Springer Solid Bushing Kits Ain't All The Same

Evidently that is the case. I was going to write a blog about swapping these out on the 2008 Crossbones springer frontend, but it didn't quite work out yet. Hopefully, I have the correct one on order now. The eBay pictures and fitments are all over the place.

SC Fest 2017 - Getting Home

Not a lot to say and not a lot of pictures from Sunday. I was just wanting to get home. The sun beams through clouds were beautiful, but I couldn't get those captured correctly on camera.

SC Fest 2017 - Saturday Explorations

Tim and I went off across the country side to see the sights and shake down the new fuel pump set-up.








Flint veins in the rocks.

SC Fest 2017 - Fix up

I stole this picture from Shemp. I was running on about 3 hours of sleep and I had spent about 3 hours touring San Angelo searching for possible solutions to my fuel pump problems. Luckily Tim lent me his bike, so I didn't have to make the trip at 80 mph. So I got an electric fuel pump and Mike and I got to work on it.

This picture is about the time I told everyone that I didn't need more help or any Shovelhead logic applied to my Kawasaki problems. I have tried that logic before and it didn't work. I was pretty much a dickhead at this point.


So here's the solution this time. This Mr. Gasket Electric Fuel Pump #42S - 2 PSI / 3.5 PSI - 28 GPH. About $50 and available at just about any Autozone or O'Reilley's. I was a bit concerned because the stock hose starts at 5/16 and steps down to 1/4 at the filter before it goes to the pump and carb. The Mr. Gasket is 5/16 on both ends.



Well the 1/4 inch hose can be jammed over the 5/16 outlet just fine and the unit comes with a filter. A few zipties and hose clamps and you're plumbed in.


The wiring was a bit of a head scratcher, but not really. The stock set up cuts off the pump when the engine is not running and/or with engine shut off switch turned to off. The pump also runs with the starter spinning, too. We couldn't figure out how to get that complicated, so it we ran just to on with the key on. There's potential to pump out all the gas in a tip over wreck, but you're already having a bad day at that point. The other terrible thing about the wiring was the scotch locks. These connection will need to be more permanent if this is more permanent.


This rig actually worked. I may go back to a stock pump.  However, I will make good soldered connections with quick connect ends in place and carry the Mr. Gasket as a spare.

SC Fest - Friday Party.

It was a full moon. It always seems to be for these things. (Minifest 2016 Another Minifest 2016, SC 2014)


I need to figure out how to use the tripod, camera settings, and digital enhancements to avoid using a flash at night. Mike voices his disapproval.




Mark is tired.


Pibb is ready to party.

SC Fest 2017 - Fuel Pump Problems

My bike started doing funny things after the construction stop. It was warm, but not even really hot yet. Remember my problems and attempted solutions 1 and 2, on my last 1500 and how I finally bit the bullet and bought the $300 Kawasaki pump? Now on this bike, I had fuel pump problems a little bit back and had another brilliant idea of using a $25 eBay fuel pump. Well that pump got real weak when it was kind of hot. I never did like that noisy bastard.


Yep. The outlet side was dry as a bone.


Another roadside by pass. It usually works okay for the top half of the day.


The last time I ran on the bypass it worked pretty decent. Well this time I had to go about 75 mph or so to keep a good siphon of gas flowing to the carb. I left the group behind at the Shovelheads' pace.
Texas does have nice smooth roads for hauling it when you need to. However, I had a bird run out and pop up right in front of me. It hit the speedo nacelle first and everything else hit my left side and arm.

SC 2017 - More on the Road

This was my only decent backwards shot.








Mark says, "Hi, ya'll."





Another gas stop.











Chasing the sun.