Fun with Friends

We really boogied last weekend. Plenty to be thankful for! 

(That's northern pike, bluegill, and whitetail)

Just a couple of good tunes

Looking forward to seeing you guys for the holidays.

Puttin' the MEOW back in this Cat!

I picked up this 1970 Arctic Cat Panther from my neighbor this past summer. He hauled a load of scrap out of a farm and this sled was part of it. It was too nice not to save, the kids thought it was awesome, and it reminded me of my first sled, a 1973 Lynx.

The boys like working on it, scratching away at the dirt and grease.

The track needed some attention so I've been riveting new cleats on where needed. This is quite a chore.

The engine was stuck from sitting so apart it came. Everything rebuilt. Tim from Wheels Unlimited in Marion,Mn did the crankshaft for me and it turned out perfect (no runout on one end and .0005" on the other)  **Stop in to visit those old boys and check out all their motorcycle racing trophies and stories!**

I cleaned up all the castings in the case, so the air/fuel is uninterrupted as it passes through.

I found oversized NOS Koehler pistons in northern Mn. I machined three little "oil retention grooves" where the piston is most prone to sticking. 

I sized the cylinders and did some mild portwork. Not looking to set any speed records but it want it to run nice! Maybe do some vintage races/ radar runs with it.

I've got a new Mikuni VM34 round slide on the way for it, and once I've got the thing running and sorted out I would like to build a tuned pipe for it. So Stay Tuned!

On the Ice

Catching fish before Thanksgiving!

It has been colder than normal, but it does have some perks!

Living Lost

I took some photos of Josh Kurpius's exhibit at the Harley Museum last winter. I didn't post them right away because I didn't want to ruin it for anyone that was going to see it yet. I have always admired Josh's work and it amazes me how he still remains humble and always has time to chat.  

There has been more than one time I've been at work, fixing bikes on a gorgeous day, and I follow Josh's journey across the country almost as if I were along for the ride, just from his pictures.

Ram Air?

Or Bullshit? I wanted to try it out on my sportster. So I hacked up a Heavy Breather I had laying around and made up a radius. Welded it together and hand finished it. 

So did it work? I put it on the dyno before we went to the track and it was down about 7-8% through the powerband. I don't know if it was weather related, if the motor was stronger when it was fresh, or because I had the slick mounted.

The bike ran nearly identical ET and MPH as it did a month or two earlier, actually a touch faster at 11.29.

So I don't think it hurt, but didn't see a significant gain there. More testing next season....

(Actual ram air probably doesn't occur until higher MPH)

Deer Opener 2014

We're eatin good now!

American Freedom Machine

Let's keep it that way, Go Vote!

Beautiful Fall Rides

They are fading fast, cold air is moving in. Deer hunting starts Saturday!