The Chop Parlor

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The Chop Parlor Hand Made Choppers, Built to Ride.
&
Vintage American Motorcycle Service. (And Flat Fender Jeeps too)

10/16/2026

You don't need millions of dollars in equipment to do the job correctly.
But it would be cool!

1957 Harley Davidson Hummer

Why?What is happening to craftsmanship and pride work?So you tore up the bleeder on an old Shovelhead Harley. It happen...
10/14/2026

Why?

What is happening to craftsmanship and pride work?

So you tore up the bleeder on an old Shovelhead Harley. It happens, but why wouldn't the mechanic replace it after it happened?

The only answer i can logically come up with is that shops these days run based on the clock instead of quantity work.

For the record, I have no idea whose hands (or wrenches) have been on this bleeder.

10/07/2026

Tech Tip:
How to determine what brake fluid is in your rig.

1) Suck some of the old fluid out of the master cylinder and put it in a glass container.
B) Add a couple drops of water.
III) Stur it a bit.
4) Not 3 and 4 will absorb water and it will mix together. Dot5 will separate.

Follow for fun mechanical junk.

10/06/2026

BEFORE & AFTER
Corrosion from Bonneville on a carburetor slide.

09/28/2026

So... They didn't want to take the time to space the wheel properly, so they just tightened the axle enough to pick the swingarm in?
Yup, this is getting new, correct wheel spacers made to do it right.

If the job is worth doing, it's worth doing to the best of your ability.

And you think you're cool!
09/27/2026

And you think you're cool!

09/15/2026

This is what a shovelhead timken wheel bearing setup should look like.

If you're gonna take the time to do the job, take the time to do the job to the best of your ability!

09/11/2026

Why is it that approximately 50% of the bikes that come to me for the first time have neglected wheel bearings?
IS IT THAT:
A) Other shops avoid it because they don't make as much vs other easy work.
2) Other shops avoid it because its older technology that they don't know how to perform?
C) Other shops avoid it due to laziness?
D) Owner declined the maintenance due to cost?
5) Owners these days are young enough that maintenance free ball bearings are all they know.
F) Nobody even knows that their bearings need to be maintained?
G) Bearings actually dont need grease, don't need to rotate, and I'm just being picky?
8) Bearing failure is adventurous and I'm spoiling their fun?
WHAT DO YOU THINK?

25 years ago today!
09/10/2026

25 years ago today!

SHOVEL SWINGARM PART TWO:Shovelhead Maintenance:Just a reminder that Swingarm Shovelheads have a grease zerk on the bott...
09/09/2026

SHOVEL SWINGARM PART TWO:
Shovelhead Maintenance:
Just a reminder that Swingarm Shovelheads have a grease zerk on the bottom of the pivot.

An old racer legend I know turned me onto Lucus Red & Tacky grease, which is what the new Timken bearings going into this will get.

Address

Gunsmoke
Cave Creek, AZ
85331

Telephone

+14808220909

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