Manuals for Longer Motorcycle Life–Wolfgang Book Review

Back in the ’70s, you could buy a Panhead or a knucklehead, but you couldn’t find a manual. You can’t do shit without a manual. I was a kid, with my first real job working at Easyriders. The bosses had just reprinted the Harley-Davidson Panhead manual, and it sold like hotcakes. Then they reprinted the Knucklehead manual and the aftermarket was saved. We had something to refer to when chopping the shit outta an old H-D.

The famous Shadley Brothers. Paul is the long-haired hippy sitting on the bike. His brother Mark is going gray trying to control him.

So, what’s the bottom line? Manuals and helpful books are the key to any successful motorcycle construction effort. Knowledge is king. That’s the Tim Remus mantra behind his company, Wolfgang Publishing. That’s all he prints, helpful bike building, and recently, Tattoo instructional books.

This particular book was written by a couple of the best custom builders in the business, the Shadley brothers, Paul and Mark. They’ve been building bikes since their high school days. They opened their first Whitman, MA, car shop in 1981, became Hamsters, and build some of the finest customs in the country. About 1990 they opened a custom bike shop within their auto center. They build, maintain, store, and fabricate, so they were a natural for this basic maintenance book.

Changing oil often is a good thing.

How to Fix American V-Twin Motorcycles covers essential maintenance, including oil changes and the Shadley Code of the East. “We like to see a new engine get its first oil change at 250 miles. Harley says 1000 miles, said Mark, “but we think oil is cheap. The first few hundred miles is when the engine is breaking in, all those metal parts are getting to know each other and shearing off little pieces of metal. You want to get all those contaminants out of there as quickly as possible.”

A section is devoted to tools and what you need for basic maintenance. Another chapter teaches you the theory behind brakes and the mechanics involved. It discusses rotors, pads, and assembly. They teach you how to test rotor trueness, pad thickness, bleeding brakes, the differences in brake fluid, something I can never remember, and how to use Loctite.

This book deals predominately with stock Harley-Davidsons and covers some of the basics not mentioned in Harley manuals. If you recently bought a new or used Harley, it’s a damn good notion to buy a manual for that model, then a parts manual and this book would be most helpful. I like a parts manual due to the handy illustrated breakdowns, which are lifesavers, and ease of finding part numbers for ordering little missing chunks.

I’m about to install and new Spyke alternator charging system into our 5-Ball Factory Racer project bike, and I think I’ll read through this chapter on electrical before I fuck something up. They cover the code, the theory, and assembly. Plus there’s a detailed diagnostics section, with lots of photos. The electrical chapter also covers the starting systems, batteries, and lights. I better read the entire bastard.

The book goes on to cover wheels, tires, wheel bearings, and front end maintenance. I wish I had this book when I was tearing into our 2003 Road King. There’s a chapter on shocks, theory, and installation. They cover tune-ups from points to sparkplugs. The pages are large and the photos easy to see what the hell is going on. Carbs are dissected, explained, and rejetted. They cover stock CV units, Mikuni, and S&S.

To wrap it up, they documented storage notions, dealing with batteries during off-season, VOES switches, and how to get the most out of a dyno run. That’s the basics of the basics. Now here’s the deal. If you’ve read this far and would like one of these books, ordering information is below. But Tim was kind enough to send me ten copies. The first ten guys to e-mail Bandit a jpg photo of their bike, with their address will receive a copy for free. Send your photos to Bandit@Bikernet.com.

Hell, I’ll stuff a Bikernet sticker in each book, and beg Sin Wu to take them to the post office. Can’t beat that offer. You can also order any of Tim’s many books at any bookstore. Hey, all the books are gone. See the winners on the next page. See the Book info below.

Shadley Bros.
115 Bedford St.
P.O. Box 127
Whitman, MA 02382
WWW.shadleybros.com

Click on the banner to order a book on line.

BIKER BASICS SERIES

How to Fix American V-Twin Motorcycles
#4-3083
Author: Shadley Brothers
ISBN: 1-929133-72-3
ISBN -13: 978-1-929133-72-7
SERIES: Biker Basics
$27.95

Ownership of a modern American Motorcycle – no matter how good it is – requires certain mechanical skills. This new book from Wolfgang Publications covers all the skills needed to do basic maintenance and repairs on your American motorcycle.

From adjusting the clutch cable to installing brake pads, this book explains in both words and photos how to safely do your own work. Instead of taking the bike back to the dealer or shop where you bought it, roll it into your garage and do it yourself.

When you’re trying to learn something for the first time, there’s nothing like a good photo, or series of photos, that show exactly how the operation is performed. Wolfgang Publications believes that more photos make for better books, and this one is illustrated with over 400 color images.

There is no such thing as a maintenance free motorcycle. Save money and gain satisfaction. Learn how to do your own repairs in your own small shop with this new 144-page book from Wolfgang Publications. Order by mail at PO Box 223, Stillwater, MN; by phone at 651-275-0194, or on the web at www.wolfpub.com. The book is priced at $27.95 + $5.50 S&H.

Hayes VanSchoubroek, from Alexandria, KY came close. Bandit will attempt to find a Sportster book from Wolfgang for him.

Amazing, all the books were gone by noon the next day. Here’s the winners and we’re going to talk to the notorious Wolfgang Publishing crew about more book deals in the future. Check out the winners. Hell, I pushed it to 11 winners. Each will receive a book, and a Bikernet sticker, suitable for framing…

Hey Bandit, you old sonuvabitch,

I want one of those free copies of “How to Fix American V-Twin Motorcycles.”

–Ricky Powell
Bokchito, OK

Hi Bandit, you no-count bastard,

The photo is not that good but it is all I had. 1976 FLH that I rebuilt.

–Phil Babcock
Hudson, NH

Here’s mah pic. Can’t wait to read mah new book and fix some stuff.

–Mike Powers
Longwood, FL

Howdy from the Big Horn Mountains! Here is my pic. Give me a shout if you are in the neighborhood, I’ll lock the doors and warn the cops.

–Doc
Shell, WY

Bandit,

Got the email earlier that I made it for the manual.As for out of focus, I think you are hung over today.Now this pic you`ll complain she has too many clothes on & is not a redhead.

–Fish
Alexandria, KY

Bandit-

I’m sending the pic of a friend’s 08 Street Glide- he’s new to Harleys and could use the manual. Unfortunately doesn’t have an e-mail (or a computer- go figure!), so I figured I’d enter for him.

–Keith

Steve Elliot
Ingersoll, Ontario
Canada

See…I really need the helpAlright. It was an old picture. I got it back together. I have a factory manual. But now I’ve got my son’s Sportster to take care of as well. I like free stuff…can’t help it.

-jack-
Sam Burns
San Marcos, TX

Hey Bandit,

Here are my photos, Hope I am in time for a free how to book!!

–Gordon Claunch
Bakersfield,Ca 93311

Bandit,

Here’s hopin’ I’m one of the first ten guys to e-mail you pictures for the Shadley Bros. new how-to book.

Just to hedge my bet I am also including pictures of my son’s ’99 Sportster. He is currently serving in the Navy, hence the flag, and also a picture of my wife’s ’07 nightster that became our Christmas tree last year, (doesn’t she look pleased?)

I’ll be waiting by the mailbox

–Rich Collins
Rockford, Illinois

P.S. If you wanted to send a large T-shirt it would go along way in getting me out of the dog house, for sending you the picture of my wife without her permission.

Hey shit for brains,

Me and the ol’ out fer a ride.

Eric Phillips
Bruceton mills, wv

Photos by the Shadley Bros