From: | Dave Hennessey | e-mail: | dave@toyhouse.org |
Subject: | You won't believe this GOOD luck | Date: | Mon Oct 22 19:03:19 2007 |
The Lost Kick-Starter Saga continues... FRIDAY, I carefully examined the roadside for the entire 8-mile (not 6) route. I walked about 3 or 4 miles, then I turned to my trusty Harley Hummer for the rest. I could ride the Hummer at a "walking pace", and it was easy to dismount when needed for a closer look. I found lots of stuff: 1 dead deer 1 dead raccoon 1 dead snake 1 live chipmunk 2 U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey survey markers 1 John Deere part (combine?) 2 wooden wire spools - took one home to wrap electric cord 1 5-gallon plastic gas can - will go back and look at this 1 trailer wheel & tire 5627 beer cans (mostly Bud Lite) 0 Henderson kick-starter cranks SATURDAY morning, I took a piece of 3/4 steel rod, heated the bejesus out of it, and bent it into a nicely radiused (if I say so myself) 90 degree turn, and cut off the extra. Not trusting pins at the moment, I drilled a 3/8 hole where the pin would go. I took a long 3/8 bolt, shortened the threaded area so the un-threaded area would go all the way through the socket - and an extra 1/2" or so past the "bump-out" in the case which holds the crank in an upright position, and double-nutted it. To keep the extra 1/2" from sliding backwards, I applied chewing gum. Amazingly, the gum worked fine for two days, but this appears to be a high-maintenance item. Of course, this is my fault for either not pounding the pin in tightly, or for using a 77-year-old pin that should have been replaced. Ed Mitzner (KJ 30124) told me that he had lost his pin twice, and FOUND IT TWICE - but he had only driven about 1 mile in a residential neighborhood. So I feel a little better that I'm not the only one... ED - why don't you tell us your story? SUNDAY, neighbor George Downs and another member of the AMCA Highland Chapter turned their weekly road ride into a scavenger hunt, but they too found: 0 Henderson kick-starter cranks NOW THE GOOD NEWS: One KJ owner offered a spare on a short-term "copy and return" basis. Another KJ owner offered one for a long-term "copy and return". And one KJ owner offered a spare "for sale". So, one way or another, I'll have a permanent replacement soon. And I'm back on the road temporarily - as long as I don't run out of Juicy Fruit. What a wonderful group of people us antique motorcyclists are! Thank you all for your help. Dave --- In retrospect, a pin is probably not the best idea. If you were building Hendersons, how would you improve on this design? |