leads to their own ruination.
I had to throw down a treasure today; it was doubly hard because it was a treasure I had lost once before. When I re found it I thought the darkness that it had on it was gone, but unfortunately it wasn't. I tried to keep it anyway but after a while it seems to get heavier to bear and harder to hold onto. After several years of struggling with this darkness and making a great many mistakes the time has come again where I am faced with throwing away this treasure or letting it lead me to ruin.
I am afraid of this treasure not being in my life, and my life will be sadder without it, but I have to many responsibilities and hopes and dreams to let it continue. I love my treasure, I truly do, but it is time to say good bye.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Have You Ever...

Its that time again, haven't done it in a while, so click here and have a giggle. Note to self, in the future that's tattoo babe not baby:)

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Fender Arrival



The fender is in the house it is just sitting on the rear wheel. This will be the second most extensive mock up on the project and will just be sitting there for a while. I am going to mount the fender along the frame rails, which is also going to be the mounting point for the passenger grab bar and possibly the rear turn signals. Its hard to explain it's a visual thing. And it will all be tied into the seat.

And looking down the backbone to get an idea of just how wide it is.



Friday, January 23, 2009

Phizat in the Hizouse

Woohoo! Last night just as the steaks were coming off the grill my local UPS man did his usual ditch ding dong and run. They don't get signatures for squat anymore. Anyway upon opening the door a large box containing my rear wheels was there. Now I am a little miffed because I am sure I ordered an Ultima wheel but they drop shipped one from DNA. The price range and quality are the same but that's not the point. But once again what ya gonna do? Start a here it is...pissing contest and never see a back wheel until next January? Anyway ...


Also the fender is supposed to arrive sometime today! Double woohoo!

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Craigs List Add

Ok everyone the other day when the temp dipped into the oh shit its colds I broke out my leather jacket that I have worn all of 5 times and realized it no longer fits. So, I have put it up on Craigs List. I would be willing to cut a deal to a blog viewer and knock $50 dollars off the price.
Remember this is for the jacket and vest both are in like new condition and Harley hasn't made this style in at least 10 years. No one make a quality leather jacket like Harley does. The jacket weighs a good 8 lbs all by itself. The size is XL. Click the link and give me a call. Say you saw it on my blog and not only will I knock $50 dollars off I will politely suggest you get a life :)





Now if that doesn't tell you how serious about this project I am nothing will. Don't forget you could always click the donate button at the top of the page and join the fight for completion! July 4th is rapidly approaching. I have every intention of riding in Irish Hills MI during that week and making my dream come true!

Parts Update

Well I heard back from American Classic Motors today. My fender shipped out yesterday, hows that for a coincidence? The day I email them and ask where my parts are the fender shipped about 2 hours after I sent my email. As far as the wheel goes, they advised it should have been here by now or will be shortly as they had it drop shipped from the manufacturer. So only God knows when it will really get here. The fender has a delivery of the 23rd. So I have to give them points for communication but not for the fact that it took 12 days to ship out my fender and a wheel that was supposed to be in stock is really being drop shipped. Not Cool. But what can ya do? They got your money.

Killer Pit Bull On The Loose!

Now I normally don't condone dressing dogs up for my own sadistic pleasure, but with the recent cold snap Ginger has been sitting around shivering inside the house. So we picked up this sweater at Goodwill and it does the job! And she seems to enjoy it, or at least the attention we give her when she has it on.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Still Still Waiting

Still waiting on the fender and wheel from American Classic Motors. Apparently once they have your cash you aren't important enough to talk to anymore. I tried to call today and followed the phone message to a recording in customer service directing me to send a email to check the status of my order. So I am playing along until Thursday. Thursday I will call back and speak to a human and get some tracking numbers. And if they can't provide it I will file a claim with Paypal and get my cash back and go somewhere else. In today's 24/7 world you don't have to wait 2 weeks for anything. If the person you bought something from can't get you your stuff in less than 2 weeks go somewhere else! That's my motto.
This project was supposed to be picking up speed not sitting at a stall waiting for some other incompetent to do their job. I wish people would ship as fast as they take your cash! This project is suffering from supplier constipation!


Monday, January 19, 2009

Happy MLK Day!

Live the dream people!

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Still Waiting

Still no fender and wheel from American Classic Motors. I am thinking definitely tomorrow, and if it doesn't arrive by 3 I am giving them a call to see if it has shipped yet and maybe get some tracking numbers. Until then still waiting...


Tommy's Jokes

I can't believe I forgot, in only its second week. Well here goes; when we picked Tommy up from school on Wednesday he told us he was a member of the Y generation. I told him I never heard of the Y generation just generation X. So he found me this picture.....


And I used to feel bad because I was to young to be a baby boomer and to old to be generation X. Sometimes I guess it is better to be forgotten!

Friday, January 16, 2009

Once Again Breaking From Tradition! Work Related Bullshit!

Emilee racks up 35,463 texts in one month

By Etan Horowitz Orlando Sentinel

Brad Cox was surfing the Internet this week when he saw a story (reprinted at right) about a California girl who had sent and re­ceived 14,528 text messages on her cell phone in one month. “I laughed and thought, ‘That’s nothing,’ ’’ said Cox, who lives in the Orlando suburb of Clermont. Cox’s 14-year-old daughter, Emilee, hit 35,000 messages a month twice in the past year. Thank goodness for unlimited plans. Her peak month was June, when she tal­lied 35,463 messages, or about 1,182 a day. Assuming she slept eight hours a day, that’s about 74 messages an hour, or roughly one coming or going each minute. Just before Christmas, Emilee wore out her phone because she was texting so much.
Her father switched her to a different provider and got her a phone without a keyboard. That slowed her texting down a little -- she sent 14,083 in December. As long as his daughter, a ninth-grader, keeps getting good grades at East Ridge High School, he’ ll let her keep on texting. “I think there are much worse habits for her to have,” said Cox, who clocked 656 text messages of his own in June. “It keeps her out of trouble.”
Kristin Wallace, a spokeswoman for Sprint, confirmed Emilee’s text tally and said Sprint customers average 268 messages a month. Cox might think his daughter has the fast­est fingers around, but she’s not even close. A man in India reportedly had 182,689 text messages in a month.
VERBATIM Reporter Etan Horowitz had trouble reaching Emilee Cox for an interview — until he used his iPhone to text message her (with her dad’s permission). These are excerpts from their chat. For the full transcript, go to tinyurl.com/6tsg5k: Hey Emilee, it’s Etan from the Orlando Sentinel. So how did you manage to send and receive 35,463 messages in June? Heyy. Uhm i’m not sure really. In june i had cheer camp so like alot of my friends had texted me. And when i wasn’t at camp i’d text my friends and girls on my team. I don’t like talking on the phone so i’d prefer texting people. What kinds of stuff do you text about? Well it’ different things with different people. Like with my cheer friends we talk about cheerleading. Then with my friends from school and stuff we’d talk about how our summers were and what we expected high school to be like. And my boyfriend and i talk about random things. He’s the main reason my texting is so high becuz we’re constantly texting. Lol So were you surprised by the number of texts? If you do the math for June it’s like 74 texts an hour. Not really. I didn’t think it was that much at the time. Half the times my mom had my phone or it was broken but i still texted a lot. Have you ever gotten in trouble for texting or texting too much? One time my parents got mad becuz of the amount i texted so they took it. But my teachers never catch me. :(

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Belt Drive A Go Go Baby!

The belt drive arrived late yesterday evening. Being on a friendly basis with your Fed Ex guy has its advantages. I waited all day for something to show up and while we were gone picking up Tommy at school he came by; but instead of putting it off until tomorrow he swung back by at the end of his route. It was 6:30 when he arrived w/the MSO for my transmission and my belt drive. Once again hats off to Jireh Cycles; if they have it in stock they get it to you fast. Six days from order to delivery.
Any way here is where we left off; except what you can't see is everything is bolted in and the center clutch push rod that I got at Fletchers HD this morning is all greased up and inserted as per the instructions.

Here is the motor sub plate installed it keeps the engine and transmission in line and square. I have to say again how happy I am with the quality of the frame. Everything is sitting level and square in their mounts.


Next is the rear pulley/clutch basket and the front pulley and the belt. The belt and the front pulley had to go on at one time so no between shots of just the pulleys.


Here is the clutch pack and pressure plate installed. They aren't adjusted because they have to all come back off when everything goes out to paint.


And here is the finished product with both decorative pulley covers on.....Now if the dams UPS guy would just get here with the wheel and fender!




By the way don't forget to donate or better yet tell one of your friends that you did, and guilt them into making a donation! That way it don't cost you anything!

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

The Next Order

While I sit here impatiently awaiting my parts the only thing to do is contemplate the next order. For the next order I believe it will be the rear pulley, axle and rotor that way I can get the back wheel spaced out correctly and that will be the second to last big hurdle. The last big hurdle is the wiring.

Just for something to do I bolted down the engine and tranny today loosely in preparation for assembling the belt drive. I also put a shot or two of wd40 into the cylinders so they don't lock up while sitting. It gets pretty damp inside this place. I am also beginning to hatch a plan for the rear fender support so the paycheck after next should finish up the back end with fender supports and rear tire. Actually I may have to switch the order of the next two orders. I kind of need the rear tire to determine how far I need to space out the pulley so the belt doesn't rub it. The wheel is 10.5 inches wide but the tire varies by brand from 11.8 to 12 inches wide so that 1/2 to 3/4 of a inch on each side of the wheel.

I hope to be about here by the end of the month. Maybe even have the rear fender on...

Donate! Donate! Donate! Donate! Donate! Did I mention to donate? No? Donate!

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Shipping Time vs Payment Schedule

Why do they take your cash instantly and then your parts take forever to get to you?
Anticipation.....................

Monday, January 12, 2009

Dieting and Common Sense

Well the diet starts today. Its not really a diet diet. I am just going to try to eat a little less and a lot smarter. No more frozen foods and prepackaged junk. And a whole lot more exercise. Walks after work, and maybe if I make enough progress, I may return to riding my bike to work. All I gotta say is.......

Friday, January 9, 2009

USPS and Extinction

I tell you I wish I could do my job as half assed and poorly and the USPS and still jack up my rates a couple times a year. First I sent some Xmas presents and paid for the 2 day priority shipping and it took a week. I know what you are thinking its not guaranteed 2 day shipping right? Then why call it 2 day priority? Sounds like false advertising to me.

Secondly I ordered a service manual for Harley Softails from 1984-1999. It shipped out from Jacksonville FL 3 hours north of here on January 3rd and it still has not arrived. The tracking number hasn't updated since it was received by the USPS on the 3rd so that's useless also.


So in the very near future when you are all standing in the unemployment line and can't figure out why refer back to this post. Because I promise you I will no longer buy anything from anyone who ships using your sorry, slow, unpredictable, untrackable sorry asses! Thank you and have a nice day! Jerk offs!

Soon your sorry asses will be extinct also!

Thursday, January 8, 2009

The Big One!

The big order has been completed! I ordered the belt drive and center clutch push rod from Jireh Cycles. But the push rod is on back order with no expected date. I ordered the 80 spoke chrome 10.5 x 18 wheel from American Classic Motors and got the pleasant surprise that my rear fender, you remember that don't you, is in and will ship with the wheel. The only thing I didn't manage to get is the axle and I have enough left over for it but I am going to wait for later in the week and make sure there are no surprises. Man that was great! I need a smoke. How was it for you?
I am still kicking around the idea of using a belt final drive so I didn't but the transmission sprocket. I want to go the easiest route but that is always the most expensive. To get a unit that incorporates both the rear pulley and the brake is almost a grand. To switch everything to a chain would be half that but a lot more work and hassle. Or I could just use the belt and a standard pulley and put the brake on the other side but that will mean a whole lot of issues getting the rear wheel centered in the frame and keeping everything spaced normally; plus I would have to run the rear brake line back and over to the other side. But the last idea would probably be the cheapest.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Tommy's Joke

That's right a new feature here at the bustedwrench. Jokes my son tells me.

Why are munchkins always smiling?

Because when they run the grass tickles their balls!


Gotta love public school.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Have You Ever...

I know how this poor guy feels. I had one on my back for a few years. Little bastards!
Donate Now! before it's to late!

The Bailout Explained

Once upon a time a man appeared in a village and announced to the villagers that he would buy monkeys for $10 each. The villagers, seeing that there were many monkeys around, went out to the forest and started catching them. The man bought thousands at $10 and, as supply started to diminish, the villagers stopped their effort. He next announced that he would now buy monkeys at $20 each. This renewed the efforts of the villagers and they started catching monkeys again. Soon the supply diminished even further and people started going back to their farms. The offer increased to $25 each and the supply of monkeys became so scarce it was an effort to even find a monkey, let alone catch it! The man now announced that he would buy monkeys at $50 each! However, since he had to go to the city on some business, his assistant would buy on his behalf. In the absence of the man, the assistant told the villagers: "Look at all these monkeys in the big cage that the man has already collected. I will sell them to you at $35 and when the man returns from the city, you can sell them to him for $50 each." The villagers rounded up all their savings and bought all the monkeys for 700 billion dollars. They never saw the man or his assistant again, only lots and lots of monkeys!

Now you have a better understanding of how the WALL STREET BAILOUT PLAN WILL WORK !!!!

Monday, January 5, 2009

Joke Of The Whenever...

It has been a while but here goes. Find your state and feel the Pride!

KNOW YOUR STATE MOTTO!

Alabama - Heck Yes, We Have Electricity.
Alaska - 11,623 Eskimos Can't Be Wrong!
Arizona - But It’s A Dry Heat.
Arkansas - Literacy Ain’t Everything.
California - By 30, Our Women Have More Plastic Than Your Honda.
Colorado - If You Don't Ski, Don't Bother.
Connecticut - Like Massachusetts, Only The Kennedy's Don't Own It Yet.
Delaware - We Really Do Like The Chemicals In Our Water.
Florida - Ask Us About Our Grand kids, and Home Of The Early Bird Special
Georgia - We Put The Fun In Fundamentalist Extremism.
Hawaii - Haka Tiki Mou Sha'ami Leeki Toru (Death To Mainland Scum, Leave Your Money)
Idaho - More Than Just Potatoes... Well, Okay, We're Not, But The Potatoes Sure Are Real Good
Illinois - Please, Don’t Pronounce the "S"
Indiana - 2 Billion Years Tidal Wave Free
Iowa - We Do Amazing Things With Corn
Kansas - First Of The Rectangle States
Kentucky - Five Million People; Fifteen Last Names
Louisiana - We’re Not ALL Drunk Cajun Wackos, But That's Our Tourism Campaign.
Maine - We’re Really Cold, But We Have Cheap Lobster
Maryland - If You Can Dream It, We Can Tax It
Massachusetts - Our Taxes Are Lower Than Sweden's
Michigan - First Line Of Defense From The Canadians
Minnesota - 10,000 Lakes...And 10,000,000,000,000 Mosquitoes
Mississippi - Come And Feel Better About Your Own State
Missouri - Your Federal Flood Relief Tax Dollars At Work
Montana - Land Of The Big Sky, The Unabomber, Right-wing Crazies, and Very Little Else
Nebraska - Ask About Our State Motto Contest
Nevada - Prostitutes and Poker!
New Hampshire - Go Away And Leave Us Alone
New Jersey - You Want A ##$%##! Motto? I Got Yer ##$%##! Motto Right here!
New Mexico - Lizards Make Excellent Pets
New York - You Have The Right To Remain Silent; You Have The Right To An Attorney...
North Carolina - Tobacco Is A Vegetable
North Dakota - We Really Are One Of The 50 States!
Ohio - At Least We're Not Michigan
Oklahoma - Like The Play, But No Singing
Oregon - Spotted Owl...It's What's For Dinner
Pennsylvania - Cook With Coal
Rhode Island - We’re Not REALLY An Island
South Carolina - Remember The Civil War? Well, We Didn't Actually Surrender Yet
South Dakota - Closer Than North Dakota
Tennessee - The Edyoocashun State
Texas - Se Hablo Ingles
Utah - Our Jesus Is Better Than Your Jesus
Vermont - Ay, Yep
Virginia - Who Says Government Stiffs And Slackjaw Yokels Don't Mix?
Washington - We Have More Rain Than You Do
West Virginia - One Big Happy Family...Really!
Wisconsin - Come Cut The Cheese!
Wyoming - Where Men Are Men... And The Sheep Are Scared

New Tshirt Design Delayed

The new t shirt design will be delayed indefinitely. Since I have sold less than I care to admit, I will not be wasting a whole lot of time on this through the remainder of the project. After the next big purchase which is only 3 days away and the impending tax return this project will now being going along at ramming speed. With all the holidays and birthdays out of the way for a while, a minimum of $300 per paycheck will be spent on the project. I am more and more confident of a late may completion time.
So if I get some spare time I will whip something up, if not, not.

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Chargine System Install

This is the stator in place. The little plug was a challenge with fat fingers and short wire.



This is the rotor which goes on over the stator. The rotor turns around the stator and creates a electrical field.



The electricity which is AC is picked up by the stator and passed through this plug in the engine case.


The voltage regulator then converts the AC to DC and regulates it down to 32 amps and sends it back to the battery.


That's the regulator on the right and its mount on the left. And that is the long and short of a Evolution charging system. And it is now installed!

Friday, January 2, 2009

New Tshirt Design

A new t shirt design will probably pop up tomorrow also. Due to incredibly limited sales it will probably be the last design until the completed bike design comes out. Any of the previous designs can be made available on the value shirt just shoot me a email an let me know which design you want and I will make it available.

The charging system is here!

The charging system arrived this afternoon just before I had to leave for work. I will be installing it tomorrow and swinging my worktable out away from the wall so I can get to both sides at once for when the next big order arrives. This is no smal task, the engine and transmission have to come out and the file table it is on weighs around 180 lbs. Pictures will follow tomorrow. I also ordered a clymers softail maintenance manual so I can quit asking people stupid questions so much. That should arrive by the 8th. I am so excited!

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Things I've Remembered, Things You Should Know, And Dancing

Ok students listen up! I had the dubious joy of going out last night for the first New Year's Eve in probably 15 yrs or longer. I have worked the last 10 so I know it has been at least that long.
Anyway, things I remembered last night. I hate people, always knew it but had forgotten why. Now I remember. Never underestimate the stupidity of people in large groups. That one is key, humans by nature are pack animals. Let me correct that, I don't mean pack like a group of skilled wolves. Herd animals is probably a better description. Like a bunch of brainless cattle that willingly walk single file to their deaths without a single thought of escape. Due to the previous reasons I remember why I drink alone.
Things you should know. Yes, unless you are a metro sexual or homosexual and you have outboard plumbing, you look ridiculous when you dance. This applies to all straight males with very few exceptions. If you are not Gregory Hines, Patrick Swayze or Mikhail Baryshnikov sit your happy ass down. Another exception to this rule applies to me. If the love of your life is, was, or should be a stripper and your only role in the whole production is to stand still while your partner uses you for a mobile stripper pole then it all good. Believe me this is not easy. Standing immobile, while half smashed, while your partner wildly swings their weight around without falling over and crushing them is not as easy as it looks.
The bad part about being a black sheep is your still a sheep. Granted we are a rapidly dying breed but there are still a few of us wolves around. From my personal experience I can tell you it's always the person you least expect. These days it most likely is the guy in his late thirties or early forties. More than likely wearing jeans and a button down shirt even when the other "men" are in suits and/or ties. He is the one with the semi tired slightly amused look on his face. Probably has a beer gut or is carrying a few extra pounds from a hard earned good life. Another good thing to check is the persons hands, if the knuckles are scarred up and a finger or two appears to have been broken, leave this person alone! Now don't misunderstand me, I am not looking for trouble but my girl is clearly with me. If you go winking or sticking your tongue out at her or some other juvenile bullshit someone might just chop it off for ya. A little respect and common sense goes a long way when out in a crowd. Lots of people have gone out for the night and never come back.
Now you'll have to excuse me while I step down off my soapbox and have a little hair of the dog.

No Smoking!

That's right ladies and germs today is day 365 without a cigarette! Now granted since I quit smoking I have put on 60lbs. So pretty much I traded lung cancer for heart disease at least I can hope the heart attack will be quick. And I can leave a decent looking corpse behind.
Of course with my luck it will be a cva and I will be left a drooling shell of a person. Now don't get me wrong a small cva something I could come back from would live able but not one of those brutal devastating ones with no hope of rehab.
Anyway, to all you smokers out there please feel free to blow some of that second had smoke my way. I won't lie and tell you it gets easier. I'd kill for a smoke. Don't ya just love milestones?

Do You Feel Like I Do?

Happy New Year! Anyone elses head feel HUGE?