Kind of a slow week

 Hello everyone,

I fought a summer cold for about 10 days, and finally got over it in the last couple of days. 

So, that being said, I didn’t get a lot accomplished this past week. I did get the pickup truck fixed and back running again. That took awhile but it’s done.

I also got a few parts ordered for the bike. The linkage for the sidecar brake to the bike is here, I need to make the holes slightly bigger and I got the bike brake return spring and it’s installed. I’ve got some parts ordered to mount the headlight and, when they come in I discovered that I have a piece of the front fork assembly on in reverse. So, when I get those parts in I have to take the front end apart anyway to install the slider covers. Then, when I reassemble it all the pieces should be on there and not have to come off, plus I can get the front brake cable installed and make sure it’s long enough. I stuck some 4” risers on the bike and it feels more comfortable at that handlebar height.

I’ve been doing the mowing/ weed whacking thing. That is an almost full time job here!!

We’ll, I think that’s all for now.

Talk to you soon,

TVI

Well, I got a little excited

 Hello everyone,

So, for the first time in a very long time I have a summer cold. Seems weird but, still have it. 

At the moment I still don’t have the parts for the pickup and I was going to sand blast the side car frame before I put it on the bike. We’ll, I couldn’t wait to do it so….

I stuck it on there so I could get a feel of what it is I’m actually building. I’ve only driven one sidecar in my life and that was around the block many years ago.

I like it so far. That said, I had sandblasted and painted most of the parts to mount the body on and so…

Now the body isn’t bolted down yet, I think I mounted the rear holder upside down. I need to swap it around and see if it levels the hack out some. I still have to put on the new tire, it’s shorter by about an 1 1/2”. I just have it hooked on there, no settings or anything, but I’m really starting to get a feel for what I’m creating here and I really like it!

I’m thinking that, I’m a little ahead of schedule, but there is still a mountain of things to do.

Today I’m house sitting at my oldest son’s house. He had a new pool installed and I’m here to let the electrician in to finish up the install for the pump.

Hopefully in the next few days I can do a few things on the bike. The parts for the truck should be here on Wednesday or Thursday. I need it put back together because I’m still trying to sell it.

We’ll, I think that’s all for now.

Talk to you soon, 

TVI

Baby steps

 Hello everyone,

After getting the roller together, I took the solenoid valve out of the pickup. It’s a little different setup than what I saw, so the parts are a little more expensive than I had hoped, but, oh well, has to be fixed.

The top pic is the whole valve body and the bottom pic is the problem. The whole solenoid package has to be changed because the selector switch is part of that assembly. Plus, the cam plate looks kind of suspect.

Besides that I’ve been hanging a few parts on the Harley and blasting and painting some of the pieces for the side car frame. The whole frame needs to be sandblasted and I need to have the pickup closed back up before I do that. Parts should be here next week and hopefully blast the frame after that.

The next pic shows the difference between the 3 1/2 gallon tanks and the 5 gallon tanks. I think the bigger tanks fit this particular bike better. If I can get the smaller ones widened how I want them, the only thing it will change is the length of the fuel line between the tanks.

Well, I think that’s all for now.

Talk to you soon,

TVI

ROLLER! Two wheeled at least!

 Hello everyone, 

Yep, did it! First time this iteration of this bike has been assembled this far in 40 plus years.

I don’t think I’m going to use this particular front fender, and this view also shows the 3 1/2 gallon tank. I’m pretty sure I’m going to have those tanks widened. When you sit on the bike the bigger tank feels better.

Next up will be cleaning and attaching the sidecar fray.

But first, my pickup truck needs attention. Before we went to see my youngest son, I went out to start it and it wouldn’t crank. Checked out things and discovered it doesn’t know it’s in park. Apparently the selector switch in the transmission is a common problem with these trucks. So today, I have to drop the oil and the pan and see if I can change the switch with or without dropping the valve body. I’ll get it apart today and then order the parts.

Getting the bike this far has got me really excited, so hopefully I can keep pushing on. My plan is to have the bike a three wheeled roller by Labor Day. After that it’ll be wood cutting time. Not working should make it easier, I’ll be able to do that task during the week and not just on weekends as in previous years. Once the wood is done I should be able to start finishing up all the fitting up of all the parts and then start on the engine.

Well, I think that’s all for now.

Talk to you soon, 

TVI

Finished the week up on high note!

 Hello everyone, 

Had two concerts to attend on Friday and Saturday nights. First we were in Indy for Chicago, then spent the night in the van and got up and drove to Michigan to see The Beach Boys! Both shows were really good, had a blast!

Got my new vacuum hose and got it hooked up, and got a few more things blasted and painted.

I got some of the parts for the forks, but still waiting for the fork seal snap rings. They should be here by mid week. I’ve got a lot of running to do this week, so I’m not sure how far I’ll get. 

We’re supposed to go see my youngest son this coming weekend in Tennessee, really looking forward to that! I have an eye doctor appointment and my wife has a doctor’s appointment this week too. 

So, I’ll do what I can in between and hopefully get some things done to the bike.

We’ll, I think that’s all for now. Oh, by the way, my cousin’s son contacted me this past week about some Panhead parts he picked up at a swap meet. I’m thinking I might be interested in the d rings for the valve covers. I’ll give him a call this week about those too.

Talk to you soon, 

TVI

A lot of little things

 Hello everyone,

I managed to get a lot of little things accomplished this week. Sand blasted some parts for the Harley and painted them. Assembled a few pieces to see how they fit and make sure there’s no compromises.

Some bike parts and some sidecar parts. Changed over a couple of the chrome pieces I picked up and kind of hung them on to see if there going to fit.

I hung the front tubes on and two different gas tank halves to see which looks better the larger ones or the smaller ones. I’ve asked several people’s opinion and it’s pretty much split down the middle. When I get the front end on and down on the floor, I’ll get a better feel for comfort and look.

I’m leaning toward the larger one’s but, I’d have to have the smaller ones widened to make it work, there’s a lot of things on the smaller tanks I need for the shifter etc.. 

All the parts for the front end I should have by Monday, and then assemble the fork and fill it with oil, put the new front tire on the rim and voila, a two wheeled roller!!

We’ve got two concerts this week so, I’m about done working on the bike for the week.

We’ll, I thinks that’s all for now.

Talk to you soon,

TVI

Wauseon was good to me

 Hello everyone,

Well I managed to get the blast cabinet pretty well done for now. I just ordered a new 2 1/2” vacuum hose to hook up the new vacuum permanently, so I don’t have to switch hoses all the time. I haven’t ran the new air line to it yet but for now, it works much better than it did.

The light I put in works much better than the old little fluorescent light that was in it and it draws sand much better than before. When I hook up the new dedicated air supply I’ll be able to regulate the air pressure but with better air flow.

My middle son and I went over to Wauseon, Ohio to the swap meet and I found the plug for the fork tube damper I was missing. I only found 1 in the whole place!! I just ordered the snap rings for it so I’m hoping in the next couple of weeks to get the front end on and mount up the new tire.

While I was there I also picked up some chrome things that I’ve been wanting. I had purchased a set of bumpers for the bike and needed another rear one for the sidecar fender, I also found a seat grab rail that matched the bumpers, and I found a cool chrome license plate bracket with some extra lights on it, and I found some really cool lights to put on the bracket!

So, I’m moving along smoothly, at least. 

Hey, Shop Teacher Bob, if you’re looking at this, I found something there I thought you would definitely appreciate!!

An all hand built aluminum copy of the tub like my sidecar! It looked pretty cool!!

Well I think that’s all for now.

Talk to you soon,

TVI