Messages

got cortizone injections in my fingers today . One finger made a pop like those christmas toy pull apart toys . Doctor said that was whatever was holding the tendon back , letting go . I have to do this each year now or go for the surgery . Trigger finger its called . Fingers look like sausages right now .

Finished sizing the jack shaft today. Went to a machine shop I once worked for to buy a piece of aluminum to make the bearing retainer /seal end plates. Would not take my money , freebie piece of 4" od x 4" long aluminum . They said that it is good for the students to see the kinds of stuff I am making . Have not worked there in 25 years .

Still snowing . I got the one end of the jack shaft housing bored to fit the bearing . I then used a pipe center to locate off the bearing bore and turned a register at each end of the tube to dial in on the OD and to run the steady rest on . Hope to have time to bore the other end tomorrow . Then I will have to drill/tap a fill hole , drain hole , and a vent hole and make end covers to retain the bearings in the tube and to put shaft seals on .

I wonder how many vehicles built like yours never get the attention to detail you have given . I would think many would still be riding on the first set of springs and the owner just learns to live with it . Good on you for sticking with it and seeking out the best combination .  

its snowing tonight.

KB I currently have 6 containers of metalflake to choose from . It is gonna happen !    

turned and installed the last sleeve for the jack shaft housing . Looks like I will be able to get away with using the steady rest in the big lathe for finish sizing the housing bores after all.   

still working on the jack shaft for the chopper . Both ends of the housing bored , one end has the sleeve pressed in awaiting final sizing . Other sleeve needs OD turned for a press into the housing . I am having equipment challenges on the job. The steady rests on my smaller lathes are not large enough to handle the OD of the housing , forcing me to use the large lathe . The large lathe steady rest can easily handle the OD of the housing but can only go so close to the chuck . As it is right now the housing is 8 1/8" long and just rides on the steady rest with 1/8" to spare . Final length of the housing finishes out to right at 7" . Once the sleeve is pressed in I will have to finish bore 2" in from the end to 42mm ID . I anticipate some fun getting knuckle room to operate the telescoping gage . Facing to length will also be fun . The good news is that once this is completed I will be able to throw a chain on this bike . Not done but a lot closer. Yes final paint will be metalflake     

i am nearly finished the jack shaft pedestals. Just need to drill and tap the mounting holes on the bottom . Put the tube for the bearings in the lathe , just have to face off the tube a bit and bore both ends for the pieces that press in each end to hold the bearings . Seals should be in tomorrow so I can then make the end caps to retain the bearings and hold the seals.

Finished the splines and threading on the jack shaft today. Have to pick up bearings tomorrow and finish size the shaft for them . Then I can bore the housing tube to fit bearing OD and machine some end cover(retainers) with seals for the ends of the housing . I have to make pedestals to mount the contraption to the bike yet as well . I am thinking of using some 1 inch aluminum plate I have laying around for that . The plan is to have the bearings running in an appropriate level of oil in the housing rather than have a jack shaft running in a pair of pillow block bearings with exposed grease zerks. The greaseable bearings just look a bit too crude for my liking .

Worked on the chopper today . Machined the jack shaft to size . Now I need to cut splines for the sprockets tomorrow and then a left and right thread . Went to 3 stores before I could get a three quarter NF left hand thread nut . Checked on a few jobs for my retirement . Post secondary trade school wants me on their sub list which is great . Hot rod shop I worked at last summer wants me back so I will start there after summer . He is good with me not showing up when there is substitute teaching work and also understanding about me starting later after I take my grandson to school . Also talked to an electric motor rebuilding shop and they would like me to do machining for them from my home shop when I get everything working . Retirement will be busy !

went to our big car show here today. 2 427SOHC cars in the show , an early 60s galaxie and a 70 mustang . Lots of nice cars but I am just not feeling it lately. Sold a pair of fiberglass rear T coupe fenders to a guy at the swap meet I met last year . I am getting tired of tire kickers on my roadster chassis . 3 guys in the last 2 weeks .

    

KB I cant wait to see the pictures ! I am sure the metalflake turned out perfect!