slowly, step by step, he had the mountain top in sight

hmm, had to use old style gaskets that fit better than the new type, and the rear port had been welded so had to be relieved with a file that slipped and scratched the frame - grrrrr 

parp parp, replaced with a horn that works

belt and clutch on... gorgeous init

now what pratt put that silly running light there... - the one that wouldn't work and took a couple of hours to diagnose

and finally my new phone has... not... arrived...

I'm going out to get some oil.

I. Don't. Believe. It...

 the period feature

works at fucking last

Why? Prayers to the chopper gods?

Paul made a surprise visit just as I'm about to take the caliper apart and put together my old one and try that.

We gave it just one more try and back filled it, and bingo, a little pressure, it seems you need the master cylinder cover on. 

However it wouldn't back fill before till I'd replaced the master cylinder internals and thats why I thought it had a non return valve.

So loads of pumping later and its acceptable.

Of course the brake light don't work -Haha

Somewhere over the rainbow

somebody may be saved from this...

Reworked battery cover and incorporating neat little horn 

- that doesn't work

Running light tales

Swapped bulbs -no, took my connections apart -no, ran bypass wires and it still wouldn't light fucking up. So had a look at the little connector under the bulb and it was black, the other light had a shiny brass one, so got the sandpaper out and bling bloody bling.

Hi-Low head lights

Instead of re-soldering the switch wires (duh) I had the original idea of swapping the wires in the light shells!

and finally vital signs!

don't look right though, took it apart again to check the rotor and checked timing marks and re-checked top dead centre, front piston on compression

couldn't get the light to come on till I moved the plate backwards. 

Oh and finally my new phone from ebay arrived - eventually

...except it ain't what I ordered!

GRRRRRRR

the lights are on but is anybody home? ...

Christine wakes from her slumber

lo beam is highbeam

highbeam is lowbeam

her new horn makes a clicking noise

one running light works

and no brake light (maybe cos there is no fluid)

Roland D Lebay (haha)

no reserve

make hipsters swoon

and girls week at the knees

for sale here:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320748926959

or ring benny

they got the look...

stripped tail shaker

 

rising sun swinger

 from bb and photo69 blogs

the time has come the walrus said...

Wiring diagram by Rowan

Well dear readers its come to this, I'm fed up with it, and no doubt you're fed up with it. I've joined the ranks of the sneered upon - those that blog and don't ride.
Just as tired as you are of posting yet another reason as to why the fucking bike isn't on the road.
This week replaced the 'new' master cylinder internals with a rebuild kit and the caliper with a new piston and seal - and. it. still. won't. fucking. work! Must have two weeks of my time plus every part known to man and I am now a fucking expert on Dot 5.1 versus Dot 5, brake bleeding kits and non return valves.
The Battery arrived today, smaller than originally required as there is now no electric start, a good job too as it doesn't obscure the bloody lettering on the mudguard because that was placed lower than I specified!
The wirings almost done but that'll be a problem too, I can honestly say that every job has been redone at least three times and usually due to my own ineptitude.
AND I'VE PUT MY PHONE IN THE WASHING MACHINE A-FUCKING-GAIN

true love...

amen to that brother

ain't that the truth

hats off to the lowbros...

todd and kyle

bust some (and their own) records at bonneville

its not what you do, its how you do
bloody good show chaps
pic from lowbrow

heavy heavy monster sound

Low down dirty rat

Soap box racers

Cometh the moment cometh the man 

Chemistry

Goodtimes 

You looking at me?

It certainly was

belt dilemmas in paradise...

 worried that it ran too close to my rotor...

thats OK says Dan @BDL, and I have discovered that my new rotor is one of these heavy duty alternatives and +7MM thicker than standard!

 and why is the pulley 1 3/4" wide (its a 1 1/2 belt)

thats standard says Dan @BDL for this kit (for a closed drive)

- at the hayride, I couldn't find anything similar

 one outer mounting hole moulding ground off as it was fucking close

anyway its going to be buttoned up

BDL say to use red loctite on the splines/shafts and nuts

(see their crappy dvd) 

there's now no room for the tab lock washer on the clutch

Any advice on this anyone?

-not get on with it fucker- haha

sometimes less is more...

 similar but not...

a delicate touch is required...

they rock my boat

from the bb blog

from the edge of the outback...

 Grant sent these pics of his 1970 FLH 

in Northern Victoria, Australia

'a long bloody way from anywhere'

Grant went back to a shovel after graduating to Evos in the late 1980s, then Twin Cams and back again... 

'The newer Harleys just lost their soul... and I have fond memories of my shovel days from 1981 (Wideglide) onwards... so I reverted... and am loving it.'

'I was going to do all sorts of things to her, but have decided to leave her alone. I am even going to leave the paint that has grown on me with time...'

Like those mag wheels mate - Cheers, thanks for getting in touch! 

shovelicious hayride

WWnWW? bike featuring a mag one side, a coil the other and twin plug heads - true...

 Chubbs little S&S beauty, freshly 'nefarioused'

 Paul's lovely cone head- all his own hand fabbed work

 Lyn's welsh gem with a soft rear end

 Velvet tongued Dick 'hotpants' Tree's rear end featured a car tyre...

Tomo had a novel luggage rack on his - a plank of wood and 4 cable ties...

Maynard giving some essential love to his shov...

Brits in drag...

 leight

eddie

fixing a breather catch tank, a drag strip requisite 

 ready eddie...

go leight...

'fast eddie' took the flag by a knats cock...

'hipster leights' bike has high bars, 

there's a moral to the tale there...

In which I discover patience is...

...worn very thin in the kitchen workshop

Rebuild the front mastercylinder and caliper this week and connect them up... Five olives later and I'm taking the hose and the one leaky fitting back to Venhill in Dorking where they will probably demonstrate what a dick I've been...
and did you know that there is a big difference between dot 5 and dot 5.1 brake fluid... its not just a later version... one can fuck your paint... guess which I used...
and the rear banana caliper will not bleed... I discover that the big syringe ordered will only back fill to the new mastercylinder as it appears to have a non return valve...
and to think that this time last week I was packing me tent for the Hayride...

hayride sleeper

 Mark's multi-functional bike, usually accompanied by Ed his dog

low comp drag race spec. bottom end from paul @ zodiac, mark says

flying dutchman

 Eriks drag bike...

 suicide clutch, handshift...  

came third to petes magnificent second in the Hayride drags... 

told me its a standard 1200 shovel...

 oh, and Erik has one hand...