Nearly Done

5 years and countless hours on the mill, lathe, late nights in the shed fabricating. Its all worth it. Riding it is only half the fun. I can set and look at it for hours. Each and every part assembled by me. I can write a small book on just the back ground of the parts that make up this bike. My 57 pan was a sweet bike, but not 1/2 the bike this one is. Its made to ride. Made to maintain and easy to repair. This is the end of the parts, and bike building. Once this Panhead is up and running, the Shovelhead is up for sale and then the house gets a new roof and the worst of the windows replaced.I HATE working on the house. I suck at it.

Getting Closer

Peice by peice. Its starting to take shape. Im now doing the final assembly.

Annie Russell, the Farmall A, 1940

For as long as I can remember, Dad has always talked about getting an old Farmall to tinker with. So we have been shopping around for the right project at the right time at the right stage for the right price. Well, he found one. Its a 1940, Farmall A series, 1940 model, the first year for the A series. Seems our friends Uncle has several vintage tractors for sale, and once Dad took a look at this little A, he knew it was the one. They have named it Annie Russell, and it sure has taken on a personality. I will post recent pics later. These are from a week after he had it. It has come a long way and is taking shape nicely. It is an older restoration, but it not show quality by any means, but its getting closer every week. Dad really needed this project. His health has improved as he spend more time wrenching and tinkering now rather than scopin' Westerns on the tube! So far, he has pulled the radiator for flushing and repairs to fractured welds, replaced all hoses, replaced the oilpan gasket, installed the original headlights, installed a tail light, replaced the front tires with period correct rubber, repaired and painted the rims, installed mirror and slow vehicle sign, installed a rain cap on the exhaust, replaces all the front wheel bolts. He is looking forward to going on several tractor rides as well as parades and shows. We plan on using it as a second tractor to pull the hay rake next year when we get the baler and to pull the claw rope to put the bales in the barn.

Shake Down Run

Went to the Mason City Swap meet yesterday. Really couldnt afford it, but I was able to scrape together some green to make it worth while. I found a nice clean refurbished chrome 12 volt generator for the 49 Pan Ive been peicing together for the last several years. I also scored a used (very used, but still serviceable) belt drive primary for the Pan. I was damn licky to find anything for the panhead there. All evo or newer shit. So I was shickled titless to find the primary set up with a tapered motor pulley. They went to the splined shaft in something like 1951 0r 1953. I also picked up a nice billet clutch pressure plate that will look sweet on the pan. I was thinking it would look nice with the outer spring plate I got from Noot Sr. back in the early 90's. But I got home, dug it out and its for a five fingered clutch hub. So thats OK, Ill just buy a 5 fingered hub the next time I buy new. Oh, and I found, get this, ONE..only One, Anderson foot peg. I looked through all them damn tubs of parts, sweatin' my ass off to find the other one to have a set, but I couldnt find it. So I bought the one, just out of spite! Im sure Ill find another some day, and if I find a set, Ill have a spare. Then. just when I thought it was a day to remember, I lost my Fricken check book. Bummer.
It was a nice day to ride today. A bit windy, but Ive enjoyed riding in alot worse. Keith wanted to do a shakedown run this weekend so we met in Ionia at noon and headed out from there to Alta Vista, then to Chucktown, then back to Ionia. 50-60 miles I 'spose. Glory ran great. We kept to the back roads as he had to vary his speed intermittantly during the topend break-in. Probably will do this for the 1st 200 miles or so. I rode behind and didnt see any smoke, couldnt smell and fuel. It did pop acouple times at the Deerfeild corner, but thats to be expected as we have it set rich during this first run to help keep things a bit cooler, and maybe help disipate some of the heat generated by new rings friction. It sure sounded happy! In a few years, we will do Kernal Beuford (my bike). My bike ran great, as usual. This is the first time I ever tried taking the camera and shooting pics on the run. I really had fun. I can see where its addictive. Brett Brandt and Nate Ullrick are my hereos when it comes to biker photagraphy. Brett took pics of me on my 57 Panhead back in 94 or so. He is a great guy. The next run, Irish Brian will have his 49 Pan and that will be sweet to get some runnin' pics of him on that. Classic. I look forward to sending pics into the magazines and see if I can get published. I avaerage 8,000 miles a year on the bike and I see and meet alot of folks in NE Iowa, SE Minn. and SW Wisc. who are unique bikers who all have interesting stories about why they ride, what they ride, and where they are going.

Im Back!

Hey everyone,
Just a note to say Im back. We had a major crash on the PC, and its honestly been like going through a house fire. We lost everything. Family pics, all pass words, everything.....Also had lots of family illness and my brother in-laws passing away friday night. So not much time lately to work on recovery.
Ill resume posts this week, so check back.
Kelly

Freshen up Ol' Glory

She was puffin' a bit so we freshend up the top end. Hone and rings, valve job and new guide seals. Now she;s ready to rock again!

Dads Gift from Mom

Mikey Amling is a good friend of the family and has been so for over 30 years. He crossed over the end of October '09. Passed in his sleep at 54. He was a professional Blacksmith and was literally world reknown for his accurate and period correct fire strikers.
Mom was able to get ahold of one of his guns (Thankyou Brother Al!) and give it to Dad for Christmas. It is an Ithica .22. It was always above the kitchen door at Mikeys house for 30+ years.

Another Great Christmas

Well, another great Christmas has come and gone. Funds were very tight this year, but it always seems to workout somehow. Kids got their new cell phones and some extra goodies, so they were happy. Wife got her new electric skillet, an original 1974 Mattel Knit Magic in like-new condition, like the one she got as a child, but didnt get to use because her brothers broke it!Shes going to try it out, so I 'spose Ill have some goofy hats to wear...
My most prized gift, was from my parents. They had my name added to the Veterans Memorial in Lawler, Iowa. No words express the feelings....
Dad got me a HI-Point JHP .45 ACP pistol. I love it. He also gave a new Hi-Point 9mm. to my nephew. He gave my brother-in-law a .22 rife. James has really taken an interest in target shooting in the last several years. I was able to find a couple Hopalong Cassidy Vids for Dad that he never seen as well as a new holster for his new Hi-Point 9mm.. Got Mom a replica 1880's hemming clamp. Sis and brother-in-law got a new wind-chime, thiers was wore out.
List goes on and on.

Steam Ship Arabia, Kansas City Mo.

I first visited the Steam Ship Arabia museum back in the early 90's. This summer I revisited it with Dad and my youngest, Emma Jean. Wow, they had uncovered many new things.
The steamship sank in 1859, having hit a snag, (big ass submerged tree)in the Missouri river. It was quickly covered by silt and mud, prfectly preserving most all the goods that were being carried up river to the wilderness. When they uncovered it in 1988 they found a case of cognac and upon opening it, found it to be in perfect condition. Everything you can think of they had. Even some things that you wouldnt think they had, like rubber over shoes. Its a full time job just restoring the items. I highly recomend visiting if you have an iterest in history, and ever get to KC and have a few hours to spend. Well worth it.

Ruger Bisley 45 Colt

In 1991, three weeks before I returned from Ft. Leonard Wood Missouri, having been recalled to active duty by the US Army to serve in Operation Desert Storm, I recveived a telephone call from my Mom. She said she had perchased a little something for me as a welcome home gift.
Upon my return, she gave me a box of considrable heft. After tearing the paper away, I soon seen the black and yellow box, holding a Sturm Ruger, New Model Blackhawk Bisley, 45 long Colt.
The History of the Bisley model revolver dates back to 1894, and the world champion pistol competition in Bisley England. The original Bisley Revolver was produced by Colt with the shooting match in mind. If you look at the profile of the bisley, the first thing that catches your eye will the sharp angle at which the handle drops. This was to be an ergonomical feature that would lend to better target aquisition and comfort allowing less wrist fatigue. Also, when holding the revolver, you will immediatly notice the dropped angle of the hammer spur. It is considerably easier to reach with the thumb of the shooting hand than it is the Colt Single Action Army (SAA). This allows the shooter to actuate the hammer for the next shot with one hand while minimizing revolver movement from the target.
Before I was recalled to active duty, I was a wrangler and hunting guide in Wyoming. One afternon,a guest at the outfit I was employed at, asked if there was somewhere he could shoot his new pistol. I said sure, lets drive out to the dump and set up some cans. It seems he was from New York and the laws regarding purchasing handguns, were too strict to mess with, so he bought on in Wyoming on his vacation. He allowed me to shoot a few rounds with his .357 Ruger Bisley. Ive never been a very good hand with revolvers, but I was amazed at how well I could hit the mark with this revolver.
I never did tell Mom about that incident, and it was entirly coincidence that she picked the Bisley as my gift.
I still have the original walnut grips, but swapped them out for the faux ivory. As you may notice, the grips look scratched. When I bought the grips, there was an image of a naked chick wrapped in a confederate flag. I liked it, but I didnt feel comfortable displaying it out in the open. So I scraped it and need to clean it up better.
So, as the Conservative saying goes...."When they Pry It From My Cold Dead Fingers"....

Cowboy Bedroll Pistol

Ive had this Iver Johnson S&W 38 Hammerless for nearly 20 years. Its suprisingly accurate at 20yrds and will place the 146gr pills in a nice group in a 8" circle at 750fps..
Mine is, I beleive, a third variation of the original 1894 design. It came out in 1909 and was proofed for nitro loads. It has considerable gap from cylinder to barrel and does give off a bit of powder gas and will neatly blacken the index finger when touching off a round.
The ornately figured hard rubber grip engraved with the characteristic Owl Head confirmes it an Iver Johnson Hammerless revolver of the third type. The hinged barrel lockes solidly into the frame and the cylinder displayes minimal side play and no end-shake.
Its been everywhere with me and taken on personality of its own, and I would not ever want to be without it.
The leather holster and ammo pocket are a fairly matched set of vintage Yonkers Leather from approx 1950. The holster is a bit too short, but still works nice. It was that of now deceased Chickasaw County Deputy Clifford Hoffman. A good man and freind of the family. The holster, when worn on the belt, sets high up on the waistline and is suprisingly quick to clear.

Silent Bob Workin' The Latch

Bob's tired of the winter, ready to come in and sleep on heat vent...

Horses and cats

Typically horses for some reason like barn cats. Silent Bob and Fat Louie spend lots of time snoozing while Sunny grazes. Its warm up there, and Sunny seems proud to have trained his cats so well!

Atomic Customs...Perfection Every Time

Trent Schara is nothing short of an artist. I havent met him yet, but from all Ive read, he is just a great guy, who's blessd with vision. The Mexi-pan is one of my favorites. Its the first bike of his I saw. Some gossip says it was sold, dismantled and redone.