27 JD Restoration

[Steve Swan]

Thanks John !

i finished JD11090 last night. What a pleasurable odyssey it has been. in the picture of the cockpit, you'll note an Indian Head Penny and a Indian head Nickle. The penny is 1906 for my dad's birth year and the nickle is 1927. i walked around the lift or sat on a stool at a couple different angles, feasting my eyes and the memories for about 4 hours after i finished. front range Colorado is now in monsoon season, temps in the upper 40's and lower 50's and pretty much some form of daily precip, so not sure when the first ride will be. i think later today, i will go up and start it, just to know it is fully ready to roll.


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[Steve Swan]

It's been said it takes a village to raise a child. in this case it's taken a group of men from around the world to bring 27JD 11090 back to a complete machine. i went through my receipts and my email and in no particular order, made a list of every person i could think of or remember who has helped me along the process.

THANK YOU TO ONE AND ALL FOR HELPING ME BRING BACK THIS MOTORCYCLE FROM THE DEAD.

Tom’s NOS Parts
Steve DeCosa – tool roll
Colorado Cadmium Plating
Tim – Painter’s Supply, Fort Collins, CO – master paint formulater
Johnny Sells – Vintage Motorcycle Works
Bob Luland – The Good Old Motorcycle Parts Co. – fine parts, sage help & advice
Kurt Rommel – Little Bear Auto Body, Bellvue, CO
Scott Owens – Owens Group (MgSO4)
Design Metal Mfg. crank case repair
Tom Feeser – Replicant Metals
Marcin Okla-Anuszewski - silk screen Sparton horn date plate, craftsman
Buchanan Spoke & Rim
Competition Distributing
Truett & Osborn Cycle, Topeka, KS
Snyder’s Antique Auto Parts
Coker Tire
Roger Long – Sparton horn parts and conservation
Mark Masa – Link Engineering, new cam and clutch parts, sage advice
Jon Neuman – Sagebrush Cycles –front forks, sage advice
Marshall Nix – Black Hills Polishing and Plating
Tom Cotton – Liberty Motorcycle Specialties, DLX38 conservation & sage advice
Michael Breeding
David Butts – riveting work
Marty MacCallum – frame repair
Flatland Motorcycle Company
Rocky Mountain Supply, Fort Collins, CO
Mikael Amroth – Antique Bike, obscure little parts I couldn’t have finished without
Chuck’s Parts
Ray Arndt – Ray’s Motorcycle, Fort Collins, CO – said, “Why don’t YOU build it?”
Richard “Wiff” Withey, Fort Collins, CO, machinist buddy, saved my ass
Al Larsen, Fort Collins, CO – lifelong buddy - sage advice
Joe Drociuk – very patient while offering his invaluable sage advice
JD Yahoo Groups – an incredible group of fine fellows devoted to the H-D JD
AMCA Forum – an incredible group of fine fellows with sage advice
Jiri Filipek – rear sprocket
Al McRoberts – clincher rims
Mike Javernik – fin repair
Phoenix Restoration – correct 1926 patent year tool box decal
John Faraci – sage advice
Harbor Vintage
Peter “Tommo” Thomson – original tools for the tool roll and sage advice
John Brookes – encouragement and advice
Terry Marsh
Bill Christensen – oil pump check valve
J. Napierala Speedometer Shop
Many others – my apologies if I did not remember how you helped me.

Last but not in the least, these two men -

Vernie A. M. Swan. Thanks Dad, for buying my first motorcycle when i was 14. For saving your original can of Olive Green touch up paint all those years from 1927 to 1986. And, for taking ALL those pictures I stared at so many times for six decades. Your pictures kept my dream alive to someday own a 27JD so I could experience the motorcycle joys of your youth. 1906-1991 – RIP

Robert W. Paulette – for letting me spend so much of your time with you in your shop so many different times. For offering your wisdom and guidance when I was a youth, for so generously sharing your knowledge of machine and tool work with me. 1911-1997 – RIP

(And……… The internet. What can I say. Much more effective than post cards, letters, back when too many long distance phone calls had to be part of the monthly budget and fruitless trips.)

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[MMasa]

Steve
The bike looks ABSOLUTELY gorgeous!
Congratulations on a job EXCEPTIONALLY well done.
Mark

[TechNoir]

Wow Steve, what a fantastic motorcycle.

I cannot imagine how excited and proud you must feel right now. What a wonderful achievement to have got to this point.

Thanks for the shout out it wasn’t needed but is appreciated. I am honoured to have been a smallest bit of help it has been a genuine pleasure conversing with you and following your progress.

I am looking forward to your first ride.

I am genuinely excited to hear that you have got there although I am sure it is only a tiny fraction of the excitement that you are feeling right now.

John

[Steve Swan]

Steve
The bike looks ABSOLUTELY gorgeous!
Congratulations on a job EXCEPTIONALLY well done.
Mark

Thank you John, for your kind words. Looking forward to the revival of your 20J !

[painterdale]

Steve, I couldn't be more excited for you! Congratulations! Fantastic job.
Dale

[Steve Swan]

Steve
The bike looks ABSOLUTELY gorgeous!
Congratulations on a job EXCEPTIONALLY well done.
Mark

Thanks Mark ! Your cam is pretty much the heart of the engine. And your transmission and clutch parts get it moving down the road.

I went up to the shop today and decided i would start it. It fired the 2nd kick after 2 prime kicks.

[Steve Swan]

Steve, I couldn't be more excited for you! Congratulations! Fantastic job.
Dale

Thanks Dale !

[Shaky Jake]

Wow. What a beautiful thing. Well done sir.




Kevin

[Steve Swan]

Wow Steve, what a fantastic motorcycle.

I cannot imagine how excited and proud you must feel right now. What a wonderful achievement to have got to this point.

Thanks for the shout out it wasn’t needed but is appreciated. I am honoured to have been a smallest bit of help it has been a genuine pleasure conversing with you and following your progress.

I am looking forward to your first ride.

I am genuinely excited to hear that you have got there although I am sure it is only a tiny fraction of the excitement that you are feeling right now.

John

Thanks John for your kind words. Looking forward to your thread on the 20J coming back !

[Steve Swan]

well, today was a beautiful day, so i rolled the old fellow out into the sun and took a few more pictures. looks alot better on the ground than it does on the lift. then i rode it around the grounds a bit. everything seemed to work like it was supposed to. maybe tomorrow i'll go across the street where there's a nice quiet neighborhood with a large loop where i can get it into 3rd gear. the man on with the big grin is my buddy Ray Arndt. he's been in the motorcycle industry 51 years. he and his wife Cindy closed their "Mom & Pop" shop, March 1st, 2014. I had the privilege of working for Ray full time from 2011 til they closed their doors in 2014. Ray's the guy who said, "Why don't you build it?" when i was bringing in pieces to the shop to share the pain and the joy.

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[Steve Swan]

here's a few more pics. The Olive Green really is wonderful color, it shifts it's hue, depending on the light.

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[Steve Swan]

and for shits an giggles, here's some pics of me on different bikes i had growing up.

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[Steve Swan]

Wow. What a beautiful thing. Well done sir.




Kevin

Thanks Kevin, i appreciate your commendation !

[harleytoprock]

Bravo! Well done! Words can't describe how much I admire your craftsmanship! I wish we lived closer. It would be an honor and a privilege to ride with you on
our JD's.