Source: S&S Cycle

Posted by Sam Kanish

For S&S Generator Case Engines Only!

Got a retro-bike powered by an S&S Cycle vintage engine (Knuckle, Pan or Shovel) that you’d like to show off? Here’s your chance with the IronWorks/S&S Cycle Virtual Bike Show. We’re taking entries for a bike show that we’ll include in a future issue to showcase the class winners. The rules are rather simple, and best of all it’s free to all entrants. Here’s what you need to do:

Step 1: Determine which class your bike falls under, and if you can’t figure that out, not to worry, the seasoned vets in Viola, Wisconsin, can do that for you.

• Restoration: As the name implies, this is for restored bikes that have original H-D frames with original or S&S generator case engines.
• Reproduction: Stock- or near-stock-appearing pre-Evo bikes built using S&S components.
• Retro Custom: Customs with K-, P- or S-Series engines. Anything goes in this category. Our guess is that we’ll see some interesting choppers and bobbers.

Step 2: Take some quality digital photos showing both sides of your bike, plus some detail shots of the S&S components. Quality means just that, so don’t imbibe at least three hours before taking your pictures, and make sure the lighting is right so we can actually see the parts clearly. Place your digital camera on its highest resolution. Low-resolution images won’t be accepted.

Step 3: Finally, upload your images and a word document with contact information (name, email address, phone number) and any relative information about your bike. The more information you provide—the better! This is important: be sure to label your images and word document with your first and last name. Entries that are not properly labeled will be deleted. (i.e. john-doe-001.jpg, john-doe.doc)

Entries close at the end of 2010, so get yours in by December 31 of 2009. We’ll post winners in our April 2010 issue. Entries should be sent via email or sendspace services to bikes@ironworksmag.com

Product Review by Bryan Carter

Now I know Sam’s already said something about this book by S&S, but I just finished looking it over (several times) and I’ve got to say this book is a must have. The copy I was looking over belongs to my boss, but you better believe I’m trying to get my hands on one—pronto.

The book features the work of Orange County Choppers, Bill Dodge, Rick Fairless, Zach Ness, Chica, Donnie Smith, Paul Cox, Kendall Johnson, Jesse Rooke, Arlen Ness and 40 more of the world’s most talented custom motorcycle builders—all this captured by master photographer Michael Lichter.

As a photographer and graphic artist, I can personally vouch for the quality and professionalism of this book by S&S. Nothing was left undone! If your interested in purchasing your own copy of this masterpiece, click here: http://www.motorbooks.com/Store/ProductDetails_42397.ncm

Now this weeks bike candidate for “YOU BE THE JUDGE!” is Lou’s from Oceanside, California. Josh’s Boar’s Nest shop built the bike around a 96″ S&S engine and Rev Tech 5 speed tranny using a Paughco wishbone frame and springer. What do you think about this tasty little bobber? “YOU BE THE JUDGE!”.

Harley made the Knucklehead from 1936-1947. S&S Cycle has recently introduced its Flathead Power KN series engines. I’m sure there will be OEM parts floating around at the reunion. Procedes from the event will benefit the Wake-A-Wish Foundation. Hopefully our friend John Endrizzi will provide us with a gallery of photos from the event. More info: http://knucklenutz.com

S&S Cycle has announced that it’s carbureted 113 ci. V series engine has met TÜV approval. This means the engine has passed and been emission certified for current EURO III noise and exhaust emission standards. Now European custom bike builders can use this big V-twin engine in their creations.

To remain compliant all of the engines will be shipped to European distributors complete and pre-assembled by S&S Cycle engine builders. The engines will be available in natural, black wrinkle and polished finishes.

The engines covered by the executive orders are the S&S V100C, V113C, V124C and X117C. The V100C, V113C, and V124C are carbureted engines with displacements of 100, 113, and 124 cubic inches respectively. The X117C is S&S Cycle’s proprietary fuel injected 56° X-Wedge™ engine with a displacement of 117 cubic inches. Again, all of these engines are intended for “new build” custom motorcycles.

The V-Series engines are compatible with 1984-’99 style custom chassis designed for Harley-Davidson® Evolution® big twin engines, and are available in natural, wrinkle black powder coat and polished finishes. The X-Wedge engine requires a specially designed chassis to accommodate the X-Wedge engine mounts. The X117C is available in silver or wrinkle black powder coat, and polished finishes.

S&S CA engines are similar to the existing S&S 49-State EPA engines, but were made compliant with California evaporative emissions requirements with the addition of a carbon canister, a vapor valve, an evaporative hose routing label, and a sealed air cleaner assembly on the carbureted models. Additional restrictions have also been applied to the maximum capacity of the fuel tank and the distance between the fuel tank and engine.

S&S CA engines are available only through qualified S&S dealers. To become qualified, a dealer is required to pass a simple on-line class and test. This is to ensure that the selling dealer is familiar with the special requirements for compliance. Once these requirements have been met for a particular engine, S&S will issue a Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin (MSO) for the engine. At that time, the motorcycle will be deemed certified, and the owner will be able obtain a title, and registration. The bike can then be offered for sale, sold, or ridden with no mileage or use restrictions.

It should be noted that these engines cannot legally be used to replace the engine in a previously registered vehicle. Looking ahead, S&S is currently working toward approval of one or more replacement engines for 1984-’99 Harley-Davidson big twin motorcycles originally equipped with Evolution engines. Executive orders approving replacement engines are expected sometime before the end of the year. This will allow S&S Cycle to provide owners of older Harley-Davidson motorcycles with an emissions legal performance upgrade and an alternative to rebuilding a worn stock engine.

source: S&S Cycles

S&S Cycle announces the acquisition of certain assets of Crane Cams Inc. Those assets include the inventory, intellectual property, and trademarks for all Crane automotive and motorcycle electronic products and for Crane motorcycle valve train products.

S&S intends to continue to sell Crane products through the same distributors and dealers who have sold them in the past. To that end, they will establish a new facility in Daytona Beach, Florida to manage the business and provide customer service and technical support. This new facility will be staffed by many of the same personnel that Crane customers have worked with in the past, providing as seamless a transition as possible. While there may be some shortages of product in the near future, the Crane/S&S team will be working hard to fill back orders and meet future demand for Crane ignitions and motorcycle valve train components.

Since the acquisition does not include the Crane facility or equipment, manufacturing of valve train products will be moved to the S&S manufacturing facility in Viola, Wisconsin. S&S CEO George Smith comments: “The addition of this product line is a natural fit for our current in-house cam manufacturing capabilities as our equipment and processes are state of the art. We’re also excited that the highly successful Crane motorcycle and automotive electronics line is included with this acquisition. This will further strengthen S&S Cycle in the electronics field by providing additional expertise to improve our product offerings in late model ignitions, among other things.”

The Patriot Suspension fork springs are in place as are the Paul Yaffe/Bagger Nation “Bagger Apes” handlebars. Nestled in the frame, which has also been powdercoated, sits my engine which has been rebuilt by S&S Cycles into an 89 ci stroker. Progressive Suspension shocks in the rear should provide a smooth ride.

Slowly but surely the project is coming together. There’s even a rumor that the paint is getting ready to go on my parts. At least now Smitty can add most of the parts on the handlebars and get some of the wiring started because of the extra length of the handlebars.

In the April issue of IronWorks, Knucklehead fanatic John Endrizzi has an excellent article about the new KN. John got to visit S&S and get an inside look at the new motor and how it was developed after S&S bought Flathead Power. Since I’m not a wrench John’s article is much more informative than I could ever be.

1942 Knuckle, a true classic

I wish I had never sold my old ’47 EL but now I wish I had the cash to get a KN and build a tasty little Bobber around it.

Rivas won the race but Harley factory team rider Eddie Krawiec won the overall season championship on his Screamin’ Eagle/Vance and Hines machine. Krawiec became the second rider in the history of the class to win the championship without winning a finals race the entire season.

The 2009 race schedule will be posted soon at www.NHRA.com

resources: S&S Cycle, Harley-Davidson

Part of the make over was a new paint job by a well known shop, so most of the sheet metal and fiberglass got packed up and shipped to California in April. They’re still there, you know how fickle artists can be. So I figured I’d take the time to mention and thank some of the companies that have supplied parts and services to the project. The bike is being reassembled into a roller as you read this.

New Castle Harley-Davidson/Buell in New Castle, Pennsylvania is doing the reassembly with other services provided by Ballistic Industries and Jack Burford Auto Services. S&S Cycle did the engine rebuild with an 89 ci stroker kit. Other companies who have supplied parts so far are SuperTrapp, Progressive Suspension, Paul Yaffe’s Bagger Nation, Continental Tires, Patriot Suspension, Hawg Halters and WindVest.

My personal thanks to all of them and to Paul Holdsworth, Bill Albrant, Dain Gingerelli and Marilyn Stemp for their persistance and cajolling to get these companies to supply the parts for the make over. Hopefully the project will be completed soon and it’ll join the pictures in my gallery. Of course there is going to be a spread on the project with a more complete resource list in a future issue of IronWorks magazine. I would also like to thank Victory Motorcycles, Longbow Motorcycles and my friends Jodi & R.W. Grafton and Bill Bomberger for loaning me bikes to ride during the make over.

If you’ve already had some work done to your bike the S&S VFI Module can handle any engines from 88 to 145 cubic inches. Best of all it’s a direct replacement for the stock part. The VFI Module and the Closed Loop Sensor will set you back about $500 during this special. But that’s way cheaper than a new motor or a new motorcycle. You can get the work done at your local S&S VFI Tuning Center. If you don’t know where one’s at go to www.sscycle.com and you can locate one through their site.