March and ready

March 14th and I´m ready to start, that´s a first.
The front head is in place.
The new cam is installed and the only thing left is to figure out
some clever stand that locks the bike with the wheels up if i´m alone and use the remote starter, I´ll dream something up over the week.

Head assembly

Assembling a cylinder head takes some work and patience.
Done with the guide replacements I got my seats adjusted by Cala in the impressive Sunnen VGS20 and they now check out within .00015" (Inch) when we take the concentricity readings.
It is a big difference to use the mm indicator which reads in .002 mm increments rather than the common .001 Inch, sure it`s the same factual but the gauge action is so much more obvious.

Most of the assembly is like other heads but, getting the valve spring cups, or "tin`s adjusted and the rocker arms shimmed to the right position takes some time and repeated mock ups where one has to tighten everything in the right sequence, rocker arms, rocker box and check free movement, take it a part, adjust do it again, take end play, shim and over again. (you figured right, it´s a lonesome deal and requires a solid rock channel...)
Anyway I use cast Alu. "tin´s" FHP style, and I had to replace the front Intake one, so I prepared a new one never used, and that took some work, as I had to open the spring cup dia. and mill the rocker arm path for clearance, weld and relocate one threaded hole for the cover as well as weld the cover to facilitate machining clearance for the roller .
The old FHP spring cups does not locate like the stock ones with the guide thru the tin but still need some help getting located so I machine the Valve spring bottom cap with a short flange to snap around the guide flange and fit to the hole in the cup. After two nights I´m ready to shim spring height and close up the front head and that´s usually only one night´s work, I´m happy.
Update: Back to using original tins, the Al has a tendency to crack due to spring loads and action. also the tins provides better room as  they are for the springs.

Starter Hub

Allright, time to get busy.
It`s late January so things better get going.
Finished machining the hub for the starter.
Also I got some valuable advice on the starter routine
form the Bikeline Team, Ulf Ögge and his Crew Chief
Ola, Hand Crank using a good quality ratchet handle
to just after TDC, hands off throttle.
If this works allright I´m in good shape for testing
cams and maybe also tune in to E85.
I have to do some homework on E85 ,basically Comp. required and
if/what the Mikinis will react to it, the starter comes handy and tuning in may just be a breeze.

Straight Line Frame

The latest version of this bike uses a Unique frame.
Unique is the effort to maintain a straight line from the Rear axle to Engine drive.
Way back gearboxes where raised for ground clearance on track bikes but on the "Mother" it´s an effort to distribute load.
Unique is also the manufacturer, Unique Custom Cycles (UCC) did this one for Calas High Performance more than 10 years ago and some details are typical for UCC back then.
I´m lucky to get my hands on this one, CNC Engine mounts, gearbox is raised about an inch and tubes are 4130.
UCC are among the most talented chassie builders and I´m truly impressed with everything that leaves their shop.

Starting the "Mother"

Kickstarting the bike in the normal setup is undramatic, attention to the condition of the kick gears and cover setup gives confidence.
Last season I ran with a failed Valve spring retainer on the fr. intake and it took me a while to figure. The valve keepers moved and the rocker arm hit the edge of the retainer which resulted in a worn valve guide and oil contaminating the combustion and, starting became a nightmare.
But it is also somewhat unpractical to kick start when on the dyno or when testing different setups.
I noticed the setup used on the Pro Stock Buell´s, like European Champion Ulf Ögge and took a closer look at their hand held gear reduction unit and after comparing it to other alternatives it came out as optimal for my purposes, so its on it´s way from Star Racing.
The Pro Twin Class rules does not allow this to be used in the actual race
so I will have stay in Kick shape....Heavier is better i guess...
The unit gets here next week, its fitted with two motors, reduction gearbox and out of the snout the drive is square, so I'm heading for the shop to manufacture the hub to be bolted on the Crank drive.