'27 JD Cut Down Project - SWAN

[Steve Swan]

Hi Sverre, thank you for post and your excellent link. Amazing the old cut down boys posted the highest speeds, 118 mph 2-cam and 115 single cam IoE bikes. Definitely understandable the factory was not happy with the results, but also speaks to the durability of a venerable engine design. Thanks for claiming ownership to your blue cutdown, having collected pictures off the internet of various cut downs during the earlier stages of my custom, yours is one that caught my eye immediately, standing out with it's low sleek appearance. it is nice to know the really great modifications you made to the bike to make it an very attractive example of period cut down bikes.

As i began gathering pieces to my bike and considering my personal situation, it became evident to me that the bike i wanted to build needed to fit my circumstances and my idea of what i thought/think i am setting out to accomplish. As a result, i don't think my project is going to fall in either category of cut down or bobber, and the original parts i am using are such that the bike could be changed into a more stock form, or for that matter if anyone wanted to modify any of the original parts, that would be an option also. as it is, i am going to use some parts that give it the look i can enjoy, namely the 28 inch modern wheels, Sport Solo tanks and speedster bars. The engine internals i've decided to go with will offer long term reliability, care free riding adhering to stock specifications without the concern a major moving original part breaking that could end in a catastrophic failure. As i am a more or less humble old farm boy, i am using anything i can within the context of my present personal abilities and constraints. Not wanting to back myself into a corner using Model T parts or the Velo muffler, i can always back out of using them with no regret and decide on something else should i want to. In any event, i am looking forward to see and ride the end result. Right now i am working on figuring out how to mount a period car tail light with another stop light like was on my dad's '27 (only with a green STOP lens). For me, at least half the fun building a custom for me is building my first bike with non-stock parts, as i have always kept my bikes in factory trim.

[Steve Swan]

I'm not getting a whole lot done, but every little thing is one more step to get things rolling down the road. Got my brackets made for the tail/stop light combination. I truck tail light looks a lot better than i thought it would; it's not as big looking as appears in pictures. i found the STANLEY reflectors when i was going through some boxes, they kind of match the greenish-bluish stop light lens and help hide the bracket a car license plate mounts to, little out of context from what's original, but i've got a Kawasaki front brake, a Suzuki bolt and a Honda bolt on the project, so what the hay. The narrow Sport Solo repro tanks look sleek from the rear. They are new, i took them in on trade from my buddy for getting his '29 down the road. The short story about these tanks is i had to send them to Bob Gamache, they had to be heavily reworked to fit the frame and move tabs to correct places. Damn good thing the tanks were stripped, they were loaded with bondo, and had four major pinholes under the bondo. if the krap covering the pinholes had not been removed they would not have been discovered. i can see it now, me and my bike going up in flames. As far as who made these tanks, what i will say is they are NOT Tom Feeser's. i don't think it's going to be much longer before Wiff and i get the lower end finished, he's working on making a bob weight; the S&S truing tools we have, the bob weights are fit later flywheels. Long term, i've decided for the color of the tanks, fenders, chain guards and battery box i am going to go with a light grey/blue color. have been playing with the idea of some sort of tu-tone, maybe like frame and/or forks be a light grey or a light blue or maybe just the frame a grey or blue. or maybe some contrasting color. maybe just the frame a maroon or black...

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[Steve Swan]

I know i am repeating myself, BUT, this Velocette fishtail silencer used to be on a good friend's o.p. blue '48 Chief; we live a few miles from each other where i grew up in NE Nebraska. His name was Duane Dreesen and he had a pretty amazing collection of very old stuff, two vehicles that stand out was a 1904 ohv Buick and a 1937 Hudson Terraplane; i believe the '04 Buick was very first ohv engined production automobile. Duane frequented AMCA meets back in the 70's, and 80's, pal'd around with Paul George and Howard Wagner. Duane never got over being given so much grief for his obsession of Powell scooters. in any event, this fishtail came off Duane's Chief and if you new Duane, he rarely if ever parted with anything. I kept bugging Duane that fishtail did not belong on the Chief sticking way godawful up in the air, that he should give it to me, he finally broke down and unbolted it from the Chief and handed it to me with the admonishment, "Don't you ever sell that." Duane's been gone now probably at least 15-20 years, i've kept the fishtail since the late 80's, and as yet have not been able to get the idea of it not going on my '27 custom out of my head. last evening i explored all possible different positions i might be able to fit the silencer and wound up this position is the only option. I have sufficient clearances where clearances for brake rod, kick starter; round clearance is just over 2 inches. The trick is going to be fabricating a connecting pipe from exhaust pipes to silencer. i won't know what that connector is going to need to be like until i have the engine in the frame.

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[aumick10]

Steve,
Muffler looks ok there. Did you try it upside down?
Your brake rod looks to be hanging low. Mine up up almost touching the gearbox.
Another stupid question but does your throttle cable push or pull to go fast?
Cheers,
Mick

[Steve Swan]

Mick, yes, the brake rod is low, that was part of my trying to get the silencer to fit upside down and backwards. not a stupid question at all, if i understand what you are asking, to go fast i turn the spiral in towards me and close my eyes real tight. Both spirals should both be right hand.

i'm surprised there isn't more active JD people on this forum. i'd like to have a few people making fun of the fishtail. and commenting on both our threads. they probably all wasted away from knuckle fever and are in the poorhouse. so sad. as it is, i have to go to JD farcebook to get all the attention i crave.

[aumick10]

Steve,
Worked out my oiler problem.
I assumed the handlebars were assembled correctly. bad idea on my part.
I stripped both spirals and I have a left and a right. And of course they were backwards.
I will swap the spirals over and my oil pump will work as it is designed.

I found two different inlet towers, so i have just cleaned up a matching pair of 28's and have rockers to match.

Hopefully get the motor sealed up tomorrow.
Cheers,
Mick

[Steve Swan]

Mick, what was your oiler problem? Sounds like you are making good progress!

[Steve Swan]

Does anyone remember Duane Dreesen? http://norfolkdailynews.com/obituari...36880a9fe.html

[Steve Swan]

If you haven't heard of Gene Austin, he put out many #1 jazz hits throughout the 20's. i remember Dad singing several of these songs when i was a kid. Wasn't until i found Gene that i realized where Dad got these songs....! Dad in is ROTC uniform astride his JD. He was a bit of a hooligan, i remember him telling me how he would prowl Burnett Woods in Cincinnati late nights, early mornings shining his spotlights into steam-covered car windows. Am sure if he'd been caught by the police, wouldn't have been good. Nowadays that's called impersonating a police officer.......

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[Steve Swan]

big milestone. got my Colorado title today for 27JD 13514. personally mailed to Montpelier, Vermont dmv notarized bill of sale (my buddy "sold" me my bike that was already mine), insurance card, state of Vermont dmv registration application form and Colorado in-state vin inspection (took the left crankcase to a dealer friend of mine). 3 weeks later received back Vermont registration and license plate. took the Vermont registration, Colorado out of state vin inspection, and insurance card to my local dmv this past Thursday; requested title and registration. Boom! Got the title in the mail today! 5 year collector plate's in the mail. at least in Colorado, no middleman "title broker" such as International Title, Broadway Title or MotoRecycle Title company is needed. since Vermont does not require title on vehicles 25 years and older, i can't imagine any state would not be obligated to accept Vermont dmv registration to apply for title in that state.

[TechNoir]

big milestone. got my Colorado title today for 27JD 13514.

Fantastic news, that is something to celebrate. How far off is it from being complete?

Colorado in-state vin inspection (took the left crankcase to a dealer friend of mine).

This is something that always intrigues me. Here in the UK to get an inspection on an unregistered old vehicle you need to have a complete or near complete vehicle and the major components need to be original or period correct. I have read enough on here to understand the process in the USA and how different states vary, I just find it interesting that you can take just a half of a crankcase for inspection rather than a complete bike.

John

[Steve Swan]

part of it might be having a dealer friend i've known (i used to work for him) the past 20 years to give me a vin inspection on a crankcase half and a buddy who "sold" me my bike. the rest is just how the system is set up, at least in Colorado and Vermont.

my buddy Wiff and i getting our schedules to mesh, we will get the lower end finished sometime soon. will continue to post progress as progress occurs.

[aumick10]

Here in Nevada, you can register a bike with half a crankcase, but you cannot get a title automatically.
You have to apply for a bonded title. which releases the DMV from liability if anyone puts in a claim of ownership.
I had two bikes registered in Vermont, then changed the rego to NV, but still no titles.

[Steve Swan]

yeah, i've done 3 or 4 obtaining title processes through the state of Colorado, takes time, patience and following instructions, seems like every one i did via the state process had some twist or turn that made each one different. i only had to go through the bonded title process once.

[Steve Swan]

Fantastic news, that is something to celebrate. How far off is it from being complete? John

John, i have been in parts accumulating mode the past several months; i think i have everything except maybe a couple small items. My buddy Wiff and i are working on meshing our schedules so we can continue on getting the lower end finished. Will post when progress resumes. Glad to see you back on your 20F. i admire your work.