Pictures

Still waiting on my hardtail. I mail ordered a clutch cable as a better quality cable was half the price of what I could buy one for locally, even with shipping. Bored and restless waiting for parts so I'm screwing around online looking at bike smut. Above are a couple of my favorites so far.

Desert Racer

I was pretty blown away by this old desert racer. Every inch of the bike seems to have been drilled for weight, engraved, plated, pinstiped, etc. Spend a few minutes looking at the pictures up close. I suspect you could keep finding new details every time you looked. Someone had WAY too much time on their hands.

At best I'd think a Triumph would still be a bloated pig compared almost every off road bike I've ever ridden.

Updates

The Filcoolator I was stalking on eBay sold last night with "Buy it Now". I'll never understand why people insist on buying stuff off eBay for the same price you can readily buy it retail/mail order.

I've been riding the Trump quite a bit and it's running pretty well but still idling for crap. I spent some time today really tweaking the pilot jet air mixture & idle speed. I got it to idle pretty well and things really seem to be improved. I was just pulling it out of the driveway to do a road test and the clutch cable broke...

Reply

I got a reply from Dave at Helrich Custom Cycles today regarding his canister oil tanks:

john sorry its taken me a minute to get back to you. I have never had a problem with the tanks, if you are worried about running hot you can add a cooler in there to. I did have to gut it, which is a bit annoying, and weld on the inlet and out let, but yay, no big deal. the best way I have found to keep bikes running cool is straight 50w Kendal or 60w if you can find it. I do not use bi grade it's is too thin and breaks down easily
Dave

I'm considering the Beehive again. I guess see how this auction plays out.

Hardtail Update

I confirmed today that David Bird (guy building my hardtail) is pretty backed up. I noticed another guy on the Jockey Journal is waiting too. Everyone assures us it's well worth the wait. I'm getting impatient and this is slowly becoming the "OCD Oil Tank Blog."

Filter Canister Oil Tank

This guy has built several bikes using factory flathead oil canisters. I emailed him and asked a few questions about it but I don't really expect to ever hear from him. He also built the one-and-only OIF bobber I've ever seen that wasn't completely hideous.

Updates

Very little to report. I should hopefully get my hardtail any day now. I'm still looking at oil tank options besides the Filcoolator. I found another one I like pretty well (pictured above) but the reseller is not responding to email... seems like a bad sign. I still can't help watching stuff like this on eBay.

My bike is running pretty well and I'm riding it a little almost everyday. That's gonna make it a little harder to have it in pieces while the weather is nice.

UPDATE: Whoa! Whudoyaknow... I actually got a reply.

Panzer Bike

I bet this guy pisses his neighbors off more thoroughly than I do .

Pix

I'm going to visit Barry this evening (the guy with the flathead Fords). I was going to take a few pictures of my bike and some of Rob's fleet. It then occurred to me that since I built my new computer at work I have almost no pictures of Rob's cars/bike. Please post a few when you have time.

Oil Tank

Filcoolator

7 Metal West

I'm still working on some of the planning involved in trying to use a Filcoolator style beehive oil filter canister as an oil tank.
The following are a few of the items I'm still trying to firm up:

• Is the capacity adequate for a warm climate (stock Triumph capacity is 2 - 2.5 quarts)
• Plumbing including the rocker box feed
• How to address a breather
  
• If the tank would be run with/without the filter
• Is there enough clearance below the tank for a battery
  

I have a visit planned for Monday to talk to the owner of a flathead Ford with a Filcoolator, and apparently a couple of other types of after market beehives. Hopefully talking to him and getting some measurements will provide some answers.

The Filcoolator's are very similar in size to the 7 Metal West 2.5 quart vertical beehive. Both are roughly 5" by 9" but the Filcoolator has a more tapered shape equaling less capacity. 7 Metal West has put a lot of thought into engineering & plumbing for a Triumph. They use:

1.25" ID filler neck
1/4 NPT breather plug,
1/4 NPT drain plug
1/4 NPT send boss
1/4 NPT return boss
Return boss has 3/16" restricter fitting hole to increase oil pressure to the rocker box "T"
7 Metal West even sells hardware kits here

Vaughn has class!

Vaughn is just demonstrating (once again) that he has truly impeccable taste when it comes to all things with wheels and engines. The "knuck" is difficult to knock.

There is a big car/motorcycle show tomorrow in Tacoma. Has to be pre-1954, and has to be stock. I am torn between taking the 45", and taking the Plymouth, but have decided that the Plymouth is deserving of an outing, since the Harley gets out a lot more.

I wish Vaughn was here so I could take him to see the Cossacks. They would give him a ride in some strange location (front fender, rear fender, standing on the center stand). They do that with all the kids. He sure is one handsome guy.

Tell Tyler he wins the bet. I told him there was no way Sydney could wear Vaughn's Harley shirt. He is right.

HD Kids

I've had a little trouble convincing Vaughn the new Harley tee is worthy of replacing the Knucklehead shirt. He really likes it, but so far refuses to wear it. Sydney took a shot at selling it to him this morning. He may now never get it back!