From:Tom Lovejoy e-mail:Tom_Lovejoy@Hotmail.com
Subject:RE: RE: Henderson's '31 Henderson - On The Road!!! Date:Sat Jul 2 01:24:32 2011
Response to:3565
Very nice machine and well done!! Alot of us know what you went through, my engine took 5 years. Hope you git many more than that, of fun riding memories.

----- ORIGINAL MESSAGE FOLLOWS -----
Really nice looking Kj, I am glad to here you got it all sorted Eventually and
hope you enjoy many miles on the road.
Jason

----- ORIGINAL MESSAGE FOLLOWS -----
After 8 ½ years of restoration, my 1931 KJ is on the road. I am happy with the
way it has turned out and it was great to take the first ride around the block!
The bike rides great and it sounds even better. Nothing beats the sound of a
four cylinder engine. It’s been a long process and during the restoration I
often said that I wished my name was Cushman for obvious reasons!

I finally found my KJ in 2002 in upstate New York. It was fairly complete but
after inspecting the engine I decided that the babbit bearings and line boring
were a little more than I could get done locally so I decided to have the engine
rebuilt for me. I spoke to Carl but he was busy with other engines and was
winding down on what he still was able to do. In December 2002 I took my
engine and parts to a Henderson expert and was told that it might be two
years before it would be finished. At that time I thought that time frame
would be good as it would give me time to complete the rest of the
restoration and maybe he’d finish early.

To make a very long story short after eight years of frustration and a lot of
money, in the fall of 2010 I went to pick up my engine only to find out it was
not finished. Only the bottom end with rods installed and the intake manifold
had been finished. My cylinders had not been installed although I had been
told that it had been running twice. When I saw the incomplete engine sitting
on the floor, I was sure it was not my engine and asked where my engine was.
I was told it was my engine and because I said I wanted my engine back by
last fall, he said “here it is”. He told me my cylinders were “junk”. I reminded
him that he told me on numerous occasions that he had a good set of
cylinders for me and that it had been running twice.

I loaded up my partially complete engine, junk cylinders and parts and drove
back to the US. I finished the engine over the winter and had the “junk”
cylinders bored and sleeved, the broken fin repaired and purchased a new set
of pistons. My engine is one of the last ‘31s made. On close inspection the
cylinders were KL or late ’31 KJ. I think they’re the same. There’s no S D
stamp on the base of my cylinders but they have the high compression
combustion chambers. The engine has a lot of compression with the 2 ¾”
domed pistons. I have a hot rod and it is wonderful to finally get it on the
road.

This project has been a real learning experience for me. I’m a very easy going
guy that was taken advantage of and that’s hard to forget. Perhaps I trust
people too much. I’ve tried to put that part behind me now and instead look
forward to many miles on my Henderson.

I had hoped to make it to Wauseon again this year but I have a conflict with
our local bike show. Hope to see the Henderson crowd at Davenport in
September. Thanks to the people that have helped me through the KJ
Exchange. Also thanks to Dave Hennessy for the time he puts into the
website. My name is on the 2011 fund contributor list. I’d like to see more
Henderson owners and builders who use this great resource contribute to the
cost of keeping it going.

The Henderson on the Henderson