So, I'm off the juice now...

[BillJ]

Bug juice, that is...

I've been on IV antibiotics (AKA "bug juice") since my surgery on March 6th. Finally, just this afternoon, the doctor declared me germ-free, and the nurse removed the PICC line from my arm. No more twice-a-day IV hook-up, or worrying about whether I'm going to poison myself by doing it wrong. Yay! Even better, I can get in the wind again! Double-yay!

The deal was that I couldn't ride so long as I had the PICC line in, but as the day of emancipation grew nearer, and my tolerance for moving around got a little better, I went out and finished the shovel. Got everything bolted up and adjusted, and took her down off the stand.

Only then did I realize that my rear tire has some serious weather-cracks in it! @#%^&@!!!! Double-@#%^&@!!!! I had to put the bike back up on the stand, drop the rear tire, and go order a replacement. @#%^&@!!!!

No worries, right? The new tire will be here tomorrow afternoon, and I'll have it on the rim and in hand by tomorrow night or Saturday morning. A half-hour to bolt it up, and the shovel's on the road!

Except... Except... It just started pouring rain outside.

I think I'm gonna cry.

[TonyB]

Bill,
Glad to hear things are looking up.
Just keep your eye on the prize....
Oh how sweet it will be when you get that scoot rolling again.
Ride safe my friend.
TB

[BillJ]

Already lookin' better. Today dawned bright, sunny, and cool. I may drag the FXR out and make a nooner.

[Freedom1990]

Wonderful, and please get some bugs in your teeth for me, okay?!

[recoveringnky]

This song comes to mind.... Ride Sally Ride.......... So: Ride, Billy Ride LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yep, ya gotta love me!!! Silly, I know!

So glad you're off the juice and that you'll be in the wind real soon!! I've been on my bike as much as I can this year! Doc told me the other day that I'm in early diabetes, so I've had to change my diet and quit all the caffiene, so....the headaches ARE HERE!!!!!!!!!! Makes it hard to focus when your heads a throbbin'! A few more days and I should be "off the stuff" and head ache free! Then....back on 2 wheels!!!!

Big hugs,
Kym

[best]

I was thinking... why did they say no riding with a picc line?
Unless they put restrictions of other kinds on you. You didn't have any mind altering drugs in the IV, I could see a IV pole put into a flag holder and still be able to ride *LOL*

[BillJ]

Originally Posted by best

I was thinking... why did they say no riding with a picc line?

Because it runs from your upper arm right to your heart, and the slightest bit of un-sterile matter in there can kill you. Even my best road dog (who happens to be a physical therapist) agreed with the "no riding" rule. I figured that, if a dedicated Harley rider like him thought it was a good idea, it must be a good idea!

But I'm a free man now! Got my new tire mounted and balanced and back on the bike, got the chain adjusted and lubed, and tomorrow morning I'm gonna see if The Bitch is still speaking to me!

[Rodney]

Enjoy Bill!
What tire did you go with and what was the Cost if you don't mind me asking?

After all the work I have done on my 68 shovel I am planning on taring the engine back down {at least the top end} I am getting smoke out the rear pipe when I start the engine and its making more noise than I like. I installed the wavy washer to tighten up the rocker arms and after taking to a Harley mechanic he says they are a bad deal so I am going to remove them for sure. When I installed them I was having doubts, should have followed my instinct.
Have a good your ride, I am sitting in front of a fire this am the temp outside is 24.4 F but the sky is clear.

[The_Hammer]

So what are they sayin now? I know that when I got that infection in me back, they did xrays and mri's to see if the bone had been "compromised' and all that rot. Are they concerned with that iyour case since ya had metal in there too? Don't get me wrong, I couldn't be happier for ya, it is answered prayer! But I just get all bent sometimes like a Gramma, ya know what I mean vern? I'll just keep prayin for ya, I'll see ya smilin again soon in NC and attack ya with poison gas again!

P.S. Is tthat what drove ya to yer trailer for real, or were ya uncomfortable? Come on now, truth me baby!

[BillJ]

Originally Posted by Rodney

What tire did you go with and what was the Cost if you don't mind me asking?

After all the work I have done on my 68 shovel I am planning on taring the engine back down {at least the top end}...

I've run the Avon Mark II Mileage Master 5.00 x 16 on the back of that rigid for years, and always gotten good service from 'em. It's a square tread, very old-fashioned, but if you look at the new generation of bobbers kids are building, you'll see a lot of these fore and aft. Traction enough to drag pipes in hard turns with no slip, decent performance even in heavy rain, and, as the name suggests, very good mileage. They're not excellent in hard braking conditions, so I ride the rigid less aggressively in traffic than my other bikes, but beside that they're a great tire.

Here's the old one:


I'm partial to Avons, anyway. When I first changed tires on my shovel 29 years ago (when it was still in the swingarm) I went with Avons, and they made that bike feel completely different - a much more confident and competent machine.

The Mileage Master retails for $162.95, but I get a deal at the shop where I used to work. Another benefit of sobriety, really - I don't burn near as many bridges as I used to. Former employers can remain friends, and want to do nice things for me! Never had that when I was drinking!

Don't have much E, S & H to share about the top-end. I slammed mine together with stock shims and unleaded valves and (knock wood) it's been behaving itself for quite some time. Good luck with the fix.

[BillJ]

Originally Posted by The_Hammer

So what are they sayin now? ...... I'll see ya smilin again soon in NC and attack ya with poison gas again!

P.S. Is tthat what drove ya to yer trailer for real, or were ya uncomfortable? Come on now, truth me baby!

The infection is gone, so far as anyone can tell. The surgeon removed the infected rod and screws from my right leg. Between that surgery and the antibiotics I should be in good shape.

One of the scariest things about this ordeal is knowing the infection in my leg could migrate to other hardware, including the cage and rods in my low back, and the fusion joints in my left foot. So far, no one's expressed concern about that, but you can bet your bottom dollar I'll be monitoring those sites, and bugging the medics with questions!

As for trailering: I trailered last year because my back couldn't have made that ride, even on my smoothest bike. If I trailer this time, it'll be so I have a safe place to sleep if you forget to take your Beano! :rof

[Rodney]

Mechanical Brakes
I'm out here in the garage right now got the computer turned on and heater has been running non stop for an hour. I'm a tad bummed having to take the engine apart but I got to do it. I am planning on going with a new set of S&S heads but will see what is going on in their first.

[BillJ]

Originally Posted by Rodney

Mechanical Brakes

Yeah, stopping is so over-rated! :rof

You're gonna hate me, Rodney, but we're having beautiful weather down here. A tad windy, but already too warm for a jacket. I got out on the shovel this morning, and will be out on the FXR this afternoon.



Had a heck of a time getting the shovel started. I don't want to use my right leg so soon after surgery, so I had to kick-start it left-legged, which is pretty awkward after a lifetime of right-legged kicks. Then, because it's been sitting for six weeks, it was balky about firing up, so I had to give it more than its usual one to three kicks. Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!

Once it started, though, it ran great, and that funky-looking seat contraption really works to protect my back! I'm a happy guy!

[quendrida]

Glad Ur Back On The Road !!!

[Rarly Harley]

Originally Posted by BillJ

Yeah, stopping is so over-rated! :rof

You're gonna hate me, Rodney, but we're having beautiful weather down here. A tad windy, but already too warm for a jacket. I got out on the shovel this morning, and will be out on the FXR this afternoon.



Had a heck of a time getting the shovel started. I don't want to use my right leg so soon after surgery, so I had to kick-start it left-legged, which is pretty awkward after a lifetime of right-legged kicks. Then, because it's been sitting for six weeks, it was balky about firing up, so I had to give it more than its usual one to three kicks. Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!

Once it started, though, it ran great, and that funky-looking seat contraption really works to protect my back! I'm a happy guy!

Bill: I'm inside out exited for you Bro....! Glad the backrest contraption works for ya. I just came back from my first ride on Annie too.... Man it feels good to be in the wind again, even though we still have snow in the fields and ice on the lakes.....

[BillJ]

Originally Posted by Rarly Harley

Man it feels good to be in the wind again, even though we still have snow in the fields and ice on the lakes.....

You know it, brother! Any day you can ride is a good day to ride!

The Banshee wouldn't start. It's either ailing from sitting for six weeks, or jealous that I took The Bitch out first! It has fire and fuel, but the battery may be a little weak, so I slapped the charger on it, and will try again tomorrow.

In the meanwhile, I fired up The Princess, and put about 70 miles on it. My right leg's not ready for that bent-knee riding position, so I'm pretty sore now, but it felt good to get it out and put some miles on it.

[Rodney]

no Problem Bill I'll still take out weather over the severe weather you get down your way at times!
We even had some snow and hail yesterday, then the sun came out and felt like spring {well maybe}. I spent all day Saturday wrenching on the shovel head, I simply wasn't please with how it was sounding and running so I pulled the top end off the engine and inspected the rockers, cylinders, pistons, clearances and end play on everything I could see. I started working on her about 7:30 am had the jugs off my 9:30 am and have all back together except for the intake and carburetor. I noticed a crack on one of the intake clamps when going back together and sure enough snapped it going back together, so this AM I will go to the shop and weld it back together.
Upon inspection of the engine I found a restriction in the oil return from the heads, a rocker arm which needed to be shimmed which was causing the push rod the walk back and forth laterally causing it to rub on the inside of the push rod tube.
And I think the biggest culprit for the noise was to remove the after market rocker arm tensioner kit I installed the were actually causing misalignment and making the rocker shafts to tight in the rocker boxes. This would also explain why the rocker boxes were so dang hot the little I rode the bike.
good deal your seat worked out for you
Enjoy your riding weather Ours is on the way soon {I hope}.

[BillJ]

Thanks, Rodney. Hang in there! Spring's on its way!

For me, the next best thing to riding is making our scooters right, y'know? Whether it's some little cosmetic thing, or a major component like your top-end oiler passages and rocker arm clearances, at the end of the day you set the wrenches aside, look at what you've accomplished, and feel satisfied!

[best]

Originally Posted by BillJ

, at the end of the day you set the wrenches aside, look at what you've accomplished, and feel satisfied!

What?

*LOL*

Most times at the end of the day I find myself saying...
Why can't the parts store be open just one more hour...guess I will need finish this tomorrow. *LOL*

If we could replace the money that grows on trees with part for the tree, I would be all set *LOL* A tire or two would be nice as well.

[Rodney]

Yea got the clamp welded, carb on, battery installed, timed and she started right off. sounds much better already. Now to install the Badlands turn signal module which will give me 4 way flashers delay so I won't have to hold the signal button on all the time and it will also turn the rear signal lights into stops. to bad it's still only 44 degrees

[Fulldresser4]

Annie liked the ride....

Sorry, I couldn't resist!!