BORN FREE Engine build

Kiyo started putting together the engine for the Born Free knuckle. Started rebuilding cam cover and changed out old bushings. Also, Put in bushing lock pins.

Here are some of the parts details:

Original FL head, rebuilt with new valve and 
guide. 

Original rocker boxes. They will be polished up.

Original cam cover, also getting polished.

Original rocker arms in good condition. 

Original tins.

Original FL cylinder, good condition. Will be rebored.

Original FL flywheel. 

Full chrome springer, 4" over.

Front wheel finished. Rebuilt original star hub.

Knuckle oil tank. 

Box of all new engine parts.

   
 

Knuckle Collection.

Kiyo likes to collect Knucklehead parts. Here are some of the camshafts he's collected over the years.

Some other Knuckle parts he has collected.

The cam in the middle is actually going into the Born Free knuckle. It's an Andrews cam with stock profile.

Andrews Stock profile for knuckle head (left).Andrews S (right). 

From right to left: Sifton 110 camshaft. Stock Knuckle EL. Stock knuckle EL. Stock knuckle FL. V-twin reproduction Fl knuckle.

 Sifton 110 camshaft. Stopped selling about 10 years ago.

EVO Update

Kiyo usually has many projects going at the same time. As many as 5 or 6 at times. Anyway, fender was mounted,wheel aligned and sissy bar was made.

 

Dinner Time!!

Every evening right after the shop closes Yoshi or his wife makes dinner for all the mechanics and anyone else who might still be hanging around working on their bike. They know how to cook so many dishes, I don't think I've ever eaten the same thing more than twice in an 9 month period.

EVO Chopper

Kiyo has started on another project. It's an Evo chopper for a customer in Japan. I know it's not vintage or whatever, but it's still rad and has a very solid motor.

 

Epic Updated!!

Kiyo makes higher compression EL pistons. Check out the Epic page.

Knuckle Cases

Today is Nao!! Kiyo and Nao worked together on changing the bearing laces on some 1947 knuckle cases. 

Nao is making the tool to punch out the old laces and put in the new ones.

Cases going into the oven to heat to about 400-450 degrees. This is to expand the metal so new laces will slide right in. Also, there is a slight crack that needed to be welded. So preheating for that as well.

Old laces and Nao's tool.

New laces are chilling in the fridge to contract the metal. This is to make it even easier to slide into hot cases.

New laces in and starting to cool down. Once cooled down, the laces will be a super snug fit.

Apparently a lot of people buy these laces and complain that they don't fit. If you heat the cases and chill the laces, it isn't a problem at all.

Bike Of The Day!!

This here bike is a 1942 WLA. It belongs to a customer in Japan. Its just here to get titled and then shipped out.