Ola Amigos

As the XS engine was in good hand with Travis and I was still torn between the choice of color, I turned my mind to the FLH. I brought it home

and tried to elaborate a plan on how and where to start. So I started by the handle bar to see if I could bring some shine out of the rust.

it turned out ok, so it got me excited and pumped some energy in my elbow. Then I move to the headlight, and it also worked

tried to grind the exaust, there it will be more difficult.

and finally the paint.

So after one or so hour, it looks like I will be able to bring most of the part back to life. Now I needed to start dismantling the bike and see if the rust had not caused to much damage.

So there will be some massive elbow grease required. Let the fun begin

Ola Companeros

So taking a break from the XS which is gently taken care of by Travis, I took a ride to the Giddy up show,

and had a blast. I had been waiting for a while to attend a show of this quality, so the day before the show, I took my chopper out to ensure everything was in order, and guess f.. what???? I died on me at the gaz station. So I tried to kick start it, and pull my calf muscle apart. So I sat down on the side of the gas station waiting for the roadside assistance to jump start it.

Anyway, I headed towards New Braunfeld and had a blast.

I had not planed to stay the night but next year, I will do the whole week-end. There was some really kool people & bikes. And the following week, another great biking week-end with the Moto GP and the Hanbuild show. On my way to Austin, I found a very nice vintage car showroom which I might end up going back if I ever earn a good bonus at work

And had to make a stop in the town where ZZTop wrote in my opinion their best song

So I got myself some ticket

stopped at Eddy Knievel booth to admire his 750

remembering not to f... with Texas

There was also a nice little built at the Ducati stand

And enjoy the qualification of the Moto GP

And made my way to the Handbuilt show where I had a blast.

Ola Amigos

Yeah, yeah, it's been a while and guess what I have been extremely occupied and lazy. So, picking up on where we left off, I got my hands on a solenoid

and try to get the bike started with a proper electric start.

but as you can expected it, nothing really worked. It sounded like the ignition was way off. This is where I know it was time for me to call for back up. So I call Travis who came to my house to pick up the engine to check it out. First diagnosis was not really good, the compression was only at 90psi on both cylinder cold, when it should be at 110-125psi. This will require the cylinder to be bore. At the same time, one of the spark plug was quite loose and will need an helicoil. So after a first look at the engine, that was the verdict. Once the engine gets open, few more surprises might be coming my way. Well, will see. The good news is that when the engine is fixed, I only need to put everything back together, paint the tank and fenders and the project is ready.

So time to think about another project. I had 2 in mind: do another beamer or restaure an old FLH. I was still nostalgic of having sold my old one to buy my wife a sporster. Ideally, I would have loved a 1970 (year of my birth), but I found a very nice collector from 1971. It's a Police special, last model with hand change shift. The bike is 95% stock. He had been sitting in a garage for more than 25 years. The guy that owned got sick and kept it. Realising he will not ride again, he put it up for sale.

Although the engine seem damage, it had been rebuilt by the Police Mechanical dept upon selling the bike 25 years ago and has only 6000 miles on it. After 25 years sitting and some work on the carburator that was stuck, the bike started. The electric is more or less ok, and the charging system still work. Amazing. I will try to pick it up over the week-end. And here it goes again for another project and some serious elbow grease....

Ola companeros

it's with mix emotion that I write this post. I wish I could tell you that I have managed to finish and start the engine but that ain't the case. So where were we? Last time I wrote I have just finish to mount the jug back. So following that excercise, I install the brand new stator and rotor that I got fm Mike XS.

I used a straw to find the TDC and a screw driver to do the marking on the rotor and the engine. Then I moved on to the ignition.

I was damn proud with myself at that point. Anyway, when this was done, I adjusted the cam chain tensioner and move on to do the valve clearance. 0.06 for the intake, .15 for the exhaust as indicated on the manual.

still f.. good. Than move on to installing the ignition kit

by that time, I am really fucking excited, everything is going as planned.

looks good, just few more thing before I can start the bloodie thing. Found myself a nice battery, got myself some engine oil and gasoline. I am lining up everything, am telling everyone not to disturb me for the next hours, cleaning the sweat and dirt from my forehead and hands, and if I was still smoking I would have burn a malboro or two. Anyway, picture the scene, everything so far as gone to plan. If the engine start, I am only left with painting the tanks and fender and mounting everything back together. So, I start pouring 2 quart of 10w40 engine oil, and first shit happen. The oil is leacking like there is no tomorrow. so back to the basic, putting the engine on the side and redoing the gasket, but this time I put some serious gasket sealant to avoid the problem so after 2 hrs of shit, I am finally ready to kick start the engine.

And guess fucking what? I soon as I step on the kick the engine stand bounces on the side and the engine take a dive on the side breaking the sparkplug. At this point of time. I said fuck it

I will get myself a electric starter and mount it on the engine so I can start/check the engine without the use of force. I have left the engine in the garage now until I receive my solenoid.

see you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!