!914 Twin HD Cannon ball request

[Ohio-Rider]

Joe, That is an amazing first part, from tablet written code. Nice to see it done the old fashioned way again. Thanks for taking the time to share it. Will you have everything done in time?

P.S. Stop being so shy with the coolant! LOL

[c.o.]

Yes, thanks Barry! I hadn't been over there in awhile and it was a great read this morning before work! Victor is the MAN!!! It also looks like Dave Kafton's work on the bike is holding up!!

[Chris Haynes]

Slojo,
I am in awe of your talent.

[Slojo]

Joe, That is an amazing first part, from tablet written code. Nice to see it done the old fashioned way again. Thanks for taking the time to share it. Will you have everything done in time?

P.S. Stop being so shy with the coolant! LOL

Steve
Coolant is precious around here. Actually it stinks up the shop if you fill the coolant tanks with the messy stuff.
I don't know if running this six axis CNC lathe/mill could be considered "the old fashion way".
After struggling with the learning process (idiosyncrasies of this particular control) an entire three day weekend was consumed without much accomplishments. This control has so many lockouts and restrictions it has exhausted me for now. I did learn several specific programing traits required to smooth things out for the future. I believe the bike will be ready in time. Thank you for riding along through this process.
By the way when programming I do not write code on paper. I do some times have to draw diagrams to figure out the math. All the programing is done from mind to machine control key pad.
Joe

[Slojo]

Slojo,
I am in awe of your talent.

Chris
Stick around all this effort soon will become an assembly.
Joe

[Slojo]

Traditional rainy day for Monday's memorial events (with abundant scatered sunshine).

The holiday weekend past summer officially here no time was wasted at the barbeques or the like for me(unfortunately). No riding this past weekend also just work, my focus is intensifying as time closes in. My last bike build was the silver twin carb pan that took just over three months total. This 14 Ghost is different whereas the 48 Twin Carb Pan was built mostly of N.O.S. parts this bike is mostly M.O.S. (missing old stock).
The rocker tower project consumed the entire weekend dialing in the process and resolving program errors (learning to better understand this control).
To many peculiarities to discuss, lets just say the geometry is simple the program format of the control is one way or the hiway. The control just wants to see things its own way. Never in my 32 years working with CNC machinery have I seen such an obstinate control. Once the program is in order as it is now the machine runs like a Swiss watch.
Today I ran off the second rocker tower. It was complicated by short bar stock. Every tool, chuck jaw, and material shape is in danger of a crash. clearances are regularly less than about nothing or maybe a thou. more than nothing. This machine is so fast reaction time is not good enough to stop a bad move from becoming a big mistake,,,Caution is the word. I don't think a video of this operation is possible probably to long. It sure is fun watching all those axis ripping around.
The second rocker tower is an improved part, better than the first with only one minor mistake, another off center milling tool, oops. Changes in the program left less bench work on the second part. An additional milling tool holder would come in handy right now to bring the tower to a near complete shape. Perhaps all is ready now to hit the button and run off a couple perfect examples of my efforts. Coolant sure would be nice on this part to wash the milling chips out of the way so they don't get munched twice or more by the cutters. More material is needed to make the new towers so its off to Quadco XR tomorrow.
For the nuts that hold down these rocker towers to the intake valve pocket a new, easy program is near finished This nut will be an easy, quick operation.
Mc Master Carr on the way, an order placed today for a 36" bar of 1 1/2" hex stock in preheat treat 4140.
A few photos to follow.
Joe

[c.o.]

Looks like we're getting similar weather Joe! I can't recall a day without rain for at least two weeks!!!

[chas]

As an ex-HD powertrain/chassis durability test guy, your design modifications to the rocker towers, especially in the transition area are an improvement. Your design appears much stiffer with the forces (and damaging stress/strain) correspondingly lower. If hardness are comparable you are 'ono' (#1, 'great' in Hawai`ian lingo).

[MJW]

Looks like the original part was cast? Now if the nut just slides over...

[Slojo]

Looks like the original part was cast? Now if the nut just slides over...

Yes the original part is cast. I am a machinist not a foundry worker so machining is the way for me. After the part was finished the nut was close to fitting but did not fit. A trip over the Baldor buffer polisher and a good abrasive soft wheel (like a scotch brite pad), the back side edge polished just a little more than a simple debur allowed the nut to slip on perfectly. I also took the liberty to introduce three locations with a radius to prevent breakage like the original one, look close at the gas welded ear. I may shot blast these to fake a cast finish.
Joe

[Slojo]

Loose ends

Today was off to the auto parts store, 3/16 tubing for fuel lines. I already had a line made up from a previous project but decided to make one from steel instead of copper for durability. Bundy tubing, (brake tubing not Al tubing) is a wrapped sheet of steel that bends easy is kink resistant and durable. Next stop was the spring shop with instructions to twist up some intake valve springs. Then it was off too the heat treat shop with the floor board studs to have them toughen up a bit 35 Rc out of 4140. I also stopped by the steel shop for more material to feed the Okuma. Finally before coming home a stop at a customers to fix a down machine hit by lightening. The strike blew up his 120 VAC panel on the wall and cooked the main ground cable for the entire building. The Okuma shorted out a fuse, tripped a breaker and some problem with the coolant motor??? The megger did not show damage to the windings the amp meter pegged on the 5 amp scale, the motor should pull less that 1.5 amps. It appeared to have a mechanical problem and the customer said he would look into it tomorrow. They were in a hurry to close for the day, out the door.
My path home had a final stop at Greg's for tires. Yes they are in finally. Good conversation with some old friends lasted a while before I became nervous for neglecting the 14 so off and running home to make up a new gas line and finally finish the clutch actuating flat bar. With one hole drilled in one end and a 3/8 pin silver-soldered and drilled for a cotter pin on the other end, done.
Oh don't forget when drilling preheat treat high carbon steel with a small (3/32) high speed steel drill bit (cotter pin hole) RPM is important for adequate surface feet speed. Just a little to much speed can dull the bit and work harden the steel in front of the drill bit. Oops you guessed it,,, Thank you carbide. In all fairness, I think the steel hardened up a little from the silver brazing process.
Joe

[c.o.]

[Slojo]

Chased my tail today

A customer had a down machine one I just sold him last week. So a run out to Jackson, an hour away to get parts to fix the problem. Once I arrived in Livonia another hour drive I powered up the machine and it ran just fine. A close check exposed a slightly loose connector, probably came loose in shipping. No money made no M/C parts worked on, not good.
Back at the ranch enough time was left in the day to work on the pedal crank triangle. A little math, a five degree end mill and a short program later we were cutting material that the EDM could not get through due to impurities following the welding process. This might work although the radius left in the tangent points from the end mill might be a problem, If so I have a plan for that also details latter.
Calls to a couple valve manufacturing companies and valve seat/guide manufacturers have me pointed in a direction for the valve train. With my new rocker towers the intake valve lift will increase from .124" lift to .240" quite a difference (stock exhaust valve lift is a whopping .3"). This will cause for a increase in intake valve length by about .11". A reduction from 7.1 MM (9/32 .281") to a 6mm diameter stem will help to keep the intake valve weight to a minimum. In the past I have made my own valves for early motor builds like this one. To save time an order will be placed for the specialists to handle the valve train. it appears I will be making my own valve seat/pockets for the intake.
A few photos to follow will show the pedal crank arm in the Okuma and a simple setup to check cam lift, valve lift is cam lift times the rocker arm ratio in this case 1.375 is the factor to use instead of the old .727 ratio.
Joe

[c.o.]

[Slojo]

Red hot chips

The call came in from Gordon at Lunar he finished my sprocket splines on the wire EDM. Come get them after 12:00 noon. These are the sprockets that would go where the transmission fits on MODERN BIKES.
The adage if you want anything done right do it yourself does not necessarily apply here. Gordon and his crew did a fantastic job fitting the sprockets to my finished hub. I honestly don't think they could have fit any better. This quality fit will help to keep the sprockets from loosening during the trip. Also with the modern bearings installed the adjoining fits must be accurate otherwise close tolerances in the modern bearing will be consumed by a tight improper fitment.
I ran off four rocker towers tonight, they are near finished other than a little deburring and cleaning up. Keeping the spindle speeds at a conservative 200 SFM still produces a red hot chip with the Quadco XR alloy steel being used on these parts. Modern tooling is unbelievable.
Following photos will demonstrate nearly each operation required (other than the ID work which is basic drilling) to produce the part. Barry, this is a good time to add coolant. These parts would benefit from the washing process (not to mention cooling and lubrication) the coolant would provide during the cutting operation.
Joe