Machine Shops
Bob Madlinger
I've been kicking around the idea of doing a 1200 conversion on my 883. I
was also thinking of doing some head work.
In the May issue of Hot Bike on page 142 there is an advertisement for
Dragon Precision Machining in Colo. Springs Co. Their prices seen super
cheap. I was wondering if anyone has dealt with them or knows anything about
them.
Thanks in advance
Ironhorse
Thanks for the drink. I have known Mel for years and he is a good guy.
Old world machinist, biker, paintball park owner and Class A automatic
fire arms dealer. Lives east of Colo Spgs where a tree is a landmark.
I wouldn't hesitate for a minute to send him work. He has done work
for me including boring cylinders and machining a set of heads while I
waited in order for me to ride to Sturgis two days later.
Hope that helped
Ironhorse HSB #96 SENS
96" Evo custom
2001 Ultra Classic
Original keeper Of the Redheads
Chuck Hays
>
> I've been kicking around the idea of doing a 1200 conversion on my 883. I
> was also thinking of doing some head work.
If you're selecting a machine shop, make sure you're comparing apples to
apples. Most stealerships will sell you a set of cylinders in exchange
for yours (which they'll machine and sell to somebody else), along with
all the parts and gaskets you'll need for a pretty reasonable price. The
upside is that you have a stealership handy in case something doesn't go
right...you can call them up and they won't just laugh at you.
Not that I'm a big fan of the Harley-Davidson Lifestyle Boutique, but
sometimes they do actually offer a pretty good deal and I'm suspecting
this is one of them. It's probably the way I'll go if I ever get the
1200 bug. Been riding that 883 since 1994 and it seems to do what I
want.
--
Skiv :)=)} AH 41 BS 32 SENS
"Completely, utterly, to the bone,
up and down, inside out, nuts." - Wolfpup
1989 XLR/8-R "Assignment"
Phil Boutros
>Dragon Precision Machining in Colo. Springs Co. Their prices seen super
>cheap. I was wondering if anyone has dealt with them or knows anything about
>them.
Well, let me just start by saying that I've never met Dragon
Man. I never talked to him. Never been to his shop. The only thing
I know about him is some of the stuff I've seen or one or two of his
"how to" videos. Let me just say I wasn't impressed.
Seemed like lots of it was BS to me. Such nuggets as "Here at
Dragon Distributors, we got equipment that can measure down to a
millionth of a thou", and after pressing in a rod lower race: "That
one went in a little too easy. That means you should go one oversize.
There's really no way to know until you press it in" (I don't know,
how about using some of that fancy equipment to measure it down to a
millionth of a thou first...ahem) leaves me with a not-so-positive
impression. That and seeing him do stuff like bolting on an oil pump
with an air impact...and tappet blocks, cases, and just about anything
else I'd want to make sure to use a torque wrench on.
Keep in mind, I'm paraphrasing, and the videos were recorded
years back.
However, something else to keep in mind:
http://www.motorcyclecity.com/message3/1806.htm
I would *personally* stay the heck away from there, unless I
knew someone personally who had some majorly positive experiences
there.
Once again, I've never been there. Never had any work done
there. Am just basing my opinion on an impression, and the alleged
story (although the guy includes his full name, etc) on the above
website. YMMV.
Phil
--
AH#61 Wolf#14 bs#89 bus#1 ph...@total.net
http://www.total.net/~philb http://eddiekieger.com
"Power To The People" - BPP EKIII will ride with me again.
Ironhorse
>A good friend of mine sent his 74" shovel motor to Dragon to be
>converted to unleaded and rebuilt as an 80" motor.
>
>The motor that came back was garbage. Gene was unable to resolve
>matters with Dragon and ended up having his motor rebuilt locally.
Allen that comes as a surprise to me. On the other hand when I was
doing biz I was local and he knew that if he fucked up I would be
back. He also always had the lowest prices on tires.
The cofused bastard
Ironhorse
>Hey Brad -- we had this same conversation a year or two ago, when
>someone asked about Dragonman in here. I know he did right by you. I
>also know he screwed over my buddy Gene here in Connecticut.
Allen, One of these days, if Gene is willing, ping me with the
details. As soon as it warms up I plan a trip out there. I'll ask Mel
about it and post his reply.
Take it easy
Phil Boutros
>
>Allen, One of these days, if Gene is willing, ping me with the
>details. As soon as it warms up I plan a trip out there. I'll ask Mel
>about it and post his reply.
I'd also really be interested to hear if he has anything to
say about the case for which I posted a URL earlier on...
I'm assuming Mel is the Dragonman himself?
spider
"allen-1" <all...@pobox.com> wrote in message
news:tndtbt0kq0l7bq66o...@4ax.com...
> >
> >I've been kicking around the idea of doing a 1200 conversion on my 883. I
> >was also thinking of doing some head work.
http://www.dwrracesupport.com/boring.html
Preacher
> On Sun, March 25, allen-1 <all...@pobox.com> wrote:
> >A good friend of mine sent his 74" shovel motor to Dragon to be
> >converted to unleaded and rebuilt as an 80" motor.
> >The motor that came back was garbage. Gene was unable to resolve
> >matters with Dragon and ended up having his motor rebuilt locally.
>
> Allen that comes as a surprise to me. On the other hand when I was
> doing biz I was local and he knew that if he fucked up I would be
> back. He also always had the lowest prices on tires.
>
> The cofused bastard
Ironhorse,
This anicdotal information has become VERY commone place regarding "Dragon"
lately.
I don't know if he's gone through a major personell change or what, but this
is *not* the first time I heard VERY simular information regarding Dragon.
Check the HeD archives. I read at *least* ten articles on HeD that were true
horror stories regarding Dragon. And apparently he is an "Associate" so no
one wants to push the issue with him.
My sister lives in the Springs and I asked her about him. She is a big
pro-gunner and he's a FFL licensed dealer. I wanted to go up to his place
and she said she wouldn't take me. She said that locally he has a TERRIBLE
reputation, and that was *before* the Columbine situation (apparently he
sold the guns (LEGALLY) to the girl that gave the two boys the guns they
used to kill the kids at Columbine...if Columbine is the School in CO that
had the school shooting incident).
I in no way blame Dragon for the school shooting and I DO NOT have any
"first hand" information on his work. But I sure have heard a shitload of
stories about him fucking over some "good" people (if ya get my drift).
And apparently this has all come about within the past few years. It's my
understanding that he had a *excellent* reputation prior to about 3-4 years
back. Then it all turned to shit. That could indicate problems in his
personal life, but I'd only be speculating. And I shouldn't be doing
that.....
Preacher (just repeating what I've heard, not what I know)
Ironhorse
<prea...@springmail.com> wrote:
>Ironhorse <Ironh...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>> On Sun, March 25, allen-1 <all...@pobox.com> wrote:
>> >A good friend of mine sent his 74" shovel motor to Dragon to be
>> >converted to unleaded and rebuilt as an 80" motor.
>> >The motor that came back was garbage. Gene was unable to resolve
>> >matters with Dragon and ended up having his motor rebuilt locally.
>>
>> Allen that comes as a surprise to me. On the other hand when I was
>> doing biz I was local and he knew that if he fucked up I would be
>> back. He also always had the lowest prices on tires.
>>
>> The cofused bastard
>
>Ironhorse,
>
>This anicdotal information has become VERY commone place regarding "Dragon"
>lately.
>
>I don't know if he's gone through a major personell change or what, but this
>is *not* the first time I heard VERY simular information regarding Dragon.
>
>Check the HeD archives. I read at *least* ten articles on HeD that were true
>horror stories regarding Dragon. And apparently he is an "Associate" so no
>one wants to push the issue with him.
I know he is a native of New York state. I think I am hearing what you
are saying.
>
>My sister lives in the Springs and I asked her about him. She is a big
>pro-gunner and he's a FFL licensed dealer. I wanted to go up to his place
>and she said she wouldn't take me. She said that locally he has a TERRIBLE
>reputation, and that was *before* the Columbine situation (apparently he
>sold the guns (LEGALLY) to the girl that gave the two boys the guns they
>used to kill the kids at Columbine...if Columbine is the School in CO that
>had the school shooting incident).
Here is the story I heard from Mel regarding Columbine. Several weeks
before the incident those kids came into his shop. He promptly ran
them off. From what I understand he has a problem with underage kids
around there. A few weeks later the Columbine incident happened. He
looks at the news and recognised the kids. He then went back through
his old security tapes and found the incident. He called the FBI and
turned over the tape. Within three hours it was being shown on CNN
making it look like he was the one that sold the weapons. They then
added old file footage that was edited to make him look like a raving
lunatic.
There was an incident concerning Jim at High Country Cycles. He
happens to be both a bike shop and FFL dealer. He sold the gun to the
guy that went and shot at the White House a few years ago. I'm not
sure of what Jim's affliation status is, but he is either a current
member, retired or associate. He owned the bar where PK of the SOS was
killed five? years ago.
>
>I in no way blame Dragon for the school shooting and I DO NOT have any
>"first hand" information on his work. But I sure have heard a shitload of
>stories about him fucking over some "good" people (if ya get my drift).
>
>And apparently this has all come about within the past few years. It's my
>understanding that he had a *excellent* reputation prior to about 3-4 years
>back. Then it all turned to shit. That could indicate problems in his
>personal life, but I'd only be speculating. And I shouldn't be doing
>that.....
>
The last business I did with him was in either 96 or 97. If I am in
the C-spgs area I ussually stick my head inside the door and say hi. I
can't talk for his current work, only the work he did for me between
1988 and 1997. Back then he ran a solo shop. It looked like his other
endevours were taking lot's of time away from his bike machine biz.
Maybe someone else is running it for him or has bought it since then.
>
>Preacher (just repeating what I've heard, not what I know)
I hope some of this carify's my position on Dragon Machine. I don't
work for the guy and I don't play him on TV.
Ironhorse HSB #96 SENS