Finally Progress

 Hell everyone,

I didn’t look before I started writing, but I think it’s been a couple of years since I posted anything. Sorry about that, just not much but life happening. Now, though, now some exciting news! After two years, I finally have the engine back for my motorcycle!!

Well, as soon as I can figure out how to add pictures, I’ll post some. I’m hoping I can have it running in about six weeks, not sir if that’s realistic. I need an oil tank built, some welding on the frame, then I’d like the frame painted so that all I would have left after a little running and driving is paint on the sheet metal. 

Wish me luck!

Talk to you sooner, next time!

TVI

P.S. I finally figured it out at the end!

Still progressing

 Hello everyone,

Still taking baby steps , but at least steps. Repaired some accessory light wiring for the bike rear fender and the hack fender, finished installing the switches on the left side handlebar and ran them to the fork terminal board. Checked to see what lights work and which ones need new bulbs.

Picked up the wheels and tires from HD and put the front one on to see how it fits in the fender I modified. I think it’s going to look just about right. I may have to make up some new mounting bracket but we’ll see.

Well, once again I can’t add pics, sometimes computers absolutely suck!!

I talked with the engine guy and he’s as slow as I am. He’s got the flywheels assembled and the cylinders are bored and honed, the heads are almost finished and he’s almost ready for assembly. I have to take the rocker covers up to him and also the timer ( distributor). Probably next week one day.

I’m getting closer to needing the engine back, I need it in the frame to mount the coil and a few more things to fit up around it.

I still need to order up the parts for the oil tank and probably more things I haven’t run across yet.

Well, I think that’s all for now, talk to you soon,

TVI

Making some progress

 Hello everyone,

I talked to “Shop Teacher Bob” a couple of days ago and he got started on a couple of items I needed machined up. In the picture you can see a cardboard mockup of a new oil tank, I’ll have to order the bungs for the fittings and the bolts and the sheet metal, and “Bob” said he could build it for me. Part of the price for putting on the electric start kit.

I repaired the wiring in the right side handlebar and ordered two new switches for the left side with wiring and got those fed through the bar and mounted.

I had bought a repop springer fender for $20, to see if it would fit on the hydraulic front end, it was too wide by an inch. I put a piece of one inch tape down the middle and used a cutoff wheel and took out the inch. I tacked it back together and stuck it on there and I’m actually pretty happy with how it fits. That’s just a tire sort of centered in the opening, I took my wheels and tires to an H.D. dealer and had them mounted and balanced. They’re ready to be picked up, which will be next week sometime. Then, I’ll have a roller!

Have to get a hold of the engine guy next week and see where he’s at. I have a lot of welding to do, and some wiring I can do before the engine comes back. 

The plan is to get it running and driving, then take it apart for painting and maybe some chroming or rechroming, and then( hopefully) final assembly.

Well, I think that’s all for now.

Talk to you soon,

TVI 

P.S. I figured out the picture thing again, what a pain in the ass!!

One step forward…

 Hello everyone,

I’ve made some progress on the bike in between other things that keep popping up. I’ve gotten three of the wheels trued, and started to mount the tires so the project will roll. That turned into a disaster! First I pulled the air valve out of the first tube and then punched a hole in the second one! After some deliberation, I discovered that I had the wrong inner tubes! Oh well, live and learn. I have the electric start mechanism prefit to the transmission. I’ve been trying to make a decision on what front fender to use. Still am not decided just yet. Tried to add photos but it’s not working!

Today, I am currently cleaning the shop up, and am still waiting to hear from the engine guy. After the tires are on, I’ll start running some of the wiring on the front and rear lights , then I’ll start to feel like I’m making some progress.

I guess that’s all for now.

Talk to you soon

TVI

Getting started

 Hello everyone,

Yep, finally putting in some time on the Harley.  And I’ve already run into a couple of snafu’s! Imagine that. I broke the little wrench I had to tighten the spokes up and so I’m waiting for a wrench to come in the mail. I’m leaving next week for the whole week to meet the rest of the family for Thanksgiving.

The next snafu is the oil tank. I have an old Harley police tank but because of the electric start kit it won’t fit without extreme modifications. I sort of knew that but I had hoped it wouldn’t have been so daunting. I’ve mapped out a possible alternative and need to discuss it with Shop Teacher Bob, to see if it’s realistic. 

Other than that it’s 1/2 steam ahead and see where that takes me, hopefully no icebergs!

Well, I think that’s all for now, talk to you soon, 

TVI

Still plugging along

 Hello everyone,

Still kicking, finally fulfilled a dream of mine on the Harley, I ordered the electric start kit and it should be here this week or early next week. I met the guy who makes them probably 10 or so years ago at Waseon, Ohio, at the AMCA swap meet and decided then it would go on this bike. I also picked up the windshield for the side car the frame is in good shape but the windshield itself and the apron need to be replaced. I’ve been looking for one of those for even longer and finally found one I could afford.

I’m still working on the house and such, cutting wood etc.. but am closing in on starting to work on the bike. I’m getting really excited! The engine guy contacted me and I have to run some money up to him for parts, hopefully in the next couple of weeks. 

My little job came to an end unfortunately. Things got slow and he has to let me go, I may look for another job just to keep buying parts, although I can do it without that distraction.

It looks like we may be selling the homestead come next summer, so the bike has to be running at least even if it’s not painted yet.

Well, I think that’s all for now.

Talk to you soon,

TVI

Back at it

 Hello everyone,

Made it back from Canada. Great trip, beautiful scenery, wonderful people! Traveled about 4,000 miles, and enjoyed all of it!

Returned to work on Monday, trying to save a little money for the electric start kit for the Harley. I had enough when I left on the trip but a windshield for the sidecar came up on eBay and I won it at an auction! A little more than I wanted to spend but I know they’re getting scarcer than hen’s teeth to find anymore, and it’s one more piece of the puzzle.

I didn’t get the house completely painted and even though my wife doesn’t think so, I’m fairly certain it won’t get finished until next spring. I’m going to start splitting wood today and cutting in the next few days.

I haven’t heard anything from the engine guy, but that’s ok I’m not in any kind of hurry for that just yet, actually, January would be about perfect.

Well, I think that’s all for now, talk to you soon,

TVI

Still plugging along

 Hello everyone,

Yep, still plugging along. Not done painting the house just yet but hope to be finished this weekend. Leaving Wednesday for the trip to Canada, so I’d really like to be finished up before we go.

We’ll be gone to Canada about three weeks, give or take. When we get back it’s going to be wood cutting time. After that, hopefully, motorcycle building time!

I did pickup an ignition switch for the bike and I got word from the builder that the starter kit is done. I won’t bother the engine builder probably until we get back. I still haven’t decided about paint or powder coating for the frame, but I do have to weld up a couple of things first, so I have a little time.

Well, I think that’s it for now, talk to you soon,

TVI

Still progressing

 Hello everyone,

Just another quick note. Still painting the house, finished up the garage/ shop part and started on the back of the body of the house. Still not sure how I’m going to do the second story yet but, I’ll cross that bridge when i get there.

Not much to report on the bike, got a few random parts, the actual starter to fit the kit, the coil for the ignition, the correct studs to mount the coil. I did ask a few friends to look for some material to mount the coil. The frame I have for the bike isn’t a panhead frame, so it doesn't have the blocks to mount the coil. I’ll show them when i make and weld them to the bike.

Well, i think that’s all for now.

Talk to you soon,

TVI

A quick update on the bike

 Hello everyone,

I’m staring to get really excited for the bike project, even though it’s still a few months before i can dive in. I ordered the electric start kit from R.S.E.S., out of Nebraska and i talked with the engine guy today and so far, no bad things. The starter kit is about 6 weeks out and the engine wont be back until December. Both things are perfect for my schedule so far, I figured I can get really started about the first of November.

I have to finish up the painting on the house, go on a 2-3 week excursion to Canada and then cut wood for the winter. Hoping all is finished up by November 1st!

Wish me luck,

TVI

House work and concerts

 Hello everyone,

Not too much going on here. Replacing boards and some siding on the old house before i attempt to paint it again.   I believe I may try this week to put on some paint. I bought a Graco airless sprayer to try to make the job a little easier. 

Not much progress on the bike yet, bought a couple more parts. Hoping to get enough money built up to buy the electric start setup this payday or next and put it in the pile of parts set aside for assembly this winter! 

Went over to Illinois and saw Tommy’s Rock Show, starring Tommy Clufetos, the drummer for Ozzy and a bunch of other hard rock bands. He punishes a set of drums! I ended up going by myself because the wife had to work early the next morning, met a few friends over there and it was a blast! The next might we went down to Indy and saw The Doobie Brothers and Steve Winwood. They were great as always! I think thats the last big concert of the year, unless i can talk the wife into Lynard Skynard and ZZ Top at Indy in September.

Well, I think that’s all for now.

Talk to you soon,

TVI

A lot going on, little bike progress

 Hello everyone,

I’ve been busy the last few weeks, just not on the bike. We had four concerts in three weeks, Santana, Chicago and Earth Wind and Fire, REO Speedwagon and Train, and finally Styx and Foreigner. All great show, by the way!

In between a short trip out east in Indiana to get some electrical adjustments made to the van’s 110 volt inverter side. Now i can plug the van in safely in a campground and it will charge the house batteries.

While i had to remove a seat we really didn’t use anymore we decided to add some more storage space in its place and make it a sort of seat.

Well, apparently they’ve changed something and now I can’t load photos!

Anyway, I finally did get all four wheels laced up and they do look pretty nice. I still have to get them all tightened and trued up, but at least they’re all laced up. Next step is to rebuild the wheel hubs and get them ready to mount on the front end of the bike, which I plan on using for a truing stand.

Next up is some wood replacement on the house. That starts this week.

Well, I think that’s all for now. 

Talk to you soon,

TVI

Again, slow progress

 Hello everyone,

I managed to get all the hubs sand blasted and painted up. This time i used Duplicilor, more of an automotive type paint. I’m hoping it’ll be a little more scratch resistance. I put on two coats of primer, three coats of color and two coats of clear. It doesn’t look like powder coating but ot turned out pretty good. I have to wait 7 days for a proper cure, so hopefully next week i can start trying to lace up the hubs.

Well, i think thats all for now.

Talk to you soon,

             TVI

Still alive and kicking

 Hello everyone

I’m sorry, I kind of dropped out of sight for a little bit after my health crisis last August. Just to let you know, I just had my last stress test and everything is good. I’m doing a little exercise regiment and a new diet and I’m hoping to go for a few more years! Woohoo!!

I am finally going to do what I actually started this blog to do, and that is finish the Harley! Yes, believe it or not.

So, I’m progressing slowly( as always!), but I’ve got some things accomplished and some more things in the works. Firstly, I managed to get all four of the rims powder coated. 

I’ve got four sets of stainless steel spokes and I’m going to lace up the wheels myself because I can’t find anyone in a one hundred mile radius that still does them!

Next, I’ve pulled out all the engine pieces and I found a guy that builds Harley engines and does all the machining, here pretty close. Just got off the phone with him and he says bring him up the parts and he’ll start checking everything over and do the machining .

I know it looks like a bunch of scrap, but when I’m done it absolutely won’t. 

I’m hoping to take all the parts up on Friday and drop them off, I told him I’m not in a huge hurry and that I’m just tying to line up things for this fall and winter. I’m hoping to be out riding by the first of March. I’ll keep you posted!

Well, I think that’s all for now. Talk to you soon,

TVI

Starting to move again

 Hello everyone,

Had a telephone meeting with the surgeon today and all is full steam ahead! Whew, glad that’s behind us.

Picked up the new stereo last weekend and got it all hooked up and functioning again, tunes and surround sound for movies, woohoo, living high on the hog!!

The last few days we went over to Shipshewana and saw Steve Miller, he was very good. I had forgotten how many songs he had that we knew. 

Even bought me a cool tshirt! We spent an extra day farting around by the big flea market over there and then came home today.

The old grind pretty much starts tomorrow, I have to mow the grass and start spraying the weeds and stuff. Next week I’ll go back to my little job and then start back on the gator project as well.

I did order a new high definition tv antennae. We switched over to Star Link for internet and got rid of Dish for our tv provider and I need something so we can watch football. The antenna should be here in the next few days, I’ll get my son to go up the ladder for me and that should be that, hopefully.

Well, I think that’s all for now, talk to you soon,

TVI

Made it through

 Hello everyone,

Well, I managed to get through stent surgery with flying colors! Had to spend one night in the hospital ( not so fun!). Came home yesterday with instructions to change my diet and start exercising. So, that pretty much starts today.

The surround sound stereo I had out in the shop gave up the ghost a couple of months ago. I had bought it a few years ago from one of my youngest sons buddies for I think $100. It worked pretty well for a shop. So this time I purchased or, am going to purchase, a much newer model by the same manufacturer. It’s a little more powerful, still a 7.1 surround , but has Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. I’m supposed to meet the guy who has it this morning at 9, in a town a few minutes north of me.

After that maybe I’ll start walking a little bit and start to get my sea legs back under me. I’ve never been an excercise guy so this will be a new kind of experience. I’ve always worked hard just not excercised. 

Hopefully that’ll speed up the recovery and get my life back to normal, or at least to some semblance of normal. The last few weeks have been pretty eye opening and a little scary. I had no idea I was that plugged up! Just a few weeks ago we were putting up that swimming pool!

Well, I think that’s all for now, talk to you soon,

TVI

Still kind of sucks

 Hello everyone,

I’m still not allowed to do much yet. I’m scheduled to have stents put in on Friday. Hopefully that will help my mental heath as well. I’m not really sure how far I can go doing a few things, so I’ve been very cautious, and I’m getting quite bored! Never thought I’d say that, but, there it is!!

Well, I think that’s all for now.

Talk to you soon,

TVI 

Well, this kind of sucks

 Hello everyone,

The last couple of weeks I had some medical tests ran and they’ve shown I have some blockage around my heart. Apparently quite a bit. I’m going to the doctor tomorrow to discuss the options and see where I go from there.

I’ve been told I have no damage in the heart muscle so I have a good chance of recovery whether it’s stents or bypass surgery. 

My wife and I are not real “medical “ field followers so we’re into uncharted territory. We’ve been natural practitioners for most of the 40 years we’ve been married. I guess we’ll see where this part of our journey leads us.

As far as my projects go, they’ve ground to a halt as I’m not supposed to do anything for the time being including going to concerts. That really sucks!

I’ll keep you as informed as I am as this thing progresses.

Talk to you soon,

TVI 

Getting started

 Hello everyone,

Finally pretty done with the pool project, so I started on the old Gator project. Got the old engine out and the new one just setting in the frame.

I also have the pump and cylinder set in the approximate locations.

Progress will be slow, but hopefully steady.

Well, I think that’s all for now.

Talk to you soon,

TVI

Getting there

 Hello everyone,

Got all the railing up on the deck by the pool, and got the solar lighting up as well. Did a clean up around the pool, got rid of most of the construction debris. Still trying to figure out the sidewalk and I still have a small amount of electrical work to finish. 

I have a doctor’s appointment today so I’ll have a little time this afternoon to do the electrical work. 

The music events this past weekend were both very good, but the wife and I discovered we’re getting a might old for back to back events! Had a little trouble making it through Saturday night!

I’ve been pondering the gator engine swap situation for awhile and I think I have a basic plan of attack when I get it ready. It won’t be straightforward but I don’t think it’ll be to frustrating either. 

I’m going out with my brother and “Shop Teacher Bob” for breakfast this week and I need to ask Bob about some sheet metal prices. Also this week we’re going to go see Foreigner down in Indy, plus spend a day at some friends house. Should be fun!

Well, I think that’s all for now.

Talk to you soon,

TVI