My Bike is in pieces

Talked to Steve Huntzinger, who is working on my bike. He has it all apart and says the motor looks really good, besides the some normal wear. He's going to put some new bearings in the trans, but it looks good too. The rear wheel bearings were pretty worn out, so he will replace them. The front end was tweaked and Steve was able to straighten the forks. The headstock, of all things was on backwards! Which caused the front end to be kicked out 3/4 of an inch. No wonder it rode so smooth! lol He corrected that and will put it on right. I think the thing about working on these old bikes is that people often took them apart and didn't put them back together right. (That's what digital cameras are for!)

Steve us also going to put a newer seat on the bike for me. The old one is pretty hard. Steve says this will help prevent what he calls "Serious Monkey Butt Syndrome"! What ever that is.. I have a weird vision in my head of that! Ugh...
Maybe I can get a gel seat to out over it and a sheepskin over that? Hmmm... lots to think about before next September. 6 months from now I'll be out there doin' the ride!

Daytona was COLD....

Daytona was COLD. Had lots of fun though.

Here's a photo of me and my honey on Dale Walklser's 1915 HD.

Update!

Effie is in California!
After shipping her off to Honolulu she sat there for a few days waiting to get unloaded. Finally, she flew to LAX and was picked up and delivered to our friend Steve Huntzinger, who will take her apart and put her back together. Steve has promised to send some pictures of the motor being rebuilt for me.

Got the word she arrived safely while in Daytona at Bike Week freezing our butts off.

While in Florida we stopped at the Eustis AMCA Meet where we scrounged a few parts. An extra magento for the 1915 among the spoils!

Daytona was cold, but great. Did a bunch of book signings and was filmed for a CBS Sunday Morning segment on women motorcyclists. Checked out lots of friends and made some new ones. Loved the vintage races!

Where is she?

Just waiting to hear whether or not the bike made it to LAX. We shipped it by boat to Honolulu where she was going to be unloaded and put on a plane yesterday to LA. No word yet... probably hear later today. Our friend Mark is standing by in LA with his trailer to drive her up to the mechanic's place. :)

On the boat

Bon Voyage Effie. Our 1915 Harley "Effie" is on her way to Honolulu on a boat this afternoon. She will be picked up and flown to LAX tomorrow. Hope she's okay in her crate and that no one drops her. Feels like my baby on her way to her first day at kindergarden!

Effie around all the new bikes

Out of focus photo. but here she is at the Harley shop service area. She's the old lady compared to the other bikes here... 95 years old.

Feb. 12, 2010

Feb. 12, 2010

Sadly, but happy too, we loaded Effie into the bed of the truck for her trip to California for her makeover. After riding her the other day we realize just how badly she is in need of motor work. She ran fine until going up any slight incline. Pat thinks it must be the magneto not putting out enough. The plugs seemed to be fouling a bit and she smoked and coughed too. Carb was running too rich too. We think the needle in the carb is the wrong one. Tough to get the gas/air mixture right. Probably needs rings, bushing and bearings too.
So… there is not much more we can do here. We know our limitations. A guitar player and a writer do not make a real mechanic! The bike will be sent to Steve Huntzinger in California for the “real” work.

So, we unloaded her at the service department of the Harley shop today. They will take care to load her into a crate.

I feel bad that I didn’t get much seat time practicing my shifting, but I will figure out how to do that later. Maybe in CA?