Any progress people make on getting Barnsters running, patching survivors or building from piles of misc junk like I started with is a good thing. So if you are than its nice to know money spent is towards the 100% goal of Korrectness, which sits on that spot next to heaven.
But yeah, it all started on a Rat 55KHK Paughco HardTail that amplified every frost heave and patch on our roads. The long worn out forks flopped left or right evenly, with rest following eventually. I road it 2 up till -20, rain or shine every chance...It never left me stranded except once the wiring harness went up in flames. After a fight, and too long at the watering hole it was just as well. Anyway instant and constant love for the KHK was deeply instilled along with the gal who owned it! Years later, They left with a hearty "Get your own dang Harley! Next thing you know I'm sitting where the sun doesn't shine, broke, reading the auto and motorcycle classifieds. "56KHK" for sale...WHAT? and I'm sitting here? Oct. So I call. Hello, I'm Erik, I'm broke, I'm sitting in the can but I want to buy your project. Uh. Ok. Well it's got to go by Dec 15, we are moving to Cali. Ok. Thanks. Dec 5th. MONDAY
Hello, Erik here. Wondering if you still have THE PROJECT. Well, had about a 100 people look at it, but they said too much work. Ohhh. Ok. Uh, well I'm on work release and want to buy it. With 5 cents in my pocket I made an offer. He doubled it and I said sold! Bring it by Friday. DONE. And by Friday I had the cash. So I bought what I eventually called The traveling Circus of worn out, wrong, or Chevy and Indian parts. There were some nice things like extra 52K Engine, Lumpy E .420 cams, 45 cams, K45 cams, KK cams with boots, KR cams, KHK cams, nice Junk I found out. 56KHK cases, cranks, heads, jugs...$10,000 added for parts purchases and 6 years later we're firing up. Had to put the E for Erik cams in. My helper and I discussed it. You have to use the KHK ones...yeahhhh. Than Old Man Shemwell who assembled the stash originally came to me in a dream. "You put those E cams in there sonny, that's why I got them.."
So I put it all together, than found a 56 frame, not 57 like I hhad, so I took it all apart. '99. Now going together... Jump to 2014. Phone rings. BARNSTER K52 finds me after years of searching for her. Heard about it. Like Sasquatch, rumors galore. Complete K in the woods. 45 miles south of town. Bought it on a handshake, with rent money and a promise. AFTER The two ladies left and cancelled 12 showings as they agreed their fathers baby belonged in my house. Before that and lunch, they took me to see her. Chained to a tree 40 years. Rough, but there...Im broke. Its there. Its all rusty. Its mostly there...I have to try..made offer, they raised, I agreed. Ok well we have people all day that want to see it. We will call you. Ok. Well I can pay a little more, but not much I said weakly. No chance of me getting this 52K I figured. But they came back after a lunch. "We cancelled with everyone else, they just talked about how much money they could make etc. Which you never did. " SO. The 52K was about 95% there and original. SURPRISE some of my First K stash had parts that I know came off this only Fairbanks K. Haha. Too cool. And I am ECSTATIC to add original T and wide 52 Seat in place of the Squirrelized Sporty 2 up. And every Helicopter Bolt I replace with a Korrect CP is like YES! Anyway, everyone is right, RIDE THE WHEELS off your K, you won't regret it. Ahhh..can't wait. Gotta get busy...Erik K...ps I'm building KHK cam sets.