Donation Cessation

That's right I tanked the donation button. Turns out it makes me uncomfortable taking money from people I know. And truth be told I am at the best spot financially than I have been in a long time so it just strikes a funky chord with me. I appreciate it but there are people out there in this economy much more in need of your help than me.
For everyone that has donated I have something special for you when this is over. Thanks again I really appreciate it!

Order of progression

Well the fender mounting block showed up yesterday. But I don't really need it until the back wheel is on. Here's how things are going to progress as I see it. I need to get the back wheel on the axle and centered and spaced out. Then I can get the correct offset tranny sprocket to finish up the drive line. Then I have to get the gas tank and mounts. Because once I have that set up I can call the dreaded mobile welder so he can come out and weld on the rear caliper anchor, the fender mounting block and the tank mounts all at once.
The it will be handlebars and foot controls. Then the wiring. And maybe on last poll to decide on a seat style. But my reach to the bars will be the biggest factor in deciding the seat. Then the wiring. And someone please in the next 30 to 45 days remind me about the kickstand. I swear this thing will come back from paint and I will have it all together with 5 minutes to spare before leaving for work and I will put my foot down and start fishing for a kickstand that isn't there. I just can't for the life of me remember to find and order a kickstand!

Todays Update

The sprotor arrived today at 6pm by UPS but since it was the only thing all I could do was bolt the sprotor to the rear wheel. Without the axle or spacers I couldn't do anything else.

Earlier I also reordered the spacer set, I found someone who had it in stock for a buck or two cheaper, so I ordered it. I also found a fender for the front tire for a real cheap $25 dollars so I ordered that as well.

Now if the spacers and the axle could just show up before next week I can back in the swing of things. I do know if that axle doesn't show by Monday I am going to be pissed. How do you just forget a order?

I really don't get this industry, one guy forgets my order completely, another company in pompano beach I ordered a fender mounting block from the same day I ordered the sprotor from a guy in Van Nuys California and the sprotor gets here first. The tracking info for the mounting block still says they have received info to expect the package for mailing but they don't have it yet. Of course it sat in "to be shipped" status for 4 days. But the guy in Manchester New Hampshire sends my fender supports so fast I got them before the money left my account. Literally by United States Post Office Priority mail from New Hampshire to here in 5 days.

I tell ya if you were to open a shop in the Southeast somewhere and just ship fast and be fair with prices you could make a fortune. Just by being reliable you would strike it rich.

Oh, here are the fender supports, beautifully chromed excellent workmanship. This guy will get my repeat business.

Watch Repair Anyone?

As you may or may not have known, to remove the transmission pulley and change it to a sprocket you have to remove what is called the super nut. This nut is 1 7/8 inches. Unless you routinely work on aircraft carriers or Abrams tanks you will never in your life, with the exception of a Harley have a need for a 1 7/8 inch socket.

Most of us have the standard 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 inch drives. This socket is a 3/4 inch drive. We are now in the BMF range of sockets. This socket was $28 just for the socket at Sears. So I went to harbor freight and got the set below on sale for $44. Not the same quality but when am I ever going to use it again? On the plus side the ratchet is so big that nut gave it up like a schoolgirl on prom night and I have a new self defense weapon to carry in the car. I threw the quarter in there for comparison.

The nut is now off and the pulley also so its back to waiting on parts for some forward movement! I was planning on it taking a little longer so I would have something to do all day. Oh well I guess I will walk the dogs around the lake.

Oh and did someone mention schoolgirl? Remember these important words of advice...

Two ups for screw ups!

Well I finally got tired of waiting for the axle I ordered 20 days ago so I dropped the guy a email and he said he has no record of the order so he has no idea what happened to it. He is making me a new one and shipping it UPS. And the spacer kit I ordered is on back order which explains why the money never came out of my account. The notice email of the parts being on back order was for some reason routed to the junk folder and just discovered by me this evening.

So this week is pretty much a write off. When the rear brake set up gets here I will be able to bolt it to the wheel but I have no axle to hang it all on and no spacers to space it out with so I won't be able to order the correct offset tranny sprocket. So I am now a week behind. The upside is if the axle ever does make it I will just measure out the spacers I need and buy them separately. I had ordered a 23 piece kit of varying sizes in the interest of saving time and having what I needed on hand; and needing the others somewhere down the line but oh well.

So once again we have proven that the squeaky wheel gets the grease and the quiet patient one gets fucked. So once again here's my sign...

A quicky for King Richard

Shortly after class, an economics student approaches his economics professor and says, "I don't understand this stimulus bill. Can you explain it to me?" The professor replied, "I don't have any time to explain it at my office, but if you come over to my house on Saturday and help me with my weekend project, I'll be glad to explain it to you." The student agreed. At the agreed-upon time, the student showed up at the professor's house. The professor stated that the weekend project involved his backyard pool. They both went out back to the pool, and the professor handed the student a bucket. Demonstrating with his own bucket, the professor said, "First, go over to the deep end, and fill your bucket with as much water as you can." The student did as he was instructed. The professor then continued, "Follow me over to the shallow end, and then dump all the water from your bucket into it." The student was naturally confused, but did as he was told. The professor then explained they were going to do this many more times, and began walking back to the deep end of the pool. The confused student asked, "Excuse me, but why are we doing this?" The professor matter-of-factly stated that he was trying to make the shallow end much deeper. The student didn't think the economics professor was serious, but figured that he would find out the real story soon enough. However, after the 6th trip between the shallow end and the deep end, the student began to become worried that his economics professor had gone mad. The student finally replied, "All we're doing is wasting valuable time and effort on unproductive pursuits. Even worse, when this process is all over, everything will be at the same level it was before, so all you'll really have accomplished is the destruction of what could have been truly productive action!" The professor put down his bucket and replied with a smile, "Congratulations. You now understand the stimulus bill."

Thank You!

Thank You! Thank You! You know who you are, and what you did has been done precious few times. Thank You again, may karma pay you back sevenfold! Number one is already on the way! But more of that later in person!
But now if you all will excuse me I have had a incredibly, itchy throat since Wednesday and I am going to see if I can't get the toilet brush down there and give it a good scratching!

Just for Fun!

Another graduate of Tom's school of parenting on the loose!

Da Tank!

This is the tank I have decided on, but the seller has a crappy reputation around the forums. So I placed a small order with them earlier this week and we will see if they can handle that before I drop anymore coin on them!

It has a flush mount hotmatch pop up gas cap installed and they go for $60 apiece by themselves. The tank looks like it was made for my frame, I hope they come through!

Poll Complete!

Thanks again to everyone who participated as I mentioned in a earlier post I ordered them already because it was payday and I wanted them to get on their way. Thankfully I did order the machine gun style. They took a pretty good early lead so I was pretty confident in the outcome!

Nothing New!

Nothing new to report. The rear axle still hasn't shown up yet so I will scratch any further purchases from this guy off my list. My rear sprocket and brake set up is on the way from California. The rear fender struts are on the way from New Hampshire. Sorry to everyone who didn't get a chance to vote but it was payday and the order needed to be placed. My spacer set for the rear wheel is en route from Jireh and a rear fender support bracket should be on its way from Demons South. So as long as the axle gets here before or with everything else the next set of days off will be spent lining up the rear wheel and getting it set up with the brake so I can take my left over money and get the tranny sprocket in the correct offset and the chain and the drive line will be done. Then I will be able to center up the fender and drill it for the supports that should be arriving with everything else.
Then its hand controls foot controls handlebars gas tank and electrical and we are done with mock - up! Oh and a kick stand I keep forgetting that. Oops and the starter, kind of hard to start with no kicker and no starter! Anyway the point it we are getting there. New prediction is we will be out for paint before April 1! Second new prediction is I am going to paint it myself I still can' figure out why though!

Oh what the heck!

Because its you guys and I like ya I'll throw the rear up there. Who needs vertebrae anyhow?

And Just Because I Can!

FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK
FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK
FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK
FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK
FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK
FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK
Thank You and have a hap hap happy day!

Todays Progress

The front wheel is now complete. For some reason my 1984 to 99 Softail front end didn't like my 1984 to 99 Softail brake caliper so I had about 2.5 hrs of filing on the caliper bracket but it fits now!

Nice Avon rubber in front and rear grooved for safety and pleasure! Here's a general look at things. Don't forget I have the rear wheel and the tire and fender but I am to lazy to keep lifting it up there to take pictures. :)

Is it just me or is the room shrinking?

Now if the rear axle would just get here before the parts I order tomorrow do! I can square away the rear end and move on to tank and bars!

Stink Wheel Keeps On Turning!

Well the front wheel arrived yesterday and on the whole she is pretty sharp!



The only downside is sometime today in the 2 hrs I managed to sleep Debo ate the chrome valve stem that was tapped to the rim. That's going to smell funky going down the road if I can find it on the other side!

The Voices

Well no UPS jerk yet and another glorious 12 hour night in service of The County just a mere few minutes away. And what are the voices saying you ask?

Have You Ever...

I know you have by now. The sad part is the last time I did was the last time I did one of these! Anyway this one is oddly creepy, for some reason it disturbs me. Click Here!

Just a quicky

I am just up briefly to let the dogs out and check for my front wheel. It was scanned as out for delivery today so I was kind of hoping it would be here. But alas it is not, so a quick change to the me likey picture and I am back to bed. Lots of work to be done on Wednesday.

Joke of the Whenever...

In honor of EMD certification this week....

Two cowboys are sitting in a restaurant when a female at a nearby table begins to choke. The first cowboy stands up, goes over to the woman lifts her skirt and runs his tongue down the crack of her ass. The girl is so surprised she spits out the offending piece of food. As the cowboy strolls back to his table his buddy says, " Wow I've heard of the hindlick maneuver, but aint never seen it done before!".

Victory Is Mine Bitches!!!!!!!!!!

That's right! Who's your daddy? Me bitch me! Six and a half more hours later. Five with the help of my father, the only person who can keep me focused when I am in a homicidal rage, the front end is hanging where and how it belongs!

The side view shows how low it is going to set on the ground. The axle is about 2 inches up in the front forks which are about 8 inches higher than the frame. You add 10.5 inches for the wheel and about 1.5 inches for the tire, that's 12 inches minus the 8 and the bottom frame rails are 4 inches off the ground. That's Low!

And one more just because I made it my bitch!

At Dawn Battle Commences

Well I am going to bed now. I haven't slept well in days and tomorrow morning brings round three with the bearing cups. Either this time I win or someone can come by and pick this project up out of the front yard after I throw it through the picture window.
Besides that this keyboard space bar is about shot and it is making me very homicidal right now! Sleep tight everyone, wish me luck in the morning!

New Poll!

This is for the rear fender struts...

Machine Gun Style...Cut Out Style...

First of 3 batches

Well the first of three orders arrived today. The new set of bearing cups,rotor, and rotor mounting hardware.

And the UPS tracking info for the front tire states its on time with a delivery date of Tuesday, but its already in Jacksonville. So I am hoping for Monday but it really doesn't matter. I am just glad American Classic Motors shipped the next day like they promised this time and not 12 days later.

Things are really going to start moving as long as these bearing cups don't give me a bunch of grief. The rest of the front end will be rolling in between Monday and Wednesday and then whatta ya know its payday again! WooHoo more parts!

Fender Poll

Well the results are in, and like all the other polls the opinions were very 1 sided. With a whopping 7 whole votes. It was 6 to 1 in favor of the long fender. Thanks for participating everyone! I appreciate the input!

Fishing for pit bulls

Now I don't normally condone the torture of animals...oh who am I kidding he loves it!

More work related bullshit

I know I don't usually mix business with pleasure ,however, one of my followers avatars deserves a closer look......

Truer words have never been spoken. 911 here to save your ass not kiss it!

It's game on baby!

That's right since the front end is giving me such a hard time I decided not to order the rear brake system as posted earlier! It's now all about the front end baby!I ordered everything I need to finish it up. Tire, rim strip, wheel, rotor,caliper, rotor mounting bolts; the whole shooting match and by next Wednesday everything should be here and hanging off the front end!
Also any day now my axle should be in. It has only been six days since I ordered it but it seems longer. Maybe because I only have one more hurdle to overcome and that is changing the final drive to a chain. Not sure how to space it all up and switch the tranny pulley to a sprocket.But other than that I will dare to say I can see light at the end of the tunnel and I am getting pretty excited!
The basic things left are the rear fender mount. Front fender. The starter. The dreaded electrical system. A seat and some bars. Then tear down and paint! Oops forgot forward foot controls and hand controls. But not a big deal. The next payday will get the rear brake and final drive ironed out. The one after that will get almost everything else but the electrical and seat!
God bless overtime!

Update

Well I spent most of Monday before work trying to get that lower bearing race in but to no avail. I guess somehow the bearing cup got out of round. So I knocked them both out and will start again fresh. I ordered the new cups before work today. When they get here I am taking them to the auto parts store and have them press the races in with a arbor press and then I will use the threaded rod and washers to draw the cups into the neck so I know all will be straight.
Today I also ordered the front wheel, an 80 spoke beauty w/stainless steel spokes, to match the rear and I ordered the rotor and the rotor mounting hardware. I also found a buyer for my pistol so tomorrow I will order the caliper assembly the tube and rim strip and the tire, as well as the starter. The tire took a 25 dollar price jump in the new Jireh catalog. It went from $75 to $100.

Clingmans Dome Info For Tommy

Highlights: mountain views, high elevation spruce-fir forest
At 6,643 feet, Clingmans Dome is the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is the highest point in Tennessee, and the third highest mountain east of the Mississippi. Only Mt. Mitchell (6,684 feet) and Mt. Craig (6,647), both located in Mt. Mitchell State Park in western North Carolina, rise higher. The observation tower on the summit of Clingmans Dome offers spectacular 360° views of the Smokies and beyond for visitors willing to climb the steep half-mile walk to the tower at the top.
On clear days views expand over a 100 miles. Unfortunately, air pollution often limits viewing distances to under 20 miles.
Clouds, precipitation, and cold temperatures are common at Clingmans Dome. Temperatures at the dome can be 10 -20 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than in the surrounding lowlands. In fact, the cool, wet conditions on Clingmans Dome's summit make the spruce-fir forest that grows there a coniferous rainforest. Proper preparation is essential for a good visit. Dress in layers and be sure to bring a jacket, even in summer.
Although Clingmans Dome is open year-round, the road leading to it is closed from December 1 through March 31, and whenever weather conditions require.
It's seven miles to the end of Clingmans Dome Road and there are scenic pullouts with endless views of ridges and valleys along the way. The road ends in a large parking area from which a 0.5 mile trail leads to the summit. The trail is paved but steep, and leads to an observation tower on top.

Sorry for the Lapse!

Not much to tell today. I spent6.5 hours pressing in the upper and lower bearing cups and the upper race. The lower race has turned out to be a problem child. I cracked one and spent over 3 hours trying to get the next one to go in straight with no luck. So right now it is getting the freezer treatment and when I get up in the morning it should slide right in. The key word being should. Here's the cracked race.

And a little eye candy to keep the spirits up.

Hopefully I can post a picture tomorrow with the front end mounted. Also any day now my custom rear axle should show up. Then I can balance the rear tire and get it at the proper height.

Front End

Well the FedEx guy tried to deliver my front end yesterday afternoon but I was asleep and did not get up when I heard the dogs bark. So it looks like I will be camping out on the couch this morning to make sure I hear him today so I will have something to do tomorrow! I will also order the previously mentioned sprotor tomorrow also so it can ship on Monday hopefully.I will be ordering from someone new this time a company in Tarzanna CA. I tell ya these guys can't get any further away! I would kill for a reputable supplier with good prices somewhere in the southeast!

The Leather Has Left the Building!

I put my jacket and vest up on ebay and someone bought it at my buy it now price in less than 1hour. Woo Hoo! More parts! Possibly the sprotor I think!

So we can get the rear wheel squared away and then get the rear fender lined up and mounted.

Ouch!

Well in the last 2 days I have managed to step on my crank twice. First was yesterday, I called a local shop to get my tire mounted and they said it would be $15 dollars. I get out there and because it was a "custom" tire the price jumped to $56 and because it was so wide they couldn't even balance it.

And today, after researching around on the Internet to get the Timken bearing and race number of my steering neck bearings, so I could buy them at the auto parts store; for a reason I can't explain and knowing much better I went to the dealer to make it easier and of course paid for it. My $22 dollar bearings were $59.

I can't explain my actions other than being in a state of constant anxiety about getting this done, because I need it more than you could possibly know, I am not thinking clearly.So in tribute to my two days of stupidity...here's my sign!

Donate now and help offset my boundless stupidity!

New Survey Time

Time for a new survey, choice 1, short fender...

Or long fender?.....

Both have plenty of room for someone to ride bitch if need be. The short fender still leaves me with the problem of tail light and license platemounting. However, it's a shame to hide all that beautiful meat! If ya got it flaunt it! Don't pay any attention to the bottom of the fender it will be cut to the needed length either way.

Vote Now! Tell your friends! Donate now too!

The tire is almost here!

I am so excited! The tire will be here today!

Finally someone who really does ship next business day instead of just claiming to!

Me Likey!

The little Me Likey picture to the right is now click able for the full size image. Why, you ask? Because I can and ME LIKEY!!!!!!!!

To small to hold me!

That's right everyone this blog has gotten to small to hold me so I am now out there in that world of craziness and freaky freaks and boring folks. That's right I am on my space! So far I find it a bit limiting from a design aspect but I am sure I will catch on! Just search my name and you will find me.

Don't think you can get out of coming here by going there. It's just the opposite! There exists to bring people here!