'27 JD Cut Down Project - SWAN

[Steve Swan]

it's pretty amazing all the manufacturer's in existence in those early years producing aftermarket parts and particularly accessories. imagine what the world would be like without the invention of the internal combustion reciprocating engine and imagine what transportation may look like in 500 years.....

[Steve Swan]

been awhile.... got lucky and now have a set of George Hood's inlet housing caps and levers......

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[RichO]

Steve, I hope they are the stockers and not the 1/8 inch offset ones. They are hard on the guides for a street machine but help a j model go like stink on a race model.

[Steve Swan]

Steve, I hope they are the stockers and not the 1/8 inch offset ones. They are hard on the guides for a street machine but help a j model go like stink on a race model.

Rich, they are the 1/8" offset. when i bought them i knew they are hard on guides. How hard are they on guides? is there a guide material that can withstand the wear? i was thinking i would use the offsets with a stock cam.

[aumick10]

Steve,
Where did you get the rocker towers?
Cheers

[RichO]

Steve, The problem is they wear at an angle because of the offset. It doesn't matter what material you use. A race bike doesn't do the miles a street (rider) does. You can use a stock cam because the longer arm takes care of the longer opening of the valve. I know some Cannonball riders that used them and got the wear on one side of the guide. I had two sets and sent them back to George to exchange for two sets of stockers. I know the offsets give you more poop. George should still have some of his HOT cams too but stockers will work for you. Bronze or cast iron will wear about the same I would think. I'm a cast iron guy myself. Good luck!

[Steve Swan]

Thanks for your reply Rich. Do the stockers open the inlet valve more?

[RichO]

No Steve, the offsets do.

[Steve Swan]

Thanks Rich; as i thought, but it never fails there is some little twist to something i don't know.

[Steve Swan]

so, been a while, but my chassis and all the related parts is at the least 98% ready to go. i was using a set of speedster bars, but i did not like how they made me lean so far forward and stuck so straight out, so i put a couple bends in each side (and thank you Scott!) and now they remind me of Jr.Scout bars. with the help of a local buddy, i was hoping to be able to do my own flywheel work, but things just didn't work out, so Truett & Osborn has them. with a little luck, i should be able to have the thing (never been one to give a motorcycle a name, but this one is affectionately named "Frank") running down the road before snow flies in latter 2020. got a lot going on here, graduating in May with my Master's degree and then hopefully a trip to Europe middle of June for 2 months. bucket list stuff. never been out of the states, always wanted to get my Master's and never dreamed i'd own a pair of '27 JD's. i sure can't complain. life is good.

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ps. i raised the horn 2 inches so it doesn't blob/merge into the front fender and hide the Flying J ornament. it's a bit shocking and far from the purist i always thought i was, but between the LED bulb in that 10 inch Model T headlight and that 13 inch Model T horn will make Frank 'n me seen and heard.... also got LED's in tail and stop lights.

https://www.ledlight.com/6-volt-nega...ed-lights.aspx1129 6 volt led lamp 97869.jpg78845m.jpg

[TechNoir]

Looking great Steve, I cant wait to see it complete.

John

[aumick10]

so, been a while, but my chassis and all the related parts is at the least 98% ready to go. i was using a set of speedster bars, but i did not like how they made me lean so far forward and stuck so straight out, so i put a couple bends in each side (and thank you Scott!) and now they remind me of Jr.Scout bars. with the help of a local buddy, i was hoping to be able to do my own flywheel work, but things just didn't work out, so Truett & Osborn has them. with a little luck, i should be able to have the thing (never been one to give a motorcycle a name, but this one is affectionately named "Frank") running down the road before snow flies in latter 2020. got a lot going on here, graduating in May with my Master's degree and then hopefully a trip to Europe middle of June for 2 months. bucket list stuff. never been out of the states, always wanted to get my Master's and never dreamed i'd own a pair of '27 JD's. i sure can't complain. life is good.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]26938[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]26937[/ATTACH]

ps. i raised the horn 2 inches so it doesn't blob/merge into the front fender and hide the Flying J ornament. it's a bit shocking and far from the purist i always thought i was, but between the LED bulb in that 10 inch Model T headlight and that 13 inch Model T horn will make Frank 'n me seen and heard.... also got LED's in tail and stop lights.

https://www.ledlight.com/6-volt-nega...ed-lights.aspx[ATTACH=CONFIG]26933[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]26934[/ATTACH]

Steve,
I must agree with you, life is great. Thought about getting a retirement job, or learning another trade, but figured I would wait until I was bored before i had a thought.
Travelling is definitely on my agenda as well. Been to the UK numerous times when we had Lotus Engineering doing some CFD work for us. Never been to the European mainland.

I have been following both your 27 build's with a great deal of interest. I have the pt no's for the LED lights somewher.
As you are aware, my 1929 JD is almost finished. I am still looking for some OEM parts, but it is running and rideable. In the process of trying to get a bond title for it, and make space to get it outside.
I have decided what the package truck body will look like, and will build it when my mate comes up here to go over the design. He has some aged mahogany planks (I think ) i may be able to use. I have his Shovel on my bench at the moment, trying to figure out what parts came from what year, and making them all work together.
When this shovel comes off the bench, I will start on my 26JD.
Cheers

[Steve Swan]

big progress! i decided to go with Truett & Osborn to do my lower end work. My restored '27 is so smooth running so that helped my decision along. got the lower end back last night and went ahead and painted the cases. i think the Frank will look good in silent grey fellow colors, i went to my local paint store, looked at chips and went for a grey/blue, depending on the light, the color is grey or the color is blue, exactly what i wanted. I've never named a bike before, but this is Frank, shirt tail relations to Frankenstein. i raise the horn to get it away from the fender so the horn is close to the headlight and doesn't merge into the horn

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[TechNoir]

Looking great Steve, I like the grey colour too.

Remind me, is that a new crank or the original refurbed?

It shouldn't take too long to drop the top end on and slot it into the frame.


John

[Steve Swan]

Looking great Steve, I like the grey colour too.

Remind me, is that a new crank or the original refurbed?

It shouldn't take too long to drop the top end on and slot it into the frame.


John

Thanks, john! Good to hear from you! Trust all is well! my lower end is all new; Truett & Osborn flywheels, Carrillo rods and JIMS pins.