bustedwrench

Title Update!

2009-10-03T23:36:00.002-04:00

Well with all the options I have come up with to title the bike the most legal one is to go with International Title Service. I send them a power of attorney and a notarized bill of sale, selling them the motorcycle and they go to a state like Maine where they don't title vehicles older than 15 years. And they get a registration, license plates and a letter of title. The letter of title basically explains the states policy of not titling vehs over 15 yrs old and that the registration is proof of ownership. Then they sell it back to me and I go to the DMV with my registration and letter of title and trade them in for a Florida title.
Their end of the deal costs $175 and take a few weeks. Then I just have the regular Florida registration expenses I would have anyway. The only draw back is my bike will be titled as a 1994 but the engine is, so it correct anyway.

Bikers Creed

2009-09-19T06:35:00.002-04:00

Amen, if only I could write like this.

Here a dirty bastard there a dirty bastard eveywhere a dirty bastard!

2009-09-18T17:10:00.002-04:00

As many of you know I am in the process of trying to get a title for the bike. Well, it's going about as well as I had imagined it would. The biggest snag, and by that I mean the insurmountable obstacle, is the great state of Florida wants the 17 digit vin number of the frame my engine came from. I do not have that. Those of you that remember the story of my engine will recall that the seller said he took the engine out of his bike to put in a 110 in. stroker. Well after enough messages to let the guy know I wasn't going away he called me back with a new story. The new story is he bought the engine a front end and some sheet metal 4 years ago for his own project and when it came time to register his project SURPRISE!!!!! They wanted the 17 digit vin off the frame too. The message he left contained this little jewel "sounds like you are in the same boat I was, that's why I sold it." dirty dirty bastard. I will put the whole message he left on my machine as soon as I figure out how.

Success!

2009-09-13T20:32:00.001-04:00

Yeah! Just got back from the first completely successful shake down ride! Everything worked, nothing didn’t . Marie and I putted all around Largo sticking mostly to the back neighborhoods. We did venture out onto Indian Rocks and West Bay a few times to work up a little speed. Yeah!

Rectum? Damn near killed him!

2009-09-10T12:42:00.003-04:00

Well the bike shop called today. I won't mention the name of the shop all you that are close to the project already know it anyway. Any way, they called today and my bike is "done". By done I mean in the last 20 days they managed to put in a new battery, turned down my transmission sprocket to straighten my chain(someone remind me to have my laser, you know that unbend able beam of light, straightened) put on a new chain, fixed a couple wiring "issues" and spent a couple hours trying to fix the carb but they couldn't figure it out and put on a used one. However, on the test ride my shift lever fell off, don't ask me how. The cover holding the rear brake lever on fell off, once again don't ask me. And my rear brake doesn't work any longer it developed a spontaneous leak. Must have been a hell of a test ride!
All this joy for a grand total of $983. Let this be a lesson to all you out there. They don't call them stealerships for nothing!!!! Anyone here that echo? Its my rectum.

I miss my baby!

2009-08-27T20:53:00.002-04:00

I am heading up to the shop tomorrow to take a look at the progress of the work on the scooter. I miss not having it around. After 13 months in the living room and then a few weeks in the garage I am having a hard time adjusting to it not being around! I am so used to spending almost every spare minute tinkering on it, I find myself wandering around the house looking for something to do:)

No Mas! No Mas!

2009-08-24T17:05:00.002-04:00

I finally have thrown in the towel. After another wasted five days and a new problem everyday. From a carb that leaks fuel out the overflow when parked at night magically quits some time in the garage to a start button that only works on odd days of the month. To turn signals that become marker lights as you ride.
So I have swallowed my pride and it's sitting at Manor Cycles as we speak getting a old school rewire and possibly a new carb. After 13 long months I just want to ride!

Debugging and more debugging

2009-08-18T20:18:00.003-04:00

I am actually off the next 5 days, time to knock out some serious bugs in the machine. The headlight will be rewired, I have a new spring seat I am going to try and install but if I don't like it a new seat will be made. Also hopefully the carb rebuild kit will arrive and I can do that as well. I also need to break down and get a more powerful battery so I can start this thing up right.
Also I have some new front turn signals en route to be sure I pass the inspection and on payday I will order up the speedo which will be the last thing I need, besides the cash, to go ahead and get my inspection done.
So maybe the first week of September I will get the inspection done and can finally get out and ride; unless some new problems develop.

And the winner is…

2009-08-16T19:09:00.001-04:00

After giving in and pulling the carb off and apart the winner is a badly worn and cracked accelerator diaphragm. This is the cause of both the fuel leak and the stalling out while on the throttle. I would twist the throtttle but the diaphragm wouldn’t lift so the arm to the high speed jet wouldn’t activate. Also the split allowed fuel to where it shouldn’t causing the leak. A $15 rebuild kit and an hour or so should solve the stalling problems!

Sorry the pics are blurry but the split is obvious and in the other pic it should be solid black rubber no light shinning through and its 80 percent exposed.

Off again!

2009-08-12T00:11:00.004-04:00

WooHoo! Off again tomorrow! Time for another shake down run. I have to admit to being a little scared. Everytime I shake it down more stuff falls out of the tree. I haven't seen the headlight in the last 3 ride but the short indicator on the wiring harness is no longer lit. So I guess that solves that problem, time to run a new set of wires to the headlight and my own hi low switch.
However, the last 2 ride have left me stuck a couple blocks from the house. It starts to sputter and then stalls like it is out of gas but its not. Either the plugs are fouling out which is a possibility from all the wd-40 I sprayed into the cylinders while the engine sat or I may have a carb problem. Last week I had gas dripping from the bottom of the carb so I thought the float had sunk and gas was continually flowing into the bowl. But, that would not cause is to act like it is out of gas that would cause it to flood and when it stalls I am hard on the throttle so to much gas couldnt be it. So maybe I have it backward and my float is stuck up and isnt letting in enough fuel. Or there could be problem in my fuel line.
I noticed when I ran the fuel line the inlet on the carb faced up at the 2 o'clock position. So I ran the fuel line down from the tank then up ovet the carb mount then down to the fuel inlet so that could be it too. I am hoping for the easiest most obvious problem of fouled plugs. I need to get this reliable so I can get to the inspection and get my tag.
But anyway I am off tomorrow so......

"We don't do fear. Over the last 105 years in the saddle, we've seen wars, conflicts, depression, recession, resistance and revolutions. We've watched a thousand hand-wringing pundits disappear in our rear-view mirror. But every time, this country has come out stronger than before. Because chrome and asphalt put distance between you and whatever the world can throw at you. Freedom and wind outlast hard times. And the rumble of an engine drowns out all the spin on the evening news. If 105 years have proved one thing, it's that fear sucks and it doesn't last long. So screw it, let's ride."

And I know its just an ad campaign but Harley sure knows how to hit the demographic. I read this and I want to run outside jump on the scoot and take off at 100mph with my hair on fire. I'm weak, so sue me.

Rain, Rain Go Away!

2009-08-05T12:39:00.001-04:00

Go away rain daddy wants to ride!

Half day off tomorrow!

2009-08-04T19:30:00.003-04:00

Only 2 hours of overtime tonight and 4 tomorrow heck that's almost a day off!

The more I think about it the next one will definitely be a bobber w/a 2 under springer and some nice apes!

Loserville

2009-08-03T17:32:00.002-04:00

Color me there next 12. On the upside I think I found the new direction this will be taking, or maybe a new one. But more on that later.

Directions

2009-08-01T03:51:00.001-04:00

Now that the bike is all but done. There is not going to be much to blog about. All I really have to do is get the inspection done, pay my taxes and have a semi professional photo shoot done. It’s the one guilty pleasure I promised myself. One photograph good enough to enlarge to poster size So I can roll it up and put it in the closet for the grandchildren to find one day. Me and a girley in a bikini with a bike I built myself for myself. Other than that a trip to Sturgis is about all that’s left on my things to do before leaving list.

I got to admit to being a pretty lucky guy. At forty I have done almost everything I have ever wanted. Or maybe somewhere I just lowered my expectations. Either way no point in bitchin’ no one is going to listen and even fewer will care.

The direction of the blog is a bit of a conundrum. Until my 4 year exit plan comes to fruition there aren’t going to be a lot of adventures to have and blog about. I refuse to taint this sacred spot where I bear my soul to the emptiness with the troubles of my retarded job. What I do have is a lot of experiences some funny some not that would be interesting to share. So maybe I will scatter some of those in here from time to time and who knows maybe there will be a new build if I can work it into my exit plan.

I just rather enjoy this and don’t want it to end.I Know in reality how few people actually read this but it really does make me feel better when I am stressed and happier when I am happy. So for me it’s a win win situation.

Friday

2009-08-01T03:30:00.001-04:00

I have been holding onto this picture since the very beginning of this build. Probably since before the first part was ordered. And I feel it today more than I have in a long time. Once again I was reminded of how few friends I really have.

I have no one that watches my back and I have no one that warns me when trouble is coming. I miss my real friends Jim, Pit Bull, Alvin, Dennis… where ever you guys ride now in your hearts know I miss you and I didn’t appreciate nearly as much as I should have. For all my old friends…here’s to having your knees in the breeze!

I remember and smile at the all out blood baths for the big salad bowl. The Little Feat Playing while the chicken cooks. Pulling the 6 staples out of my back to get my vest off. The .22 round in the calf (still real sorry bout that:). The sparks as they flew in the darkness from the dragging extended pipes on the FLH. The danforth plum moonshine in Martinsville. “ Watch out” you said “ that will turn up the gravity on ya.” The foggy 130mph hammered out of reality on Jim Beam run back into Daytona from Crazy Daves. The six hour run from St Pete to Key West. Can’t be done? My ass we did it! Where did you all go so fast? Where has the wind taken you? And most importantly why did you leave me here?

No ride in today!

2009-07-29T13:12:00.001-04:00

Well I won’t be riding the scooter into work today. After finally figuring out the brake problem, yes is was a p.i.c.n.i.c. problem, I was out test driving it and broke the chain when second dropped in out of nowhere.

A very nasty sound and the master link unfortunately had to pay with his life. I will get a spare tomorrow and aim for another day. I still don’t trust the battery to reliably start the bike either so I am a little hesitant anyway.

They say it isn’t a Harley until you have pushed it a mile. Well I got my mile in today and that’s enough of that. Note to self get AAA membership!

Update to this post. I couldn’t let it sit there without a chain so I fixed the chain rode to the gas station and filled it up starting it was no problem so if I can decide which route is least likely to get me pulled over maybe I will ride in!

Punch List

2009-07-26T17:59:00.001-04:00

Well for a first time bike build my punch list is pretty short. First of all and most antagonizing is the front brake. I can’t get this one to bleed either so it’s one of 2 things; 1 I am a retard, completely possible and a lot more likely than 2 I have gotten 2 bad master cylinders in a row. That a million to one shot.

The second is the short in the electrics after a days absence it has returned at first no low beam then no headlight at all and the control box shows a tail light overload.

Third I need to stand off the oil bag a little the top clamp is banging the frame and leaking oil.

Fourth a battery that can start the bike on its own reliably, after my first earlier ride and just now after sitting for a couple hours it started the bike on its own; but just now after my longer ride I shut it down and tried to restart it right away and it wouldn’t turn over just click away.

But other than that no tires rubbing fenders or chains rubbing tires. Everything I left with came back with me, even the hat that I had to go back for that blew off in a high speed run from 3rd gear to 5th. I got to say she runs like a raped ape. And if I didn’t have a inspection to go through I would hard wire the head light to the auxiliary post on the key switch in hi beam and cut the rest out of the wiring harness all together and solve that problem.

Houston WE HAVE LIFTOFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-07-26T15:14:00.001-04:00

After fixing rear caliper binding clutch would not engage. Took clutch apart re-installed clutch fired her up under her own battery power( I guess it just needed to be cussed at) and took off around the block.

Not to self while in a haze of rigid chopper induced euphoria do not forget that rapidly approaching stop sign should remind you that you haven’t bled your front brake and that sprotor set up is notoriously weak on stopping power in back and you are a 300lb lard ass doing 50 in 3rd gear. Thank God there were no cars as I did not reach anything remotely resembling a stop as I shot through the intersection. I did however get down to about 35 but I need new shoes and my feet hurt:)

Can’t talk now gotta go try that again!

The morning update…

2009-07-26T12:18:00.001-04:00

The rear wheel has been re installed for about the 6 time and it hasn’t moved 20 yards yet. However, the wheel is on and spaced correctly the rotor is free turning through the caliper.The battery that had been charging all night is now back in the bike. But I am flight engineerless but I do have his ok to keep trying to get it running so I guess I should just quit putting off the inevitable and go start her up and see if I can’t catch a gear or 2. Ok then where did I set those balls again?

She ran but she didn’t move

2009-07-26T12:10:00.001-04:00

When everyone got here yesterday at 13:00, when it just couldn’t be any hotter, the flight engineer and myself went to roll her out to the end of the drive way and……She wouldn’t roll?

Everything seemed fine last night after I put the chain on but it was almost 1am and I was a little delirious. And on thinking back I didn’t try to roll it because I had been rolling it around all day sitting in the seat going “weeeeeeee” so I knew it rolled.

The problem discovered later that day was when I put the rear wheel back on, after wiring it, I put the spacers on in the wrong order so the caliper was binding up the rear wheel so it wouldn’t turn.

But back to the good stuff. In great need of salvaging some of the last 2 looooonnnngggg days of filling in all the little problems I just disconnected the chain popped the caliper loose with a screw driver and rolled her out to fire her up and ……nothing. Just a bunch of clicking. The battery did try but just didn’t have the sack to turn the engine over. So ended up jump starting it off the car. She fired right up but had to be on the choke for about 15 minutes before she warmed up enough to idle on her own. I also had to adjust the mixture of the carb due to the extremely free flowing exhaust.

So after the warm up time and the adjustment time and after cracking the throttle a bit more than necessary I found out my room mates car alarm works; so I cleaned up called it a successful day. I just need to figure out how to get a bigger battery into a smaller hole.

Ants in my pants!

2009-07-25T11:20:00.001-04:00

Well the chain is on and I am fairly confident in my clutch adjustment the tranny is filled the oil bag is filled and I have just shy of 2 gals of fuel on board with a can of starting fluid and a spare quart of oil on hand just in case.

Now all I need is my flight engineer who should be arriving the next 3 hours. So back to the waiting. Yeah, I am supposed to sit here for the next 3 hrs? Child Please! In about 5 minutes I am going to go running down the road yelling intelligibly at strangers until the heat gets me. Which in my current condition will be about 100 yards!! See ya in the funny papers!

Mission Control Update

2009-07-25T01:25:00.001-04:00

The chain is on, and after a few hours of messing with the clutch I actually found neutral. That was a first. She is also full of oil now so the only fluid she’s missing is gasoline. I had a few links of the chain kinked up under the tranny sprocket cover; so after cutting the chain and all that grief I rolled it forward got a loud awful clunk and grind then I had several inches of extra chain. So I had to recut it again and start over.

There is still a little drag and clank somewhere. And the rear wheel feels like it’s dragging but that, I hope, is because everything is new. And it will loosen up in the first few miles tomorrow. So first thing in the a.m. I am going to get some gas and starting fluid and see what we get when Tommy gets here.

Can’t Talk Now!!!!!!!!!!

2009-07-24T17:06:00.001-04:00

The Fed Ex dude just delivered and my baby is still outside the pad. Gotta go gotta go! 2hip gotta go cyabi!!!!!

Update Pictures

2009-07-24T15:01:00.001-04:00

In a fit of anxiety I rolled her out to the launch pad and touched up the paint. Polished up the chrome a little and before I could get back outside with the camera my biker neighbors were out taking pictures so I guess it must look pretty cool. But I will let you decide. After 13 months I know every flaw and failure so it’s hard for me to be objective. Don’t forget that the pictures are all clickable for a larger version. Go ahead get in there and sniff the chrome she don’t mind!

Come on Jireh, Come on Jireh!

2009-07-24T11:58:00.001-04:00

Now I sit and hope and wait for my parts from Jireh.Through this whole build they have been my main supplier. The parts are priced well and delivery is free on orders over $100. But they don’t give you any tracking info. The only sign your order is on its way is they don’t charge your card until the order goes out the door. Then you just sit back and wait. And you know how good I am at waiting:)

Actually the parts from Jireh come by Fed EX but after a 30 page google search I was unable to find a female, good looking or otherwise, dressed in a Fed Ex uniform. I won’t speculate on what that means. The only thing Fed Ex has over UPS is they deliver on Saturdays. So if the parts don’t come today the rest of the weekend may not be a waste. But until some Fed Ex driver gets a girlfriend we will carry on as best we can…

Holy Schiznit!

2009-07-24T11:38:00.001-04:00

I removed the rubber grommet from under the headlight and everything works as it is supposed to. No short or overload indicators, I have a high and low beam, and the tail light stays steady.

I am going back to bed before I get hit by lightening! It’s never that easy! If God calls, you haven’t seen me!

Update

2009-07-23T15:44:00.001-04:00

The rear brake line is on, bled and the light switch is functioning. However a new electrical problem has popped up. My low beam headlight doesn’t work. When I flip the switch to the high beam the high beam comes on and my tail light gets brighter. Then after a second or 2 of that the control box shows a short for the tail light and the head light, both high and low beams don’t work.

So more fun lays ahead with the only part of this whole build I knew was going to be a problem. The wiring is gonna kill me.

Old School vs New School

2009-07-23T12:59:00.001-04:00

Old school…

New school…

Old school brake line…

New school brake line…

Old school fitting…

New school fitting…

Old school brake light switch…

New school brake light switch…

So while the new school stuff looks better and is 100 times easier to work with it is, as all things like it are, more expensive. The old school way was between 20 and 30 dollars. The line for new school was 20 dollars the fittings were 10 each x2 and the brake light switch was 20. Easily twice as much but they look a lot better and as I mentioned before; much easier to work with.

Let me go and get this on before work tonight and if Jireh can just come through one more time and get the new master cylinder here tomorrow we could be in line for another attempt on Saturday!

Houston We Have a Problem…

2009-07-18T23:43:00.001-04:00

Actually a couple problems. First off the front master cylinder is a dud. Since it has been hanging on my bars for 4 months the 3 months warranty is up. So my brand new never used $100 master cylinder is no longer under warranty and was dead.

The second problem was the rear brake line. I got up this morning and hustled out and got a brake line and all the fittings I needed and went home and laid everything out bent the line, made my cuts, put the whole thing together and no matter how much I tightened the fittings the line kept turning. At which point after a little research I found out no one uses flared tube and fitting anymore. The use 3-AN line with screw in fittings and banjo bolts.

By the time I finished the other things I needed to do I took off in search of a new front master cylinder. Manor cycles was closed and Fletchers didn’t have a generic 1985 to 1996 front master cylinder for a Softail only one for 2006 and up and it doesn’t match.

Of course they were aware of the “new” 3-AN brake stuff, which they could of course order, but didn’t have enough stuff to fabricate a line for me . They said it was more for custom builders than factory riders which I can understand.

So rear brake line parts and pieces have been ordered, from a shop in Florida so I expect quick delivery. And Monday I will head over to Manor Cycle and see if they have a master cylinder for me and if not I will order one and hopefully have it all here in time to try another launch next Saturday!

So on a day of wanting to go not being able to stop stopped me from going. Sounds like a Flomax commercial!

Pre Dawn Update

2009-07-18T03:49:00.001-04:00

That’s right folks live from the living room at 3:43 am. Everything that can be done has been done. The only thing left to do is run the rear brake line, add brake fluid to both systems and bleed both systems. Slap on some chain and we will be ready for take off.

Plug wires, fuel line and filter and petcock…

And of course the pipeage. This is gonna get the stink eye from the inspector but what can ya do? 1 and 3/4 inch flares out to 2 and 1/4 with no baffles and they are on the short side:)

That’s all for now. I am going to bed before I convince myself that the Super Walmart in Pineapple park has brake lines:)

Say Hello Dickhead!

2009-07-16T12:04:00.001-04:00

Lot’s to talk about before nap time. I could not decide what to do with the turn signals. I wanted something different and I didn’t want a bunch of holes in the fender. So this is what I came up with. I drilled into the sides of the tail light and mounted them there and ran the wire internally through the tail light. I like it a lot but it does look like someone with a dick growing out from between the eyes! If I could only get a license plate with a smiley face.

Geometry and physics, my two favorite subjects because there is no gray area, it is either a or b . With that in mind have you ever noticed how you can hold something heavy upright, like say a motorcycle, then you break that magical plane and go that half a degree to far…….Loving Physics!

Dickhead

Chasing down shorts

$6 dollar battery box

2009-07-11T13:06:00.001-04:00

Well here you go, a 6 dollar piece of 22 ga sheet metal, a little tubing, and some Styrofoam and vinyl tape. Why spend eighty dollars buying when you can build for six?

And of course the duo of “who me” and “not us”

Update

2009-07-11T02:57:00.002-04:00

The battery box has been roughed out, not bad for 6 bucks and extra junk laying around. Will clean it up and paint it tomorrow. Also, going to get the fitting for the fuel cross over and fuel filter so after I bolt on the VOES I can drop the tank back on.
The plugs should be here Monday so I can finish that end of the wiring. Then the grueling wait for the parts to show up so I can get the rear signals on so I can get the rear tire back on so I can put the kickstand on and she can stand on her own for the first time.
Then its a matter of the exhaust and rear brake line and fluids and she will be ready to fire! WooHoo!

Brake Light Fixed

2009-07-08T23:34:00.001-04:00

Brake light problem resolved. It now works like it should still with no ground....go figure.

It Is Alive!

2009-07-08T22:37:00.001-04:00

Well the wiring is as done as it can be until I get the VOES for the carb. I did find a plug to replace the one Debo ate but it was from a commercial vendor and I had to buy 20 of them at 29 cents each then a $5 handling fee then $7 for shipping so I am in for about $18 on one plug. But I will have 19 spares.

Also the tail light comes on but not the brake but I think the problem is in the handle bar switch. Remember that is the side of the bars that were flat and the control housing doesn’t come completely together; so I think the hand lever is missing the switch. I will be looking at that as soon as I am done here.

Tail light…

Oil lines and pressure gauge installed and complete….

Current condition…

First signs of life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wired for Sound

2009-07-05T19:41:00.001-04:00

Well the wiring is 99% completed. All I need is rear turn signals and a VOES switch for the carb and the wiring will be in the history books.

The last big challenge is to fabricate a battery box. After that its 2 brake lines a petcock (because one is never enough) and some chain and exhaust and I will be done!

No pictures today as it is just a bunch of wires, but got a lot done over the last 2 days.

Getting back on track

2009-07-04T16:23:00.004-04:00

Today I am going to finish as much of the wiring as possible. However, I still don't have rear turn signals and while I was off on my New York bender Debo decided to eat one of the plugs from the wiring harness. It's either the right or left side plug I haven't figured out which yet. It appears to be a relatively standard 8 wire automotive plug so I should be able to source one or a good substitute easily enough.
Then next paycheck should buy everything else I need to finish up this long overdue project.
Unless there are some unforeseen problems or massive back orders it will be ready to fire the the next 14 days or so. But enough babbling for now, I have 32 wires to extend and label:)
Here are a few New York City Pictures for you to peruse while I work!

Tommy's joke live from New York!

2009-06-29T19:48:00.003-04:00

How do you turn a dishwasher into a snowplow?
Give her a shovel!

Be home soon for the last big push on the scoot!

Sick and slackin'

2009-06-23T17:14:00.002-04:00

I apologize for the complete lack of attention to the blog. I ended up working 7 days in a row then got sick. I have done nothing on the bike but have every intention of finishing the wiring tomorrow. And getting it back together before I leave for new York.

Rigatonni ala Tesla

2009-06-14T10:29:00.004-04:00

Or as it is more commonly called, electrical spaghetti. I really did not think it would take this long. But I was wrestling with a tail light/ground issue. If, and that's a big if, I understand it right. The tail light is the only thing not grounded on the back half of the harness. And the doubt is slowing me down.

Update

2009-06-08T11:48:00.001-04:00

Not much has gotten done lately. The motor mount was supposed to include the mounting hardware and didn’t so it’s not on. The wiring harness was supposed to be universal but did not include pigtails to go to the left and right hand controls so I am short about 80 feet of wire. At first I was going to just cut off the excess wire from the rear harness and splice it to the hand controls, but if I had a short later I would never be able to tell which wire went where if the colors did not match. So I will have to purchase more wire on payday.

Parts have arrived

2009-06-04T10:38:00.002-04:00

Well the limited number of parts I ordered came yesterday. I probably won't have time to install them until this weekend. I need to pick up a soldering iron and oil lines and plug wires from the store and the oil tank and system will be complete and the electrical will be complete with the exception of the battery.

Waiting and Wondering

2009-05-30T14:30:00.001-04:00

I am just sitting here waiting for parts. And while I am waiting I am doing what I often do, and that is wondering. I wonder why I wonder while I wait? I guess there is no point to wondering about the wondering I do while waiting and wondering. But I do wonder one thing while waiting for parts and that is I wonder (while I am waiting) why my UPS person looks nothing like this…..

Hmmm I wonder:)

3rd to last order

2009-05-29T02:19:00.002-04:00

Theoretically if the money runs the way I think it will. I placed my 3rd to last order this morning. I was going to order a lot more but they seemed to be out out more than half of what I wanted. But I did manage to order the following goodies...rear brake light switch, ignition switch, the wiring harness, the top motor mount/coil mount, and the coil. I know it does not seem like a lot but the wiring will keep me busy for several days. Also I set aside the money for the oil lines and clamps that I can buy at the auto parts store.
So there won't be a lot of big visible changes but a lot will be getting done.

The Phone of Doom!

2009-05-26T06:43:00.001-04:00

Sorry everyone a little inside joke between myself and a friend.

Leather Ass Gasket

2009-05-23T17:02:00.001-04:00

Or in other words the seat has been redone. And I can say that it is the last time I will do it. Next time a pro will have a shot at it. Probably around the time she gets new paint and engine work!

Almost every one of these has been done, for me and by me.

2009-05-22T03:31:00.001-04:00

FRIENDS VS. BIKER FRIENDS

FRIENDS: Never ask for food.
BIKER FRIENDS: Are the reason you have no food.

FRIENDS: Will say "hello".
BIKER FRIENDS: Will give you a big hug and a kiss.

FRIENDS: Call your parents Mr. and Mrs.
BIKER FRIENDS: Call your parents mom and dad.

FRIENDS: Have never seen you cry.
BIKER FRIENDS: Cry with you.

FRIENDS: Will eat at your dinner table and leave.
BIKER FRIENDS: Will spend hours there, talking, laughing and just being together.

FRIENDS: Borrow your stuff for a few days then give it back.
BIKER FRIENDS: Keep your stuff so long they forget it's yours.

FRIENDS: Know a few things about you.
BIKER FRIENDS: Could write a book with direct quotes from you.

FRIENDS: Will leave you behind if that's what the crowd is doing.
BIKER FRIENDS: Will kick the whole crowds' ••• that left you.

FRIENDS: Would knock on your door.
BIKER FRIENDS: Walk right in and say, "I'm home!".

Don't Like Him But He Is Right

2009-05-22T03:14:00.001-04:00

Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, 'Wow! What a Ride! ~Hunter S. Thompson

Wise words....

2009-05-22T03:06:00.001-04:00

Most motorcycle problems are caused by the nut that connects the handlebars to the saddle.

Ok I give, leather it is!

2009-05-22T01:31:00.002-04:00

I keep looking at the seat and the couple of opinions I have gotten have lead me to the decision that I am going to switch to leather. The denim is unique but it looks unfinished and a little to ratty so tomorrow I am off to the store to get some leather and recover it. I am also going to cut off some of the front under the rear point of the gas tank.

Headlights and Hand Controls

2009-05-19T20:24:00.001-04:00

Well that about sums it up. The headlight is mounted. The hand controls are mounted. The clutch and throttle cables have been adjusted. Nothing left to say but look at the pictures!

Please excuse the finger prints all over the chrome. And for those of you I talked to about the flat spot on the handle bars I brought in my bench grinder from the garage and ground it down. I didn’t have to take off nearly as much as I thought. So that worked out well!

Steamboat Willy

2009-05-16T15:33:00.001-04:00

Ok so he’s no Mickey Mouse that’s fine I aint Walt Disney. Not bad for the first go around. I am sure I will go around and around trying to get the black lines the same thickness. But that’s fine I don’t have anything else to do and its kind of fun. Remember this isn’t supposed to be fine art. It’s rat rod/bomber nose art type stuff

Just Because

2009-05-15T07:20:00.001-04:00

Just because it was a never ending 12 hour day and it strikes me as funny. Don’t forget you can click on the picture and make it bigger; for those ocularily challenged people out there.

Rat Rod

2009-05-13T11:58:00.001-04:00

Since this paint is only temporary it gives me the liberty of screwing around with it without fear. So keeping in the rat rod theme, here is Da Rat. Right now its just a permanent marker outline that won’t last a week in the sun.

The neat thing is its almost invisible except in direct light and even then you have to look at it at an angle to see it. So I can’t decide if I should just outline it in black paint and leave it or if I should color it in like I originally planned.

And one more

Latest Order

2009-05-11T21:37:00.002-04:00

I placed my first parts order in a while. I got the hand controls, the switches, the throttle and idle cables and the clutch cable. Also the tail light and headlight and the oil pressure gauge and switch. Should be here in 5 to 7 working days. So on my 5 days off next week I will have some things to do to keep me busy!!!

The Cover Coverage Continues

2009-05-06T11:53:00.001-04:00

Well the seat is covered, I went with school of thought number 1. Take a piece of material and just stretch it around. Worked out pretty well. The spray adhesive set up pretty fast so there is that one wrinkle but I can live with it. As easy at this turned out to be I may pull it all off before long and go to leather anyway.

She is surprisingly comfortable for being so thin. I am very pleased with the outcome for my first attempt.

In the bottom picture you can see the difference in the two sides of the seat pan. I will have to correct that also in the next go around. It’s not all that noticeable so I am not to worried.

Cover Coverage

2009-05-05T16:18:00.001-04:00

Well I didn’t get anything done on the seat today. Tomorrow will be the day for that. Right now I am trying to decide how I want to do it. When it comes to covering something there are 2 schools of thought. The first is you take one big piece of fabric or leather or whatever you are using and lay it over the top and then begin pulling it tight around the side to the bottom and rivet or screw it or attach it by some means. The other is to cut out a piece of the material the same shape as the top only a little bigger for seam allowance and then you sew a strip around the outside whatever width you need to give it a 3d shape then pull it over the seat and attach it to the bottom.

The first method is much easier to get started but pulling the material down around the sides all the way around a complex shape without a whole lot of wrinkles is not easy. The second method requires a sewing machine, and mine is buried in storage somewhere. Also the chance of cutting the top shape just right so you don’t have any sports to small or any spots to large is a million to one especially having never done this before.

So I will be making that decision tonight and will get started tomorrow.

Hot Seat!

2009-05-03T21:39:00.001-04:00

Well here is the seat pan all foamed up.

First 2 layers.

Then 4 layers.

And now shaped up and sitting in frame for a test fit.

And that’s all for tonight. Since none of you would do the decent thing and call out so I can get called in, I am going to watch The Unit! Tomorrow we shall cover it! Good Night!

Grab Your Seats

2009-05-03T18:14:00.001-04:00

Well I got bored this afternoon so I started another project I have been putting off…the seat. As you can imagine there is no off the shelf seat that is going to fit this frame and there is no room in budget for a custom made seat. So, the only answer is make it myself.

Here is the template out of a soda case

And the seat pan out of 18 ga steel. I know that’s not very thick but remember this is all by hand .

And another.

Now I am off to find suitable padding and a old pair of jeans for the cover. Since this is my first seat I am not going to sacrifice a piece of expensive leather.

Overdue Update

2009-05-03T11:11:00.001-04:00

My apologies to those of you who check in on me on a regular basis. The lapse in posting was unintentional. This New York trip is eating up all my attention and funds for the next couple checks so I haven’t been doing a lot. Just little odds and ends as I think of them. She is as far together as she can be right now. Everything is bolted in and adjusted as it will be when she is done.

By way of apology I wheeled her out into the daylight for the first time fully clothed.

Fatty fat fat, damn oil bag still not sitting level!

Pretty sprotor and my $100 dollar fender supports I managed to engineer to fit!

I will do my best not to lapse anymore but things will be slow for the next few weeks. I may attempt the seat in the near future, I am tired of looking at the obvious empty space. It really draws your eye and ruins the lines of the bike!

Back In Black!

2009-04-22T22:29:00.001-04:00

Here she is almost all the way back together. The belt drive isn’t on because I have a minor transmission issue I need to attend to first.

And the oil tank position I was talking about.

And me filthy after my 3rd 12 hr day on the bike!

Almost there! Almost.

It’s Official…I Am Old!!!

2009-04-21T11:23:00.001-04:00

Well after taking the dogs to the beach at 7 am yesterday morning and then putting in a good 12 hours on the exploding bike trick; I found it impossible to get out of bed when the alarm sounded at 8 this morning. After 12 hours of crawling around on the floor and lifting this and cutting that the old back just wouldn’t bend.

I did manage 10:30 though and as we speak the rear fender is outside drying. The gas tank is almost etched inside and ready for sealer and then I can paint that. The frame should also get done today so maybe there will be some fun pictures this evening.

I know you don’t care about any of this and just want to see dog pictures…so here you go.

This is why we go to the beach early and alone. This look makes the old ladies snatch up their labradoodles and go running for the park ranger. It really just means “Throw the ball damn it!”

And of course Debo waiting for his turn with the ball!

The Queen and her toy!

But we don’t want to go home!!

The Exploding Bike Trick

2009-04-20T19:02:00.001-04:00

Cool trick but you really only want to do it once.

There’s a front end and a rear fender, the frame, rear wheel, hiding in back is the tranny on the left is a engine and an axle on the bench.

Lot’s going on here over the next few days. Check back tomorrow for a big update! As long as the weather holds out!

Welding Complete!!!

2009-04-19T21:00:00.001-04:00

WooHoo! The only part of this project that I wasn’t sure about how I was going to get done was the welding. And now it’s done.

It was completed by the husband of a co worker of mine. His name is Chris Miloro. He specializes in stainless steel welding in the marine environment. But, he was nice enough to give up some time on his day off and take care of my project.

His welds are by far the best on the whole frame. If you need good work done at a fair price let me know and I can put you in touch with him. Or if you work with me you can go through his wife for contact info. Thanks again Chris!

Welding Work To Be Done

2009-04-18T03:03:00.004-04:00

This is what needs to be done. This is the front gas tank mount.

This is a rear fender strut nut. There are 2 of these. If the nylong insert melts no big deal.

This is the rear fender support. Welded to frame not fender.

This is the rear caliper anchor. It mounts inside the leg I am holding it against. Not outside.

These are the tabs for the oil tank. I will cut them down to the right length after welding.

This is the lower oil tank tab position.

And of course the upper oil tank mount location.

And this is the rear gas tank mount.

And finally this is the rear axle adjuster. There are 2, one on each side.

The Old Lessons Relearned

2009-04-17T10:49:00.003-04:00

Well I have had no luck finding a welder. I was supposed to go to a friend of a friend but the guy shot me a 1 line email and never emailed again so his dumb ass is out. Yesterday I went around a local industrial park and stopped at a welding shop talked to a guy and gave him my address and number and he was supposed to come by at 9 this morning and give me a price and decide if he wanted to do it here or at his shop but of course he didn't show or call either.
Lesson learned? If ya want it done do it yourself. The second you count or rely on anyone they fuck ya over. There isn't anything wrong with the economy other than it's full of lazy useless fuckheads who want a handout instead of a job. I am willing to pay $100 for 20 minutes of welding but no one can be bothered. So Sunday I will head out to harbor freight and buy a welder for $70 and do it myself like I should have in the first place!
Way to many useless jerk offs out there today, way to many.

Oil Tank

2009-04-12T14:18:00.001-04:00

Here is the oil tank

Here is how it will be mounted…only straight…I hope.

What The ????????????????

2009-04-10T09:56:00.001-04:00

OMG it’s gone! Just kidding, if you are observant you probably noticed the transmission sitting in front of the couch in the lower right of the picture and the stacked boxes of parts in the background. Well, it was time. I kept putting off tearing it down because with the upcoming pause in building this seemed to me to be a big step backwards at a bad time. But, yesterday I was sitting around with nothing to do and the bike is ready to go to the welder and then paint so I figured I might as well get to it.

The funny part is it has taken me 8 months and 7k to get as far as I did and it was broken down and on the ground in less than 45 minutes. Why is it always easier to go backwards than forwards?

Accurate Feel For Ride Height

2009-04-10T09:46:00.001-04:00

Now that she is broken down and on the ground you can get a accurate feel for how low this frame will ride. In this picture she is sitting on her own wheels at the final ride height.

It’s a little odd, I have never ridden anything that sits so close to the pavement. I bet that is going to be a whole new experience watching the road whizz by that close at 70 mph or so.

It’s a lot like sitting in a desk chair at the computer maybe even a little lower.

Morning Off

2009-04-08T14:09:00.001-04:00

Took the morning off today and went to the beach with the large rodents that share my prison cell. Instead of going to Fort DeSoto we stopped at one of the little roadside cuts. It was so nice not having to worry about Ginger eating someone’s dog. A good time was had by all and I will be back on the bike this evening. P.S. with this new editor the pictures are now clickable for larger versions!

Beware of the smiling Pit Bull!

I swear officer it was big and furry, knocked me down and stole my camera!

My ball! End of conversation!

Which way did it go? Which way did it go?

Good Day Yesterday!

2009-04-06T15:17:00.003-04:00

The mock up is complete! I got the gas tank mounts fabbed up. I got the rear fender support situation resolved. I have decided where to hide all the electrics. So tomorrow on my next set of days off I will find a welder and get a estimate on how much it will cost and I may sneak it in next paycheck w/the New York trip payments. That way I can start tearing it down and I will have something to do the next 3 days. Until then here she is in her final form, minus only the head light and the oil tank which will attach to the rear frame legs on this side of the bike, right in front of the rear tire.

No Headway

2009-04-02T20:24:00.002-04:00

Didn't get much done today. Tried working on the tank mounts some more but did not make much headway. Will try a little harder tomorrow. Also bought the oil bag off E bay today so it should be here in a week or so and I can set that up and its off to the welder. Unfortunately this is the last paycheck for the bike until the New York trip is paid for. And I didn't have a lot left over after having to cover last weeks monetary miscalculation.
I hate to take a break now and loose the momentum but maybe a short break will clear my head a little. I think I am trying to think of to many things at once.

Have You Ever...

2009-03-29T13:24:00.003-04:00

I know by now you do and since I have no parts and no bike related info I am going to too. I can't figure out which one is really small or which one is really large. CLICK HERE
Either way it warms the cockles of my.........heart....yeah, yeah that's it my heart.

Be careful what you whish for...

2009-03-29T11:44:00.002-04:00

In how many previous posts did I wish for a parts dealer in the are that could ship fast? Now that I ordered some stuff from Demons and it gets here the next day I have nothing to look forward to. Normally its order parts on payday, wait 5 days for parts, parts arrive spend a couple days putting them on wait 6 days and its payday again.
Now I ordered the forward controls on payday they showed up the next day I managed to hold off until Sunday to put them on and now I am on a 11 day wait for payday! So I guess the grass isn't always greener!

Very Little Going On

2009-03-27T08:34:00.002-04:00

Not much happening lately. Waiting for next payday to get more parts.Specifically the oil tank so I can get that situated and start tearing her down for the welder. And I need some steel bar stock to finish up the tank mounts also for the welder. If I get lucky enough to also get the hand controls and switches at least assembling them will take up some free time.

Great Lengths

2009-03-25T18:51:00.003-04:00

Now that she is almost done it is impossible to get a full picture without having to open the window take out the screen and take a picture from the front yard like this one...

The wheelbase is 6 feet 6 inches from axle to axle add another 20 inches and she is just over 8 feet from end to end. The Harley Fat Boy wheelbase is 5 ft 3 inches add another 18 inches and it is 6 feet 9 inches end to end.

Todays Labors!

2009-03-25T18:32:00.003-04:00

Well the bars went on without a hitch and they look good and more importantly I have full range of motion without hitting the tank,but its close.

And the starter was no problem with a little help from the folks at http://www.clubchopper.com/

The starter is actually much stronger than I need. It is made for big inch bikes but this one has the starter button right on the starter so if the starter relay in my harness fails as they often do, all I have to do is use the button and no push starting!

The Rise of the House of Usher

2009-03-24T23:08:00.003-04:00

Any Poe fans out there? If so I got that Fall of the House of Usher thing going on only in reverse. As the bike gets closer and closer to being finished I find my self, among other things, feeling younger and younger. Maybe younger isn't the right word but it's the right feeling. I am feeling more like I did back before I was married and had Tommy and had all the responsibility. Not that I am sorry any of it happened, Tommy is by far the greatest accomplishment I will ever have a part in. It's kind of hard to put into words. I feel stronger, happier, more aggressive and confident than I have in years. Maybe the bike is just a midlife crisis manifesting itself. Or it could be the other changes in my recent life and I am just projecting them onto the bike because it has become so all consuming as it nears completion.
I don't now how to explain it. I don't want to live forever anymore(anyone seen my smokes?). Or more to the point I am not going to let the fear of the inevitable intimidate me. I have no desire to spend the next twenty years doing what I have done for the last 10. Scurrying toward a pension I won't ever see like a daft rat on a endless treadmill of grief. The whole fucking world is out there! Once upon a time I wanted to see it all, and somewhere I traded it in for safety and security and a room with no windows.
Lately I have been remembering that the little shitty road right outside my door actually goes to The Bad Lands and The Smokey's and Key West, Laughlin and Reno and VEGAS BABY! And the only reason I am not there is fear. What if I can't pay my bills? What about child support? What about a place to live?
I remember a time back in the darkness when drugs ruled my life. I had nothing, literally the clothes on my back and that was it, but I regularly walked a neighborhood in Detroit that made South St. Pete look like Disney World yet somewhere along the way I became afraid. But lately the fear has been subsiding, at first I thought it was just apathy setting in for good but now that apathy seems to have a edge of angst to it, a little hot spot that won't go out.
Whatever it is I like it! I feel at times 10 ft tall and bulletproof again. I can't wait for it to be finished so I can ride away from the meaningless, pointless, frustrating, endless crap that clogs up most of my days. But until then I am going to enjoy this feeling and remember the old battle cry of when I was truly young, strong and alive...

Parts is Parts

2009-03-24T16:28:00.002-04:00

Well the handlebars, grips and isolators arrived today along with the starter. I will get them on tomorrow for some quick pictures then dis assembly will begin for its trip to the welder. I still have to cut the fender struts down and get the front height of the tank measured in a way that I can get it to the same height at the welders. If it sits to low or to far back the mounts hit the engine. More tomorrow!

OH JENKIES GANG!

2009-03-22T19:53:00.002-04:00

I just spent the last few minutes of my evening before work mocking up my rear fender for its final position and discovered my beautiful $100 fender supports are about 2inches to tall! Now cutting them down could be a viable option as my axle blocks have a unusual notch cut out of them and if I cut them down the radius might be just right to fill the notch. But I would then have to weld them in which means they would get painted to match the frame or the bike but chrome would not be possible. Or I could just cut them down and bolt them on the way I originally planned but I can't imagine the cost for a private citizen to get them re chromed.
This is the first serious oops of the project to the tune of a 100 smackers. Hmmmmmmmmmm.

By The Numbers

2009-03-22T14:09:00.002-04:00

This is a by the numbers special report. Having, through the course of the last 9months, only one person ask me how much I spent so far. And being more concerned with building than counting. Also, so as to not scare myself I never kept a running tab.
Sine the foot pegs are on and the gas tank mounts now all fabbed up and waiting for their date with the welder; and I am here all alone I took out my receipts and ran the numbers. Now keep in mind this is just the parts and shipping of the parts. Also wheel mounting is included. What is not included are tools I had to buy, such as a impact wrench, torque wrench, tap and die set, BMF socket set, one vernier caliper, laser level and other items. But all told that isn't even in the $200 dollar range as I bought most at Harbor Freight and it isn't fair to count them because I will use them again. What also isn't included is hardware. All the nuts and bolts I had to purchase were all stainless steel and good quality. Some hardware came with the parts they belonged to. So once again that total is small about 80 cents a bolt, less for the nuts. I won't get into my theory on nut prices vs bolts but I bet a woman had something to do with it.
Anyway, the current grand total is $6,088.03. Now one of my previous posts stated that including speedometer and oil gauge and exhaust I was about $1200.00 from being ready for welding and paint. That number with the exhaust is more likely going to be in the $1500 range.
So add that to the 6k and we are looking at $7588.03. On top of that if you throw in the welding, and I really have no idea what it will cost for about 30minutes of welding, we will call it $200 just to be sure we come in less. And I have been given a initial price on paint at $500 but it will probably be a little more, unless I do it myself in which case it will be less so lets keep that at $500 for now. That brings another $700 to the total so it is now $8288.03; which puts me 1700 and change under my initial guess of 10k.
However, there is still the great state of Florida to deal with. Upon passing the inspection you have to bring receipts for all "major components" of your build to the tax collectors office and pay sales tax on anything bought over the Internet or out of state. Now since this is Fucked up FLA I have heard of guys bringing in receipts for motor, tranny, frame, and wheels and paying tax on that and I have heard horror stories of guys having to bring receipts for everything down to the freaking spark plugs. There is no standardization on this it all about who is in what kind of mood behind the counter when you get there. So if I have to pay tax on everything I bought out of state it will be about $560 still giving me $1200 of wiggle room.
And if the economy wasn't so crappy and I found the right buyer I could get $11,500 for it giving me about 2k in profit. Now if the engine was new I could easily hit the 15k mark in a better economy.
So there you have it, by the number. Now I have a headache. I won't be doing this again until she is 100% done. Have a peach of a day!

Been Mounted?

2009-03-22T12:33:00.003-04:00

"The forward controls?" you ask. "Of course", I reply, "the bike is the only thing around here getting anything mounted lately."

But they did go on smoothly and look great!

The rear brake side...

And the shifter side.....

Repent Now! The End is Near!

2009-03-21T06:53:00.004-04:00

Well the forward controls arrived yesterday. Demons cycle in Pompano Beach has a bad reputation around the Harley forums but I have to say I am very pleased with them so far. I have gotten the tank a fender bracket and the forward controls from them. The bracket was a little slow to ship but the tank and controls shipped the same day and I got them the next day. That sure as hell beats waiting 5 or 6 days for my stuff to get here from Jireh!
Anyway, I took a chance on these forward controls. They were factory seconds that supposedly had some discoloration in the chrome. But they were like $20 dollars cheaper and, as you know, as sharp as this bike will be she is no trailer queen and will be ridden well and frequently so I don't really care if the chrome parts I put my boots on is off a bit. However I did notice one little spot on one where the chrome is wrinkled a bit and a small spot on the other that is a bit yellow it is nothing that is noticeable without some real scrutiny. A good deal in my opinion.

On the financial side of things I did some figuring last night at work, and not counting the seat, the paint, the exhaust and the welding I am $979 dollars away from being up and running. That is putting the speedometer and oil gauge on hold. After all I don't need them and skipping them and all the brackets and things that go with them save me a couple hundred bucks. If I put the speedo and oil gauge on the total will be $1201 dollars.

Almost there! I can smell the exhaust.I can hear the young girls squeak with joy, I can hear the wannabes whine, I can hear the old bitty next door complain already! Oh the joy, the rapture!Muuuuwwwwaaaahhhhh!

Sorry got a little out of hand there! But life is good. With the welding I am 2 paychecks away from the inaugural ride. As far as the seat goes I will ride without one while I figure out how to make one. Leather working, another skill I always wanted to acquire.

It Is A Roller Baby!

2009-03-19T21:13:00.004-04:00

As seen in this video she now is a bona fide roller. You have no idea how bad I want to take it down and run it up and down the street. Unless you know me, in that case you are probably figuring the odds on how long I can leave it up there once the bars are on! HERE IS A BRIGHTER VIDEO!!

Two Two Two!

2009-03-19T20:41:00.002-04:00

That's right a new project record! Two productive days in a row. Today I fixed two small but critical parts on the rear axle(note to self, buy rubber mallet or quit hitting things w/hammer). Also I ordered the handlebars their dampeners the grips the forward controls the starter and I went to Fletchers and picked up my ignition harness. Unfortunately Jireh was out of stock on a lot of things but I was able to find them elsewhere. The forward controls are coming from Demons in Pompano Beach and will be here tomorrow. But, I couldn't find the hand controls or switches anywhere, everyone was out of stock so I bought the starter and ignition harness instead. The controls should be in on the 1st per Jireh so I will get to them next time.

Lots DoneToday

2009-03-18T18:50:00.005-04:00

Today was a fairly productive day! I got the rear wheel all centered and ballanced and trued I got it spaced out and I got the sprotor on and situated. I also got the front fender mounted and cetered in its permanent spot! Furthermore I messed around with the gas tank mounts got the holes tapped in the tank and figured out how that was going to work. And for the picture I put on the rear fender and the struts but they arent anywhere near their final position.

Tomorrow is big order day! Onto the pictures!

I like how the front tire is just to wide for the fender. A unique look to be sure just remind me how unique it is when I am eating dual rooster tails from the sides of the fender!

And the profile

Duh! Axle Pictures!

2009-03-17T07:23:00.002-04:00

Sorry I am tired almost bed time.

And the big ass crown nut and washer. Beautiful work on this axle!

Joy Oh Joy

2009-03-17T06:34:00.002-04:00

The axle arrived by UPS not 45 mins after my last post. So I sent a follow up email where I apologized for being short and nasty. God I hate doing that. His response was very nice he admitted he was supposed to send me tracking numbers but he had to leave town to pick up a bike and forgot. So I left him good feedback and he did the same for me so tomorrow I will have a axle to put on and a rear wheel to center. Then whaddaya know its payday again. This is going to be a biggie. At the very least it will be the complete handlebar setup, switches, grips,levers, the whole shooting match and then a few other things at the best it will be the complete handlebar set up and the foot controls. The only question is can I spend that amount and still have money to eat. I took leftovers to work today and if I take peanut butter and jelly tonight and my father is taking Tommy out to dinner tomorrow so I won't have to feed him; I may be able to stretch the $80 I have in my pocket until next payday. Hmmmm....... half tank of gas, don't eat Wednesday no unnecessary driving. One jar peanut butter 3 loaves of bread. I think I can do this.
The squeeze is on kids, I have this paycheck and the next and maybe just maybe the one after that, then I really have to make all the reservations and arrangements for Tommy and my trip to NYC at the end of June. Now May has 3 paychecks and we aren't going until June 28 but I don't want to wait to long and not get the hotel I want and get stuck at a dump somewhere. I still have almost 80 days left but I don't want to take any chances! But I am so close people so very close. I would like to hear it fire before I leave on vacation but more than likely it will be shortly after my return.

No Joy

2009-03-16T15:24:00.002-04:00

Well the axle didn't come so I sent the guy a email threatening to file a dispute. I told him not to reply with any info other than tracking info because that is all that will stop the dispute. I also told him not to reply and ask for the measurements again because I have provided them 3 times already. I just don't get it. Get paid and do your job. Hell I have to work then get paid, all these assholes get paid first and still can't get the job done. I must be in the wrong business. I actually have to deliver day after day after day to get paid.
This one lousy part is holding up the whole build and it is really starting to piss me off. I guess this is another reason why I don't deal with locals. Because if this asshole was local he would be seriously hurting now. More later whenever there is more to tell. If ya happen to know someone seriously incompetent who is in the aftermarket Harley business who is to stupid to remember to breathe please send me his contact info I would hate to think I missed one.

Still no axle.

2009-03-15T22:00:00.002-04:00

Well 7 days have passed since I last communicated with the man about the axle. One of the things I requested was that he email me when he sent it out. No email no axle. So, tomorrow I will email him and if he can't provide tracking numbers I will go ahead a file my dispute w/paypal. It has been 38 days since I ordered it and I have given him the measurements 3 times and I am not going to risk losing another week waiting for something that should have been here a month ago. This is just pathetic. More later.

Update!

2009-03-12T17:08:00.006-04:00

The tank is here and the mounts arrived today to sit in the drawer with the rear caliper anchor and the rear fender mount and await for their date with the welder. Which of course won't happen until the rear wheel is on and centered which brings us back to the rear axle now 28 days overdue. But I have been assured it will be done very soon. Either way on Monday I will file a dispute w/eBay if the guy can't at least give me tracking numbers.

Then the oil tank needs to be figured out for the welder also. Then it's pretty much all down hill. With the help of the great people at http://www.clubchopper.com/ I have the ignition harness figured out and the rest of the wiring should be pretty straight forward. I just wish the damn axle would get here so I can move forward!

The Other Side of the Coin

2009-03-10T06:40:00.003-04:00

In light of the yet another local pit bull attack on a Pomeranian I feel it is my duty to remind everyone of the other side of the coin. This picture was taken last week when my son was sick with a fever. He layed on that dog for over 3 hours and she never moved. When he got up and went up to bed she followed him and scratched at his door until I let her in. At which point she jumped up on the bed licked his face and began to whine while giving me the most heartbreaking look I have ever seen on a animal.

While I sympathize with the family and their lose and I fully understand how dangerous the situation was. This was a dog that attacked another dog. The breed is irrelevant. A dog is a tool, a blank canvas. It does what you teach it and it becomes what you make it. There are no bad dogs just bad owners and irresponsible journalists.

Another quicky for King Richard

2009-03-08T17:12:00.001-04:00

'nough said.

Tommy's Joke...

2009-03-08T16:47:00.002-04:00

Sorry it's such a odd time for Tommy's Joke but shortly after coming home from school on Wednesday he developed a fever. I strongly felt it was a Halo Wars was delivered today related fever, but as it turns out it was legit and he spent the better part of Thursday and Friday asleep. But before succumbing to the vapors he passed along this beauty.

Why do blonds have bruises around their belly buttons? Because their boyfriends aren't that bright either!

The boy is growing up to fast I tell ya!

Tankage Part II

2009-03-08T14:17:00.006-04:00

Here are a couple photos of the gas tank in its preliminary position. I may end up dropping the front a inch or two.

The drop seat really becomes obvious with the tank mounted and will be even more pronounced with the fender on. It will really show the "pocket" the rider sits in.

The tank also has a brand name pop up flush mount gas cap. This brand of cap goes for $60 by itself; which really makes this tank a deal at $195. Here is the cap closed.

And popped up for opening. A neat little add on custom touch!

Tankage

2009-03-08T03:48:00.001-04:00

The tank arrived while I was at work today. Pictures tomorrow I am to tired right now. See ya on the sunshine side.

The Upside

2009-03-07T06:48:00.004-05:00

The company I wanted to order my gas tank through came through on the small order. It didn't ship as fast as I would have liked, but it got here and was right and good quality. So Thursday night I took the chance and ordered the tank and it shipped this morning and has a scheduled delivery of today! That is the best thing about fedex they deliver on Saturdays!

So maybe some eye candy before I leave for work tonight or at least definitely Sunday. Here is a reminder picture!

No Axle, No Info

2009-03-07T06:37:00.003-05:00

Well I fired off a email to the axle guy and he emailed back and states to his knowledge all the axles were done and shipped out. He would try to find out if mine went ups or usps so I could get a tracking number if it went ups but then he never got back to me.

So I will wait until the mail comes today and if I haven't heard from him and the axle isn't here I will email him one more time and tell him I am filing a dispute. Paypal only gives you 45 days to file and 30have now passed. So we will see if that gets any results. Until then no forward progress.

So everyone out there building a bike and shopping on Ebay stay away from Road6Customs! This one is for you guys at Road6, a bunch of axholes!

Wasted Days and Wasted Nights

2009-03-06T12:06:00.002-05:00

Sorry for the couple days lapse but absolutely nothing has happened. The front fender showed up and it is a mess. The pre-drilled mounting holes make the fender sit like a bmx fender, so I will have to cut off the legs and drill new holes. The rear wheel spacer set came yesterday but with the axle still MIA they spacers don't do me much good. I sent the axle guy a email asking for a eta or some tracking numbers but have received no response yet, but it has only been about an hour.
Other than that I ordered the gas tank and its mounting hardware yesterday so maybe by next week I set it up there and have a look. Nothing else to report now! Check back soon!

A word about the donation cessation

2009-03-03T23:06:00.003-05:00

Lately I have been reading a lot about a man called Sam Childers. He runs a orphanage in Sudan. I first learned about this guy in a article in American Iron Magazine. This man is a long time biker who made a big change in his own life and now makes huge changes in the lives of kids in this war torn region.

Currently there is a bike built by Jesse James paid for by a anonymous donor that is being raffled off in June. The tickets are $20 dollars apiece or you can jut make a donation for the heck of it. His web site is http://www.angelsofeastafrica.org/ . If you ever in your most whimsical of moments thought about donating to my site please please please go here and donate instead.

He also has a book coming out this month "Another mans war" I believe it is called. This guy is on the up and up he is a legal 501(c)3 charity and your donations are tax deductible.

Around the biker world he is called the machine gun preacher. Here is his picture sitting on the bike to be raffled off. There are more and better pictures on his site at the above link. Do what you can for this guy. WE are all worried about a tanking economy and this guy is trying to function where one doesn't even exist!

If I was ever in a position financially and otherwise to get a leave of absence I would not hesitate for a moment to spend it in Sudan with this man and his people! Donate Now! I humbly request as I step down off my soap box.