1940 SS Knuckle

[ericthebeard]

On that head-on skinny shot, I love that the side-mounted mag is the widest part of the bike ������

[seaking]

I had a reminiscent piss after a long spat in the garage last night and it hit me--this bike has so. much. fucking time in polishing alone! I absolutely wouldn't have the patience.

--design the part (lots of mental anguish spent in that, I'm sure a mech eng degree would help)
--figure sequence of construction
--Hog--then finish mill, knowing that the next step could fuck up all previous work.
--Fit the part.
--POLISH. hiding all the mistakes. fuck that noise.

Then wonder how the whole thing is going to fit together once it's done, is the reward worth it? You've got some serious talent regardless of the outcome of this whole competition.

[CTNewman]

Been doing a bad job of keeping the forum updated. Pretty current on Instagram though.

Made this trans plate from 316. Since I was making it to fit the trans case I had, I was able to maintain on;y .002 clearance fit on the alignment tabs on the bottom of the transmission so the belt adjustment stays super square.





Next I worked on some clutch linkage. All these parts are stainless and handmade, with the exception of the cone cable clamp nut. All parts have bronze bushings at pivot points. Cable rides around a pulley to actuate clutch throwout fork.

HERES A VIDEO THAT IS PROBABLY CLEARER: https://www.instagram.com/p/BUIrD-TFTqT



















Then I pressure tested my frame since it’s also the oil lines. No leaks! Also added two ports with supermag drain plugs in it. Here’s a video describing the oil flow path: https://www.instagram.com/p/BUXdb6elmhX



I also had to make an NPT to banjo adapter so I started with an off the shelf fitting:



And made it nicer:





Next I made a kicker pedal shaft. I made it so that it folds in real far allowing me to get my foot on the pegs:







Then I made the actual pedal out of sheet metal.

[nuklhd]

very nice. very very nice.

[Fruttolo]

Is your pedal made of 13 hand cut, shaved, polished pieces of perfectly shaped together sheetmetal and 12 spacers? You must be kidding me

I am drooling all over your clutch fork actuator pin ball, that thin shaft is incredible in the rest of the incredibleness

[Strangler]

I'm tryin! I got the clutch linkage almost wrapped up, hope to finish that tonight, took all weekend.

I have to finish the motor, hopefully this week.

Clutch linkage (almost done) (1 more day)
Install valves and finish top end. (3 days)
Add drain bungs on frame (.5 day)
Leak test frame (.5 day)
5th trans mount (will have to be sort of funky, I think) (one day)


Once I have the tins back:
Front pipe rear section (1 day)
Shift arm (1 day)
Oil lines: once complete send to nickel plate w/ knuckle nuts (1 day)


Once I have the motor complete:
Rear pipe (1 day)
Carb support (.5 day)
Finish bird deflector (.5 day)


Any time:
Grips (1 day)
Kicker pedal (2 days)
Gas Cap (1 day)

End:
Seat closeoff (1 day)
Wiring and taillight mounting (1 day)
Bars (1 day)


I have to leave in 35 days.

Definitely running low on time!!!

I hope that you were able to get your bike finished in time. Good luck if so. Beautiful machine.

[Dragstews]

^^^ Ditto ^^^

My buddy from Vegas will be there with his two Sporties ... The 93" 75 XLH and his 68 CH ...
Told him to look you up.... And take many pictures of the Knuck ...

[EJensen]

HE WON!

XnewmanX won People's Champ, so he will be showing at Born Free today with the invited builders.

[Dragstews]

[Yodhan]

Congrats man. That bike is so beautiful

[Tattooo]

Hell, that is one bad ass muther fucker...... Was there any doubt that he wouldn't win?????? Not on my end.............

[hillcat]

Just found this thread and my mind is BLOWN!
Congratulations on a well deserved win.
So cool... wow

[fastfiat]

Saw the bike at Born Free today. Incredible. Congratulations.

[nuklhd]

fastfiat, did you get any pictures? i'd like to see it in the wild.

[fastfiat]

No i did not, sorry.

[Strangler]

Congratulations xnewman!!

[CTNewman]

OK. So here is the deal. It was madness trying to get the bike done before going to born free. Had first start the sunday before BF, then left monday morning. So far I have only ridden it a few hundred yards, but it works!

The trip out took 55 hours, including an 8 hour layover at the cagney's (where most of these pictures were taken, click this link for image credits: http://imgur.com/a/WRaxl) The return trip took 47 hours with essentially zero breaks!

Here's how it shook out.

Thursday night spent all night trying to get Brent's knucklehead running for the PC show. He was one of the final 6 but I put running bikes before competion every time! Couldn't get it going, but I am starting to think the timing was 180 out...

Friday night, I rode from the trailer to cooks and took people's champ! It was my first time riding the bike... on gravel. scary. Won 1000 bucks from 805 beer, a whole bunch of cool stuff from Kenny Kirk, Showclass, Sweatshop industries, ghettotooth, chopper supply co. It was stiff competition. Vintagetechnologies especially brought the heat, but all the bikes were awesome.

The next day I rolled into the invited builders section at born free, a real honor. Got there early and rode into the show (well, just from the trailer) Lots of positive comments! Overheard some haters saying it was dumb but fuck em! That evening they announced the builder's pics. Ringo chop shop and Cheetah.4d took slots 1 and 2. Their bikes are both amazing and I suggest looking them up. I didn't place in top 3, BUT I was invited to Switzerland for the Art and Wheels Basel show, where they will fly me and my bike out next spring! I'm so excited and honored.

On sunday, I wound up winning BEST KNUCKLEHEAD, which is incredible, Vintage Technologies won BEST SPORTSTER with his amazing backwards head ironhead chopper. Then JP Cycles caught me as I was leaving and gave me their "best bike at born free" award! Rode the knuck out of the show feeling great!

Here's a video riding out of born free: https://www.instagram.com/p/BVzyxvUF...en-by=ctnewman

Here's a video of the first ride, into cooks:https://www.instagram.com/p/BVssxdjl...en-by=ctnewman

Huge thanks to everyone who voted in PC5, to showclass, my GF, everyone here who supported me, and to my painter Andy Zion, my motor work from BA Enterprises, Upholstery from Ginger @ newchurchmoto, everyone else who helped or supported me. My dad for letting me use his truck for a 5400 mile journey.

Here are some pics, see above link for image credits:

[Tattooo]

You deserve every award you got and then some..... Your bike is incredible........

[Anthiron]

So glad you won. Incredibly deserving. Even if someone didn't like the end result you would have to respect the hours and design process that went into this bike. We are not worthy!

I am wondering how the SS frame rides? Is the bike incredibly heavy? Anything you would do differently or lessons learnt?

Nick

[xMPRx]

I rode 1400 miles in 2 days to make sure i could put in my vote for your bike at cooks. well deserved man! to be honest martins first place was no shocker but i was really surprised you didn't take 2nd. But I'm sure your going to be getting an invited builder request for next year and i can't wait to see what you come up with! great job man.