Saturday, September 29, 2012

The '41 Hydra Bob Rides Again!

I missed it!

NOS clamp

Pulled back the brake pedal for easy install...

Tool of the trade...

Perfect tight fit...


Ready for a test ride...

It's been a few years since I had this 41 Hydra Bob on the road. I fucked somethin' up at the Motor Speedway races in Jersey, tried a few things to fix it, got frustrated and put it on the back burner...
Last week when Ken Nagahara and Brian stopped by to shoot some stuff for Roller, I threw a battery in the Hydra Bob and it fired right up. I rode it down the street but wasn't running quit right...better then before, but it was breaking up and sounded way off. 
This morning I figured while it had a battery in it I'd do some trouble shooting...Well I fired it up and started fucking with the plugs, then the carb, then the points. I did find the points were way under gap. I fixed that and fired it up again. Messing with the carb again... Then I noticed the front cylinder just sounded weird. I looked around and found that the header pipe had backed out of the squash pipe...Could that have been the whole problem all along? Did I go into a "death spiral" of trouble shooting? Did I mess with everything back at the track a few years ago and get it all upside down???? Probably... because I fixed the pipe, started from scratch with the carb and it's running like a champ so far!
BTW - I once pulled the motor outta my 47 FL, pulled the heads off, couldn't find anything wrong and realized I had run outta gas...I just don't live and learn...

Well time for an extended test ride...

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

WLDR Trans Re-Installed for Racin'



A knuckle valve collar is the perfect clutch spring compressor...

Gettin' there...

Buttoned up...

Ready to Race...

Yesterday morning I realized I needed to get the trans back into the WLDR if I was gonna race it on the beach in Jersey next month. I also had Ken Nagahara coming by to shoot some stuff for Roller (Japan) magazine and he asked about the WLDR when I saw him in Brooklyn. So I popped it all together and by 9AM she was ready to race. I dropped the motor sprocket down a tooth while I was at it. She picks the from wheel up when I dump the clutch. I may have to start in second...I'll have to fuck around in the yard a little to see how it reacts now....


Monday, September 24, 2012

Brooklyn Invitational Part 3 - Outside In...




















Tom Fugal


A display of great old El Forastero photos...







Fixin'







No clue...










Nice Stance...

Ken (of Strange Days) Shovel chopper...

Ken Nagahara doing his thing...
That's the Strange Days Raffle Bike

Gimme Back My Bullets...


A little easy listenin'...


El Forastero and the Street Chopper girl...




A true Patriot...









I think I still have some more pics on my cell phone...