I can’t figure Sundays out. Is it a day of rest and romance or what? For the religious they spend half the morning prepping for church and the rest of the day attending a manditory event. Almost every Sunday I get up with 14 projects on a list and a growing desire to pull the new Road King out of the garage and hit the road. Next week we will kick off a seriers of mods to the beast.
Okay, so this morning at 6:30 me and Layla made it to a corner of the beach where the rocks are sand rounded and well ground. After packing the Bikernet truck with river-like rocks we returned to the headquarters where we’re filling in old grass beds with rocks. So I got my workout while she fixed grub. Next she took off to see her Great-grandfather’s grave. He’s buried near El Segar, the artist who created Popeye. Her Great-grand father was the man Popeye was mirrored after. No shit, if I told you the stories about this guy you’d feel the resemblance between the real man of the sea and the cartoon character.
Next, there’s a Concourse D’Elegance a handful of miles away in Palos Verdes, there’s beers at Walker’s Cafe and a couple of other rides around the area including the above car wash, so what to do? One incredible notion for sure. I can’t even stroll out to the garage before I finish the news. Better get with the program:
Bob T.’s original Shovelhead…
Which he rode for 30 years. I mentioned the flat tire and he said, “15 ” car radial tire with 14 pounds in it…good for corners.” No, no Bob, the front tire. Maybe that’s why he sold his true blue. He didn’t see the front flat.
Cantina Church Service
An atheist was taking a walk through the woods. “What majestic trees! What powerful rivers! What beautiful animals!” he said to himself. As he was walking alongside the river he heard a rustling in the bushes behind him. He turned to look. He saw a 7 foot grizzly charge towards him.
He ran as fast as he could up the path. He looked over his shoulder and saw that the bear was closing in on him. He looked over his shoulder again, the bear was even closer.
His heart was pumping frantically and he tried to run even faster. He tripped and fell on the ground. He rolled over to pick himself up but saw the bear right on top of him, reaching for him with his left paw and raising his right paw to strike him.
At that instant the Atheist cried out: “Oh my God, save me”
Time stopped. The bear froze. The forest was silent. As a bright light shone upon the man, a voice came out of the sky: “You deny my existence for all of these years, teach others I don’t exist, and even credit creation to a cosmic accident. Do you expect me to help you out of this predicament? Am I to count you as a believer?”
The atheist looked directly into the light, “It would be hypocritical of me to suddenly ask You to treat me as a Christian now, but perhaps could you make the BEAR a Christian?”
“Very well,” said the voice. The light went out and the sounds of the forest resumed. Then the bear dropped his right paw, brought both paws together, and bowed his head and spoke: “Lord, bless this food which I am about to receive and for which I am truly thankful.”
Frank Kaisler On Wheel Spacing And Oil Pump Lines
It’s a pleasure to have Frank Kaisler on board. His resume in the industry is as lengthly as mine, and even more indepth when it comes to technical aspects. We will be working together on Bikernet Techs with the Road King and others. As the recently and long standing editor of Hot Rod Bikes I look forward to his input with technical question to Your Shot.
The guy asking about the wheel spacers for his PM wheel into the Daytech frame actually brought a smile to my face.
In this day and age with the great number of custom frames and custom wheels offered to the public there is no way anyone could assemble each and every combination of wheel and frame to come up with a set of dimensions for wheel spacers. Add to this, that certain Softail style of set-ups would require a rear wheel offset to balance the bike especcially when using an off-set drivetrain for a wide tire application.
The easiest way I have found to determine spacer lengths is to place the wheel on the axle in the frame with the rear pulley or sprocket in place but not tight. Determine the center line of the tire and the center line of the frame. I like to clamp a piece of strap steel to the fender strut mounting surfaces (Softail) at the same time, clamping the strap steel allows you to see where the sides of the rear fender will be in relation to the wheel and tire. I then move the wheel and tire back and forth on the axle to exactly where it should be , then carefully measure the distance between the inside of the frame or swingarm whatever the case may be and make the left side spacer first.
Then with the rear brake caliper mount in hand check the mount against the spacer length needed on the right side of the wheel. Most of the time the caliper mount fits against the bearing spacer in the wheel hub and you have to make a spacer to fill the distance from the caliper mount to the frame or swing arm. One thing to remeber is to measure twice and cut once.
The front wheel is usually a lot easier mainly because there is less of a selection of different wheel hub widths. Most wheel companies make front wheels in two hub widths, narrow for the 39mm style forks like on a Superglide or Sportster or a wide hub for a Wide Glide style front end. Since there are fewer choices in hubs for the front there is a better chance of buying off the shelf front wheel spacers to suite your needs.
Hotties.
I have set up front wheel spacers in the following manner for years. First I assemble the complete front end and slide the front axle in place, insuring the lower legs are equal and parallel. Now measure between the lower legs where the axle slides through them, and write this dimension down. Next, measure the width of the wheel hub from bearing spacer (Timken style) to bearing spacer, now subtract the hub dimension from the front end dimension and divide the result by two. This will give you the size of the spacers for each side of the front wheel. Before cutting any material, place the front wheel on the axle in the front end, center the wheel between the lower legs and double check your measurements.
The problem the guy mentioned about the wheel tightening up with the axle nut only finger tight leads me to believe the inner wheel bearing spacer is to short. When the inner bearing spacer is to short it will lock up the bearings when tightened. The gentleman can purchase wheel bearing shims from CCI or Bikers Choice or an adjusatble inner bearing spacer from Bikers Choice to fix the problem and set the proper bearing end play.
Frank is going to supply us several shots for the above tech and you’ll be able to find it in the Bikernet Garage.
Shovel Oil Lines
I have attached a photo to better show where the lower crankcase vent fitting is on the engine. The oil lines on a shovel are pretty straight forward. There are two oil line fittings atop the oil pump cover on late model shovel engines. The outside fitting is the feed oil line from the oil tank to the engine, the inside oil line is the return oil from the engine to the tank.
There is another oil line fitting threaded into the crankacse just above the oil pump, this is the breather oil line fitting from the engine back to the oil tank.
The crankcase breather fitting is located inboard of the pump on the lower curve of the cases and must be vented to the atomisphere .
There is another threaded hole in the crankcases located on the same machined surface of the cases that the oil pump bolts to, this threaded hole is inboard of the pump and hard to see if the pump is already in place. This inboard hole can be plugged, it was originally used to supply oil to the primary chaincase when the factory circulated the engine oil through the primary for chain lubrication. The crankcase vent fitting can be seen in the photo, it is a 45 degree fitting with a length of oil line clamped to it, the line is then routed back under the bike.
–Frank Kaisler
A Babe shot from the archives of Bob T.
Asphalt Cowboys Report
I have good news. Stephen Baldwin has agreed to direct ASPHALT COWBOYS which is sure to bring in the money. We have several companies interested with him attached. I still haven’t finalized Conrad’s contract, but am close with his manager and lawyer. As soon as that is cleared up (hopefully on Monday), we will want to make some major changes to your website and ours. I’d like to suggest that we change I RIDE ALONE to ASPHALT COWBOYS and totally redo what is up now on ASHPALT COWBOYS. This should really move things along. Talk to you soon.
Linda
NELSON MADISON FILMS
Chewing Gum
A Filipino is enjoying a hearty breakfast of coffee, croissants, toast, butter & jam, etc. when an American, chewing gum, sits next to him and starts an unwanted conversation?..
American: “You Filipinos eat the whole bread?”
Filipino: “Of course.”
American (blowing bubble with his gum): “We don’t. In the States, we only eat what’s inside. The crusts we collect in a container, recycle, re-bake them into croissants and sell them to Philippines ”
American: “D’ya eat jam with the bread?”
Filipino: “Of course.”
American (chuckling and crackling his gum between his teeth): “We don’t. In the States we eat fruit for breakfast, put all the peels, seeds and leftovers into containers, recycle them into jam and sell it to Philippines”
Filipino: “Do you have sex in America?”
American: “Of course we do.”
Filipino: “And what do you do with the condoms after?”
American: “Throw them away of course.”
Filipino: “In the Philippines, we don’t. We put them in a container, recycle them, melt them down into chewing gum and sell them to America.”
El Camino Antique Event
Sat. Sept. 28, El Camino Community College, 16007 Crenshaw Blvd. Torrance. One of the West Coast’s Largest MC Antique Swaps And Shows, General Admission $7.
They say 8:00 am to 4:00 pm But its really over by about 2:00 p.m. Held on the top of the parking structure behind the campus-entrance on Redondo Beach Blvd. side for general public. You have to pay for parking($2) using a vending machines that are located here and there in lots. Some people miss them and I believe get ticketed by campus parking cops. For more info; to show or for space go to www.batorinternational.com or call Glenn Bator phone/fax(805) 646-9566.
One of my favorite not to be missed events. Largest MC Swap I know of. Show-number of bikes and quality varies year to year, last years was good. Not a fancy event like Del Mar but a great event for enthusist.
–CK
Cantina Study of Terrorists
Ever wonder why Middle Eastern Muslim terrorists are so quick to volunteer on a mission to commit suicide?
Let’s just take a closer look at their lifestyle…
No premarital sex.
No booze. None. Never.
Sand. F***ing sand everywhere!
No TV.
No cable TV.
No satellite TV.
No Spice channel.
No Playboy channel.
No ESPN.
No Hooters!!
No Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition.
Sand. F***ing sand everywhere!
No organized sports of any kind. That’s right-NO sports!!!
Women have to be completely covered and wear veils.
No thongs.
No Victoria’s Secret Stuff.
Very, very, very few cars.
Camels. Lots of camels. Stinking, filthy camels.
Sand. F***ing sand everywhere!
Ever try to fish at an oasis?
No bass boats.
No bass.
No fish.
Sandstorms.
More and more f***ing sand everywhere!
Rags for clothes and hats.
Camel and goat burgers cooked over burning camel dung chips.
Eating with your right hand only… because you wipe your butt with your left hand!
Toilet tissue unknown.
Sand. F***ing sand everywhere!
No golf! Just sand traps.
Constant wailing from next door…. no wait, that’s music!
Oh, and did I mention all that f***ing sand?
And when you die, it’s supposed to all get better
Polaris ?Ride of Your Life? Sweepstakes Features
First-Ever Polaris National Open House Set for Oct. 12-19
This October, somebody is going to win the ultimate treat, and there?s no trick involved. The first-ever Polaris National Open House will take place Oct. 12-19, giving outdoor lovers across America and most of Canada an opportunity to visit their local Polaris dealer to demo product, learn about Polaris? mind-boggling 2003 new product lineup, take advantage of a very special finance offer, and last, but definitely not least, register for a powersports lover?s dream prize package.
To celebrate the Polaris National Open House, consumers who visit participating Polaris dealers between Oct. 12 and 19 can enter the ?Ride of Your Life? sweepstakes to become eligible to win a grand-prize package that includes one vehicle from each of Polaris? four recreational product lines, plus other goodies. All together, the grand-prize package is worth a retail value of more than $30,000. Additionally, five first-prize winners will receive a certificate to participate in the Richard Petty Driving Experience.
The Grand Prize
The Polaris ?Ride of Your Life? sweepstakes grand-prize package includes a Polaris product for any weather and every terrain, and can help anyone find a way out of the stress of everyday life. The package includes:
?????? A 2002 Polaris 700 XC SP snowmobile
?????? A 2003 Classic Cruiser Victory motorcycle
?????? A 2002 Polaris Virage i watercraft
?????? A 2003 Polaris Magnum 330 4×4 all-terrain vehicle
?????? A Floe two-place trailer
?????? $1000 in Polaris apparel and accessories (excluding service and parts)
?With all the exciting new things happening at Polaris, we figured it was about time we got together with our dealers and celebrated with a good old-fashioned open house,? said Tom Tiller, president and CEO of Polaris. ?This gives folks who have been kicking around the idea of buying a new recreation or utility vehicle the chance to come in, see what?s new at Polaris, and while they?re there, register to win an amazing prize package.?
Driving home with a new Polaris or Victory will be easier than ever during the Polaris National Open House. A special no money down, no payments and no interest for 12 months financing offer is available with the purchase of $1,000 in Pure Polaris? apparel and accessories. Details on financing programs are available at all participating dealerships.
The Polaris ?Ride of Your Life? Sweepstakes is open to persons 18 years of age and older who are legal residents of the United States and Canada. Subject to official rules ? to see official rules, visit a participating Polaris dealer or log on to the Polaris Web site at www.polarisindustries.com. Consumers also may mail in an official entry or a hand-printed 3-inch x 5-inch piece of paper in an envelope with postage affixed to: Polaris Ride of Your Life Sweepstakes, P.O. Box 6685, Stacy, MN 55078-6685. One entry per person. Mail-in entries must be postmarked not later than midnight October 19, 2002 and be received no later than October 26, 2002.
That’s it:Let’s get the hell out of here, enjoy the sun and sand, and short shorts before the summer is gone. I recently loaded the Touring Chopper on a Gold Rush bike transport truck with a handfull of Indians and some other sleds for the haul across the country. I’m glad I wasn’t trying to sneak the red bastard out of the country, ’cause it was spotted by a Bikernet reader at a shop in the mid west. Big Chris captured the Redball on the road to nowhere.
Okay, next week the Bikernet Garage will be heating up with Road King and Amazing Shrunken FXR action, so goddamnit, relax today.
Ride forever, Bandit.
