Teaser....

.....last picture until its done...

Merry X-mas to me.....

..time to build a bike....

Cafe Project....

...got the body work, time to get busy.

The frame is done...

I have the front and rear hubs mostly done now. The rear was pretty easy, I just used the front. All I had to do was tap the bolts out to 7/16"

The front took a little more machining. I had already cut it down quite a bit and had my friend Mike fill in all the holes I made, then machined it down to a nice taper. Not as nice as a store bought spool hub, but a heck of a lot less expensive.

Just have to finish fit the wheel spacers now.

Gauge panel....

.. I figure a bike being built with an airplane "motif" should have a lot of gauges, and switches....

This is my Uncles...

I would love to get my hands on it...

Working on the pipes....

Springer Update....

I'm hopefully still on track to have this bike done by X-mas, or sooner.

I've been machining the front hub, its from a dual disc set-up, I'm going to machine it down, weld in the holes, then machine it agian to make a nice smooth front hub.

Here I am working on the tailight assembly.

Harper started to put the motor back together today, hopefully I have a muffler Monday so I can start building exhaust.

I hate this part of a project, becuase you just keep working, but dont see much progress.

Harley Davidson cancels Buell production.

I think it's the end of the line for Buell. I'll definitely have to keep mine now, its a collectors item.....I think. :)

Harper put the transmission together yesterday. I've been working on the oil tank. Time to get the sprocket lined up, and build some wheel spacers.

Its too early for this crap....

Cutting weight...

...how much lighter is a hardtail?

...One more day of welding, and I think the frame is done. I've already started on the oil tank.

Softail update: its a hardtail. :)

Just about done with the hardtail, more details soon......

1998 Heritage Springer Softail Chopper

We traded in 1998 Springer, with some transmission trouble. I've decided to build a Bobber / Chopper out of it. I've already lowered the front end a couple of inches, I'm going to start working on the hardtail now.

Here is a 1977 CB550 I just got back together.

I would keep, but its not a 75. Pretty clean original bike though.

The Toro is a runner...

It took a lot of love, and penetrating oil, but I got it up and running. It still needs a water pump, and some serious transmission work, but I hauled it to Pioneer Days this weekend, and made some noise with it.

I also saw this awesome "extended cab" Model A truck:

...but the coolest thing I did in the last week was run this Kahlenberg 3 cylinder tug boat engine:

Built in the late teens it is a 2-cycle diesel. The 10" pistons idle at about 150 RPM's

Just picked up a new project.

I hope to have it running for Albany Pioneer Days in two weeks.

It is a Toro Golf Course Tractor. I believe it is a 1936,7,8,9 Vintage.

It has a Flathead head 6. I have the transmission un-stick the motor turns over, and I am now on the hunt for some dist. parts.

My boat blew a head gasket a few weeks ago, but I have it up and running again now.

The latest project in the stable is this 1972 CL450 I purchased I few years ago. The guy I bought it from had already had the frame painted, and had done a few other things. The way I got the bike:

I decided to built this bike on the "cheap" (we'll see how that goes) stock wheels. Dum brakes, clip-ons, rear sets, and a sweet Hooker header I've had around a while.

I also have a headlight from BCR, but I'm not sold on the look yet, I think I may shorten it a bit.

I'll keep you posted.

Our washer machine went to pot a week ago, after 10 years of faithful service. I had recently helped my father-in-law put his similar machine back together, so I had one up on it, when I went to take it apart. I was expecting a spent bearing as per the fathers fix, but found worse: A cracked steel basket, and broken outer drum.

I contacted Sears and had the parts shipped 2nd day air so I could get us up and running over the 4th of July Holiday. We determined that the steel basket was covered under a lifetime warranty, and after spending several hours on the phone, and experiencing some very poor customer service, we finally got Sears to pay for both parts.

I spent Monday in Chicago looking at a fabulous collection of cars and bikes, including an original Harley Davidson XR750, and a 63 Dodge Polara Convertible Max Wedge 4-speed car, that's a mouthful, but if it makes sense you'll know that's a hell of a car.
I went down to meet the gentleman that owns the collection, to see about working on some of his Hondas for him. He purchased my Cafe project, and I am really excited about doing some more work for him.

My new blog...

...here goes.