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?