Back when I started riding across Arkansas in the mid 80's, I kinda depended on others to plan the ride, riding to the Wilderness Rally, Hot Springs Rally. riding with others across Ar. to the Missouri State Rally, Falling Leaf Rally, Trail of Tears. Got to where I like riding by my self to ride more interesting roads to and from the rallies. Completed the county seat tour of Ar. and the 6 corners tour of Ar. All good. Living in east Ar., not the best riding. Did the Great River Road ride along the Miss. River. Rode Crowley's Ridge north to south from Helena, Ar. to the Boothill of Missouri, a few times. A little interesting, not that exciting or challenging. Got my Arkansas map out and did a little studying. I've been riding parts of Arkansas 14 many times for many years. 14 actually went over to Wilson, Ar. close to the Mississippi. Followed 14 across Arkansas over to Table rock Lake in Boone County. Neat. From the Mississippi River, across Crowley's Ridge, up along White River, through the Ozark National Forrest, Over Buffalo River, by Bull Shoals Lake, to the southern end of Table Rock Lake. Nice Ride. Just took a little research and planning.
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Mid-South ride, eat, and meet
- Thread starter barryg
- Start date
Arkansas Highway 14
A little more info on 14. If you come into West Memphis Ar. on I-40 or I-55 stop at the Ar. Welcome Center for info. Exit at the the Southland Casino and Dog Racing Track to make the welcome center. Service road is one way and it's easy to miss the welcome center. Get the free Arkansas Highway map. If your a Civil War or history buff stop in Marion for the Sultana exhibit. Take highway 77 and 61 to Wilson to get on 14. If your meandering and got the time, ride about 10 miles north to the park at the end of hiway 198. Nice overlook of the Mississippi River and and some historical markers of the area and the Civil War Naval Battle of Plum point Bend. Back track to Wilson and get on 14. West on 14 to Payneway. You will probably run a short stretch of I-555 to Payneway. Now it's all 14 West. On 14 over to Harrisburg and a short small bump in the road called Crowley's Ridge. West to Newport. Again if your a Civil War buff take a short detour north of Newport to Jacksonport. See the old courthouse and Civil War markers. Meander on 14 West along the White River to Batesville, Ar. One of my old home towns. Batesville is a cute little town and the roads west of here will start getting better in a pastoral type setting. Some nice hill country roads into and around Mountain View. Folk Music capital of Arkansas. West to Buffalo river. if your GSing and camping, find Spring Creek Campground on the south side of the river. Nice steep gravel road ride down to the river with a kinda secluded campground. I've rode all my street bikes down there. Cross the river and camp at the Buffalo Point Campground for all the amenaties. Follow 14 west to YELLVILLE, then further west to Ridgedale on the Ar, Mo. border then a little further west to the end of 14 at Table Rock Lake.
That would be a nice ride across part of the Ozarks. Something a little different. If you got the time catch some folk music in Mountain View or go a little north and catch the Peel-Potum Ferry for a short lake ferry ride.
A little more info on 14. If you come into West Memphis Ar. on I-40 or I-55 stop at the Ar. Welcome Center for info. Exit at the the Southland Casino and Dog Racing Track to make the welcome center. Service road is one way and it's easy to miss the welcome center. Get the free Arkansas Highway map. If your a Civil War or history buff stop in Marion for the Sultana exhibit. Take highway 77 and 61 to Wilson to get on 14. If your meandering and got the time, ride about 10 miles north to the park at the end of hiway 198. Nice overlook of the Mississippi River and and some historical markers of the area and the Civil War Naval Battle of Plum point Bend. Back track to Wilson and get on 14. West on 14 to Payneway. You will probably run a short stretch of I-555 to Payneway. Now it's all 14 West. On 14 over to Harrisburg and a short small bump in the road called Crowley's Ridge. West to Newport. Again if your a Civil War buff take a short detour north of Newport to Jacksonport. See the old courthouse and Civil War markers. Meander on 14 West along the White River to Batesville, Ar. One of my old home towns. Batesville is a cute little town and the roads west of here will start getting better in a pastoral type setting. Some nice hill country roads into and around Mountain View. Folk Music capital of Arkansas. West to Buffalo river. if your GSing and camping, find Spring Creek Campground on the south side of the river. Nice steep gravel road ride down to the river with a kinda secluded campground. I've rode all my street bikes down there. Cross the river and camp at the Buffalo Point Campground for all the amenaties. Follow 14 west to YELLVILLE, then further west to Ridgedale on the Ar, Mo. border then a little further west to the end of 14 at Table Rock Lake.
That would be a nice ride across part of the Ozarks. Something a little different. If you got the time catch some folk music in Mountain View or go a little north and catch the Peel-Potum Ferry for a short lake ferry ride.
Another nice little stop just north outa Mountain View is Blanchard Spring Caverns. Nice cave to visit and good riding around the national park. Gunner Pool and Barkshed are good places for you GSer's to ride and campout. Back in my college days of the early 70's did many fieldtrips in this area. Ah, the good old days of following Dr. Veryl Board around studying fauna and flora; botany, plant taxonomy, aquatic biology, etc., etc. what was I thinking. 
Ron the Engine Tech
I broke an airhead seat hinge. Dropped into to see Ron about getting it welded back up. Ron was working on a Ford 5.0 liter engine. Was being set up with a new cam. Ron had to check out the spring height and pressure for proper assembly. Was using a spring checker and a spring height micrometer.
Ron said the intake and exhaust valves are set to different height dimensions. The little keepers on the cardboard are different colors for a reason. Ones for intake and the other for exhaust.
Theirs a lot of precise steps that have to happen to assemble head and a engine. Their are no shortcuts,
I broke an airhead seat hinge. Dropped into to see Ron about getting it welded back up. Ron was working on a Ford 5.0 liter engine. Was being set up with a new cam. Ron had to check out the spring height and pressure for proper assembly. Was using a spring checker and a spring height micrometer.
Ron said the intake and exhaust valves are set to different height dimensions. The little keepers on the cardboard are different colors for a reason. Ones for intake and the other for exhaust.
Theirs a lot of precise steps that have to happen to assemble head and a engine. Their are no shortcuts,
Engine building 101
Checking spring pressure through distance and checking coil bind. Ron would be doing similar checks if he was assembling BMW heads.Ron said this spring tester was the most common one used in engine building shops. Said they run about $900. Said he used it so much he noticed it was not giving proper readings. He had it recalibrated to proper settings. The white certification tag on the side was the local shop that performed the service. Coil bind is the name of the procedure being tested. Ron would go through the same set of procedures to check out stock BMW heads.
If the cam was changed, he would go back through the procedure, because the different cam lobs changes the dimensions on the springs.
Checking spring pressure through distance and checking coil bind. Ron would be doing similar checks if he was assembling BMW heads.Ron said this spring tester was the most common one used in engine building shops. Said they run about $900. Said he used it so much he noticed it was not giving proper readings. He had it recalibrated to proper settings. The white certification tag on the side was the local shop that performed the service. Coil bind is the name of the procedure being tested. Ron would go through the same set of procedures to check out stock BMW heads.
If the cam was changed, he would go back through the procedure, because the different cam lobs changes the dimensions on the springs.
Thx Ron. Ron puts up with me coming by and taking pics on engine tech. I probably need to start a new thread on basic engine tech. It's usually basic stuff, that applies to most all internal combustion engines. Some guys and some shops don't like people taking pics. Don't want to give away trade secrets. It's top secret stuff. Funny.
Installed Height
Ron was setting the installed height of the valve spring. Ron builds so many types of engines, he's constantly checking this important demention. On stock engines the info is generally known on engine rebuild manuals. Ron like to double check these dementions with known calculations he uses on engine builds. He kinda does this in his head and a calculator then checks it against the manual figures. It's funny watching him do this. Does his math, gets his notebook out, sets up his charts of figures, cross references to the known book numbers. He starts smiling when the figures match. He dose'nt take anything for granted.
Ron was setting the installed height of the valve spring. Ron builds so many types of engines, he's constantly checking this important demention. On stock engines the info is generally known on engine rebuild manuals. Ron like to double check these dementions with known calculations he uses on engine builds. He kinda does this in his head and a calculator then checks it against the manual figures. It's funny watching him do this. Does his math, gets his notebook out, sets up his charts of figures, cross references to the known book numbers. He starts smiling when the figures match. He dose'nt take anything for granted.
Winter Blau Meeting/Memphis
The last winter Blau meeting was held last night, Wendesday in down town Memphis. The site was Billy Hatchers shop on Monroe at the corner of Danny Thomas. Across the street from the old Hostess/ Wonder Bread Bakery. Just like last year. All the usual suspects from the Old Bike Club, The BMWRAMS, The Memphis Mummies Scooter Club, and some of the classic car clubs.
The last winter Blau meeting was held last night, Wendesday in down town Memphis. The site was Billy Hatchers shop on Monroe at the corner of Danny Thomas. Across the street from the old Hostess/ Wonder Bread Bakery. Just like last year. All the usual suspects from the Old Bike Club, The BMWRAMS, The Memphis Mummies Scooter Club, and some of the classic car clubs.
