Snippets

[ChinCactus]

When it comes to bike repairs, I have found I can screw it up for a lot less $$$ than many professionals can! I have paid people lots of money for mediocre jobs in the past.

[Crusty]

Good Things




My brother gave me a street sign (sorta - it’s 5” tall and 30” wide) for Christmas that says Steel Horse Dr. I think I’ll put it on the garage door to replace the 3 Stooges sign that’s been there and has faded to almost blankness. It’s a rectangular sign (like a parking sign) that says, “Knucklehead Garage - We’re not happy ’till you’re not happy”. It’s cold out, but It would give me something to do and I’ll feel like I accomplished something today; besides cleaning the oven. Cleaning the oven doesn’t count; all I had to do was hit the Clean button and select 3 hours. The stove did all the rest. Switching the signs will be a good thing for me.


I hit the plastic piece for the Indicator lights with red, green & blue Sharpies. It worked, so now that’s one thing less that I have to worry about. That’s a good thing.


I got a call from Greg on Friday afternoon. He got the broken bolt out of the footpeg mount. It gave him a tough time and it took a couple of hours, but he prevailed. He was going to put it in the mail yesterday. Unless it takes a side trip through Grand Rapids, Michigan like it did on its way to Greg, I should have it on Tuesday, or maybe Wednesday. That’s another good thing.


And I got a text from Matthew. He’ll be delivering the lift this coming Saturday! That will be not just a good thing, but a Really Good Thing. Once I have it set up, I’ll be able to start pulling the engine on the Express.


Now; I have to tell the story of the lift. Mike in Dahlonega called me up after the engine in the express died. He told me that his good friend Joe had a lift he wanted to get rid of because he didn’t have room for it. Joe reads my Snippets and he decided to give the lift to me. Mike took it upon himself to organize getting the lift from Florida to Cheviot. I’m unsure of the details, but he managed to get it to Atlanta where Matthew works. Matthew makes runs on a semi-regular basis to Chicago in a pretty big van and there was room in the van for the lift. Cincinnati is on the way from Atlanta to Chicago, so he’s going to bring it to me. It’s another Badweb Relay for my benefit! I really am amazed and I feel humbled.


I get so much help from other people, that I have trouble comprehending why. R.D. told me that to deny that help is to deprive the people involved the Blessing they get by helping me. I know that I enjoy helping others so that makes sense, but it really is hard for me to accept help. That’s something I’m working on.


I really do appreciate all the help I’ve gotten. The Bench Builders from the XL forum (Brian, Paul & Greg), Joe, who sent me mid footpegs and stock mufflers for the Cussed’em (as well as fabricating a front fender bracket and my Saddlebag mounts and the windshield brackets), Roy, who sent me Speedometer parts & offered more and now, Joe, Mike and Matthew and anybody else who was involved with the Lift Relay. That isn’t even a partial list of the folks who’ve helped me. Greg, R.D., David, Dondi, Ernie, Kathryn, Guido, Guy and Sandra (& Jimmy!) at the shop and that’s just in the past couple of months.The list gets really long if I go back even more.


I’m a very lucky guy to have people like this in my life. I hope they all feel as blessed as I do!

[Crusty]

Matthew:



The Lift in the basement with the Express on it:









I'll write more tomorrow.

[ChinCactus]

Looks like a well equipped shop now! Best thing I ever got was that lift to get the bike up off the ground!

[Tomcatt]

Originally Posted by Crusty

You haven't pulled the top end yet to actually see what happened?

[Crusty]

Yes I did. I put it back in place but not torqued so that parts wouldn't get lost and dirt wouldn't enter places I don't want dirt.

[sportsterpaul]

So happy for you John, and you will really enjoy the lift!
I decided to pull Black Beauty off the lift here, had to go to plan “B” but that’s another story for another time. Was a balancing act keeping the bike upright while pulling the ratchet straps then backing her down. Was huffing and puffing like an old man but succeeded. (When I stop and look at that last sentence it might be prophetic?) Rested then propped the breezewaybdoors open, backed her outside,(somabeetch it’s cold out there)! I plugged in the tender and put a cover over her. Roadwork tomorrow, time for football just now.

[ChinCactus]

My lift is several years old and came with a different wheel clamp. It has uprights that clamp the wheel and will hold the bike upright while you install straps. It is apparently not offered anymore.

I'd recommend upgrading the wheel chock to something like this.

https://www.harborfreight.com/1800-l...ock-61670.html

It would allow one person to load the bike safer. I have one on my trailer and it will hold my Road King upright while I dismount.

[ChinCactus]

https://ibb.co/9gsqfWZ

This is what came on mine. It also has the airmotor for lifting the table.

[rokytnji]

I'd recommend upgrading the wheel chock to something like this.

https://www.harborfreight.com/1800-l...ock-61670.html

I;d be tempted to weld a square post under the frame to fit the hitch under my truck.
Tow the bike with it.

My latest lift is door wide enough to put the kick stand down when I roll it on there by myself. I keep it outside since not a money or labor into building it < out of scraps >.

Presently. I think my air compressor needs new bearings/compressor. Getting real noisy lately.