Born Free 6

I had been at DC Choppers about a week when a call came into the shop from the organizers of Born-Free. They had a spot for DC Choppers if we wanted it.  The problem was the show started in 8 days, it would take 2.5 days to get there and we were waiting on material to finish a new batch of mid-controls. The plan changed several times over the next 24 hours. Who was going, who was staying, is anyone not going, what are we taking...

In the end I opted to stay in Texas and watch the shop and animals while the rest of the team went to Born-Free.

 Dan trying to get as much done as possible before hitting the road to California.

 Dan had a few engines to finish before the Born-Free show. One of the Panhead engines was going to be delivered the customer in California.

 I had to pick up stainless steel as soon as it arrived in Austin. I passed the Austin Ferrari dealership a couple of times that day. I would have liked to stop and checked it out, but the sign on the door said no fat, sweaty, broke guys named Dirty.

 Zack banged out as much as he could before hitting the road. He and Dan finished the mid-controls at Rico's shop in CA the day before the show.

 Zack getting the Klu Klux Pan ready for the road. Move the sissy bar, install a bigger fuel tank, install new Pan covers, etc... Take a close look at that sissy bar.

Dan finished one Panhead and one Evo before leaving.

 Dan rode the shop bike to California. OF course that was after he wired a tail light, head light, changed the sissy bar, front tire and wheel, handle bars, etc...

A week later the crew arrived back at the shop with the trophy for the Best Knucklehead.

Congrats guys.

Shop time.

A few days after the Fathers Day River Run it was time to get to work. Dan had taken in a few bikes for me to work on.

First up was this stroked 93" Shovelhead that kept blowing oil past the motor sprocket seal. I changed the seal and took it for a test ride. No good. I would check, change, or fix something and then ride it. The oil continued to leak.

 Cell phone pic when I ran the tanks dry. Zack had to bring me some gas so I could get my fat ass out of the sun. After a few days it was time to let this one sit while I worked on something else.

 Next up is a perfect example of when a good deal isn't always a good deal. He got it cheap but.... Change Oil and filter - check. Change front tire - check. Wire new tail light with blinkers on and check over the rest - ffffuuuuccckkkkkkkk. During the initial quick check over I discovered there were 11 broken spokes on the rear wheel. Replacing those and truing the rim took a little while. 

I would write a list of issues that I would find. Call the customer and get his OK to do the repairs and order the parts. Then find more issues while fixing the original items.

 Dan and I figured it was time to pull the engine out of the Shovelhead. Two hours later, it looked like this.

 I had no TV, cable, dish,or internet. So, after dinner I decided to take advantage of the cool evening and burn a little midnight oil.

 Time for me to get some sleep. I left the rocker boxes, heads, and cylinders together. This will save time when reassembled.

 The bearing race that is pressed in the left side case proved to be the reason for the leak. Time for new cases. I would have put an enclosed wet primary on instead, but chopper guys like that open belt.

Enough parts came in for me to finish enough issues on the Softail that I could take it for a test ride. A very short test ride.Yep, more issues were found. Loose neck bearings, a rear wheel that would not stay in place due to a missing axle adjuster and no rear brakes.

 After I drained the cloudy greenish fluid out of the master cylinder this is what I found.

I flushed out the master cylinder, lines, fittings, and caliper. Here is what the final product looked like and the brakes worked properly. The Softail and Shovelhead were still waiting on parts when I left Texas. I hate leaving jobs unfinished.

I finished a few small jobs while I was there but these two gave me nightmares.

Fathers Day Ride

After the ROT Rally was over, photographer Micheal Lichter had a ride set up on Sunday with Dan at DC Choppers. The first and possibly only Fathers Day Run at DC choppers was going to be a ride we all would remember.

 Paul's Panhead built by DC Choppers.

 Morgan's Shovel that he got running the day before the ride.

"U" Flathead whose name I have for gotten.

 Chris's Shovel built by DC Choppers.

 Panhead whose owner I can't remember.

 Bikes from the Vise Grips MC.

 More bikes from the Vise Grips MC.

 Pete's Panhead (front/left) and Wayne's Panhead ( behind/right)

So with Lichter riding on the back of a bagger we set off on some back roads around Spicewood, TX.

We made it about 10 miles from the shop when we hit a spot in the road that had water flowing over it. Due to the recent storms a mini river had formed and the roadway underneath was as slick as ice. Dan, Chris, Carlos, and Lichter ended up on the ground with their bikes and passengers.

I ended up riding back and getting the shop truck, picking up Chris and his bike and Dan's wife Felice.

 A loose battery cable fixed Chris's bike.

 The Petruzzi survived the accident with bent handlebars and a few scratches.

 I think we got lucky, nobody was seriously injured or had to go the hospital and all bikes involved sustained only minor damage.

The FXR after about a year in hibernation. Ready for a service and some Texas miles.

Heading West.

A lot has happened since my last post. I have not had any access to the Internet. So, the next few posts should get everyone up to date.

I delivered my brother Bill's bike to him, when I was in Florida. It had been stored with me for the last three years. On my way out of Florida, I stopped off in Daytona to pick up a frame from Bill Dodge at Bling Cycles. I was going to deliver this frame to a friend in Texas.

Back in North Carolina I loaded my '92 FXRS next to the frame I picked up in Florida. Try to spot the frame.

 I arrived in Texas just in time to attend the Republic of Texas Rally or ROT Rally with the crew from DC Choppers.

 Drake heads/cylinders on this Knuckle Bottom.

This was my temporary residence while I was turning wrenches at DC Choppers.