NickDG

The next sentence out of their mouths will be, "We don't have much of a budget, bla, bla, blah." Because they know the glory hounds will line up a hundred deep to do it for nothing. Then the show will air and it will suck and we'll all say so here. Then the involved jumpers will come on here and say were all jealous. And the cycle repeats ad nauseam . . . NickD

>>Now doing Bill O'Reilly on Fox News at 8:45pm, too! What a day. :D

Slip in a clever secret DZ.com shout out. Something like, "This current bonfire is," or, "Yes, Tiger's in a bad spot," or, "Tiger got himself too deep in the corner . . ." NickD

>>But when's the last time you torqued locktite to 18-22 ft lbs.

Thanks for the compliments guys! I'm loving the way she's looking too! But Nina is now showing her female side and being a bit contrary. First off the paint job on her rear fender came out way too glossy. I'd been using the Hot Rod Flat Black paint without any reducer they supply (because it made it too easy to get runs) and I found, through trial and error, if you keep a good distance away with the spray gun it comes out great, but not this time. So I'll have to re-shoot it. And that's a big bummer as I thought the rear fender was going to be the last of the major paint work. (Which I hate!) But now I have another problem too. It's with the starter jackshaft. My last Harley was set up as a kick start. Which I liked because it was simple (plus being too drunk to kick start it meant you were too drunk to ride it, so it was kind of a safety feature.) And I never messed around with an electric start setup before so I'm breaking new ground here. I followed the instructions that came with my six speed transmission to a tee not knowing any better and it was totally wrong. Click on "Starter_Jackshaft_Assembly_Instructions.jpg" below, read it, and come back . . . So I put it together just like it says. But being fairly mechanical minded I'm looking at the pieces and wondering how could it be it just sits in there with no bolt or anything holding it in? Oh well, I thought, there is an end cap to keep it from shooting out and I just supposed the "Blue Locktite" held it in place. And it was some kind of new age deal I just didn't understand. Well, no, it was way wrong. There "is" supposed to be a bolt that holds it all together but the instructions don't show a bolt anywhere plus makes it sound like indeed the Locktite holds it in place. But when I woke up this morning I started thinking about it and went, "Naw, that can't be right." When the starter disengages it physically pulls the jackshaft back out of the way of the ring gear and no amount of Locktite is going to do that repeatedly. So I had to pull off the starter and remove the jackshaft, which was a bitch, because I coated it with Locktite! (Like an idiot, but that's what I thought the instructions said to do!) I also didn't notice the threads in the barrel of the starter shaft for the screw because I was kinda tired and just ran my fingers around the edges, you know, making sure there were no burrs or anything sorta like you do on a late date and then I just shoved it home. Big lesson learned . . . ! NickD

>>they usually send a "safety chase" along

These Harley crate motors are pre-run at the Moco so there's some oil in it already. I had to remove the oil filter to get to the front motor mount bolts and it was full of oil. I'll just fill the oil tank and let it sit a day so it weeps down into the oil pump. Then on the pump there is a check ball you can open, if there's oil in there, you're good to go, if not you can inject some until it fills. Then I'll run the starter without the spark plugs in until I get some oil pressure. Then replace the spark plugs (indexed of course) cross my fingers and hit the starter button . . . I've imagined the inaugural ride around the block a thousand times. Followed by another ride around the block in the truck picking up all the parts that fell off. The second stage of this build (which even after running will never really end) will be replacing, piece by pice, all the parts I cheaped out on the first time around . . . NickD

LOL, posted that one way earlier in this very thread . . . NickD

I'm going to have to deal with turn signals too. They just changed the law here in California so I need them for the initial DMV inspection. Well, oh boy! I just ordered everything I need to finish Nina! It's going to be Top Ramon Noddles and Lone Star Beer for the next few months but I'm getting her on the road this summer if I have to starve (and drink cheap beer!) Here's what I just purchased: - Exhaust, Big Growl Sharp Shooters, $104.95 - Exhaust, Two Piece Extended Heat Shields, $69.95 - Carburetor Total Kit, Mikuni HSR 42mm Smooth Bore, $399.95 - Fuel Petcock, Straight Outlet OEM Style, $9.95 - Crankcase Head Breather Kit, $47.95 - Ignition, Complete Ultima Programmable Kit, $154.95 - Voltage Regulator, Black, USA Made, $47.95 - Battery, AGM, Custom Size, $149.95 - Battery Cable Set, $20.99 - Clutch Cable, Stainless, $13.55 - Front Brake Master Cylinder, $54.50 (The Ebay one I bought was messed up and not rebuildable.) - Dual Throttle Cable, Motion Pro, Black, $22.99 Total = $1,111.38 Feeling = Priceless! NickD

Ditch the Jacklyn Onassis sunglasses and, I don't know, shave? And grow a head of hair you can comb. And get your pants up off the ground. The thug look is so over . . . NickD

'Yup, that's right, I forgot about those, so there's really five types of Fatbobs . . . I got my rear brake working today. (So I know I put it together right.) but I was lacking a banjo bolt for the caliber so instead of going back down to the Stealer (again) I just made one. It's just a 3/8 fine thread bolt with a hole down the center and another off to the side. Well, it was no problem after three frigging tries and busting a bunch of drill bits, but I got a rear brake now. Tomorrow, if I get time, I'll buff out and paint Nina's rear fender. NickD

Or off your motorcycle - It's glitter, it really is . . . Confetti is the already read stock market ticker tapes we used to throw on astronauts 30 years ago! NickD

>>ummm...not sure. I don't know the difference.

Cool, you're running fatbobs too! Are those flatsides or the earlier ones? BTW, on the >> "Nick & Nina Cam"!

Don't know all the details yet but I can guess. I've always jumped your stuff John (except for one Reflex I bought) as I like how when activated your pack trays cease to be containers. And how on both bags packing is more like gift wrapping rather than that thunk sound you get when the bags are pushed deep into the corners on some other rigs Here's a test for those who might have the rigs in question. Place both bags into the rig per the manufactures instructions but leave the flaps open. Now turn the rig over (back to earth). If both bags don't easily fall out it's built wrong . . . NickD

I'll definitely video Nina's first start. Couldn't cheat all you guys following this thread out of seeing that! >>What, couldn't find a wider belt drive?

"Tins" I got . . . The front fender is ready to mount but the rear one needs a cutout for the chain and paint. Had a few hours today so with the rear brake parts I picked up at the Stealer I put that all together. I'm hoping like hell the Moco made those so they only go together one way as, even with the manual, it was kind of a puzzle. I also put Nina's snazzy new red chain, her motorplate, and her drive pulleys on. Tomorrow I'm going to assemble and install her clutch and drive belt. Won't be long now, boys . . . NickD

Julia picked up today's mail and without my supervision tore into an Easter glitter bomb from Lisa H! LOL, that'll teach her . . . Thanks Sweetie! NickD

I'll try and get a shot of Bev the next time I'm at the Stealer. But I'm one of those types that when I see a beautiful woman I act like I don't notice. So I'll have to do it on the sly. Woman like that I think. . . I put Nina's final drive chain on today. Thank goodness it all lined up. Figuring out the offsets needed for all that was way too close to physics. Now I can cut the rear fender, buff it out, and paint it. Then I can get busy with the belt drive and the wiring. I just had to throw on Nina's fatbobs, just to see how she looked. I gotta admit. Nina is starting to look like a tough gurl !!! NickD

Anytime, Sweetheart . . . (I gotta go back there and get my beer glass I bought and drunkenly left behind!) NickD

Naw, bro, keep digging, it's the journey, not the dough! For guys like us it's not about the money anyway. ~We're just looking for the nod.~ NickD

LOL . . . One more fish . . . NickD

>>Edit: I forgot to mention that its not midnight here in the central time zone yet, so for me and my pranks, you're a little early.

I got five numbers in the California Mega Millions! 1, 11, 24, 38, 44 on a quick pick!!!! I was having dinner with Julia when the neighborhood liquor store owner came looking for my truck. I'd been buying beer and lottery tickets from him for years. And I stopped on my way home from work tonight to buy a ticket and an 18 pack. It was about an hour before the draw. The store owner is a cool Armenian guy named Sloof Lirpa and when we looked at my ticket he told me I hit it for (ya sitting down?) $518,605! That's five hundred thousand six hundred and five dollars !!! http://www.calottery.com/Games/megamillions/winningnumbers/ Tonight I'm sleeping with Julia, my ticket, and my gun! Don't worry, I'll still be the same old NickD even though I won't be associating with you little people any longer . . . NickD

At 8:30 this morning "Beverly" called me from the Stealer, my rear brake parts were in. So I went down to pick them up and man, she had a rack out to here ------------------------>! I had a few hours before work so I mounted Nina's oil tank, set her back up on her gear, and put her black boots on. She looks sexy in black, not as sexy as Beverly, but not too bad . . . NickD