Slaughter Shack's PanShovel

here’s just something about a real chopper that just grabs my attention every time. This beautiful

‘59 Pan Shovel from Kenny

Arrington does just that! Better known throughout the chopper underground as Kenny Slaughter. He’s been cranking out some incredible rides from “The Slaughter Shack” in St. Louis, MO for a few years now and he just seems to get better with each one. This particular sled was built for the sole purpose of having something worthwhile to put in a bike show in Milwaukee.

Kenny knew that he had to step it up for this build, so he decided he would use some original chopper parts from the 70’s that you don’t see very often. First thing he started with was a ‘59 Panhead motor and transmission that he picked up as a complete bike down in Tennessee. Now, some of you who are reading this might be wondering how or why this motor has Shovel heads with Pan lower end. Well, back in the late 60’s and early 70’s bikers used to put the newer Shovel heads on their Pan engines for better performance and some say looks as well. Hence the name Pan/Shovel. The motor and transmission had been rebuilt

Tshortly before he bought the bike, so they were put aside so he could get started on the rest of the project. The frame was picked up in Southern Illinois and it started life as an original ‘57 straight leg frame. Keeping in line with St. Louis tradition Kenny modified it with 2” of stretch in the downtubes and gave the neck 28° of rake to give it the “derake” style that St Louis is famous for. Kenny and another good brother, Tony Stone, molded the Wassel tank onto the backbone along with the horseshoe oil tank to give it a smooth look that flows with the

bike. He turned to another wellknown name for the paintwork, The Flying Weasel. Weasel also kicked up that sweet white Bates style seat and matching P pad.

Another rare piece is the square AEE AEE, yeah you read that right a SQUARE front end. I’ve only seen them in old Chopper magazines and I wasn’t sure they actually existed until I saw this one in person. He picked it up along with that 19” front Invader mag wheel and square headlight from an old timer down in southern Missouri. That star hub rear wheel and mechanical rear brake setup was left over from another project and was used because Slaughter was running out of time. He didn’t have a matching rear Invader on hand or even a lead on one, but he wasn’t about to let that stop him. Those tight little Z bars were cut up and narrowed by Kenny and are held in place by a stock Harley one-piece clamp, they fit the front end perfectly. The sissy bar is another AEE item that’s not seen very much these days. After it was modified by Matt Jackson and Ryan Craft from Jackson’s Choppers, Kenny was ready to start assembly.

The motor and transmission slid in with no problems and Kenny ended up using a BDL 1 1/2” belt drive inside the tin primary for a little bit more performance

and reliability. Personally, I like a skinny belt inside the tin type primary. As with most of the bikes that come out of the Slaughter Shack this one was set up with a suicide clutch and a jockey shifter. Now, some would say this is a finishing touch on a real chopper and I would have to agree. Another touch that just looks right are those upswept fishtail pipes!

After two months of gathering parts from swap meets all over his area and with a few random calls to a few certain old timers he spent a several long nights throwing back a few beers while George Strait kept him company on the radio and he got this sweet thing up and running. Kenny said this was a fun one. Shortly after he shared this one with us after the last Cycle Showcase STL, which by the way is one of the best bike

Owner: Kenny Arrington City/State: St. Louis, MO Builder: The Slaughter Shack Year: 1959 Model: Pan Shovel Value: Time: 2.5 Months

Engine Year: 1959 Model: Pan Shovel Builder: Ignition: Point Displacement: 74cu Pistons: Wiseco Heads: Stock Shovel Carb: S&S Super E Cam: AB Grind Air Cleaner: Exhaust: Slaughter Shack Primary: 1.5” BDL

Transmission Year: 1959 Make: Harley-Davidson Shifting: Suicide Clutch/Jockey Shift

Frame Year: 1957 Model: Harely-Davidson Rake: 28° Stretch: Forks Builder: AEE Type: Square Triple Trees: Extension: None

Wheels Front Wheel: Invader Size: 19” Tire: Front Brake: Rear Wheel: Star Hub Size: 18” Tire: Rear Brake: Mechanical

Paint Painter: The Flying Weasel Color: Boat Drink Pearls Type: Graphics: The Flying Weasel Chroming: Accessories Bars: Z-Bars, Modified Risers: Hand Controls: Foot Controls: Gas Tank(S): Wassel-Molded Oil Tank: Horseshoe Front Fender: None Rear Fender: Seat: Bates Style Headlight: Square Tail Light: Three Two Choppers Speedo: None

shows that I’ve ever attended, he let this one go. But, you can rest assured he’s certainly got a few more under way. Having recently relocated Rachel, Ronnie and the rest of the family to a better, larger place out in the country, he’s definitely got things going his way! As always thanks for

Photos By: Garrett Stanley Article By: Moosmits

t’s not like you can just get on the internet and purchase a sweet set of pipes for the left side of your custom built sidecar project. But I building a set, whether it’s for that sidecar or your next full custom build, just got a lot easier thanks to Mooscraft and Icengineworks.

I caught up with the crew of Veteran and First Responders building the latest custom creation with Motorcycle Missions in Austin, Texas while preparing for the Revival Cycles Handbuilt Show. The task at hand for the crew was to take the 2010 Triumph Scrambler and convert it into a sidecar toting service vehicle sure to turn more than a few heads. The challenge following this conversion was to take the exhaust out the left-hand side of the bike and knock it out as quick as possible while minimizing error not only while mocking up the desired pipes but in ordering only the exact amount of material needed.

Mooscraft and Icengineworks teamed up to put together the Exhaust Tube Fabrication Kit that allows you to model a complete set of pipes in plastic sections that snap together. Each piece of the modeling system has a specific diameter and radius allowing you to decide exactly

what tubing is needed for the job. This allows you to check for all potential interferences and routing necessary to construct your pipes.

The kit consists of modeling blocks in 2” and 1.5” diameters. Each block represents one linear inch based on the centerline of the tube. You receive 36 blocks of straight for each diameter. For the 1.5” diameter you get 36 modeling blocks in 2”, 3”, and 4” radii. And for the 2” diameter you’ll get 36 blocks in 3” and 4” radii.

Being that the Triumph had a stainless factory exhaust and a great set of flanges to build off of, it was as easy as heading over to the band

With the flanges cleaned up and carbon removed they are ready to mount to the heads and using the Block Adapters begin to model our pipes.

The Block Adapters are a set of expanding rubber plugs that allow you to begin your model and attach it to your heads.

Using the supplied allen wrench, snug the Block Adapter to your first modeling block, insert into head and tighten so that it’s firmly in place but still allows a little rotation.

Each set of modeling blocks have alignment marks that allow you to create your pipe model while noting the orientation of each section as you move through the exhaust from one end to the other.

As you work on your design try to optimize the sections length by using the alignment marks to create as few sections as possible. Using the different diameters and radii to build your model you will notice that you will end up with sections where the alignment marks are offset. This represents a new section of tube in the model.

With our model complete we can move to make notes of the pieces needed and order materials. The worksheet also gives you a chance to make notes of the sections, the length of each, direction of flow, and order in the model.

Each section plastic model represents a section cut from a 180° U bend. Using the cutting templates that correspond with the desired tubing, align the plastic model with the gap for the band saw and tighten the wing nut.

Clean edges and deburr tubing to prepare for welding. Each piece should be marked for flow direction and order in assembly by using your worksheet and plastic model as reference.

Using the Tack Weld Clamps, assemble your model one piece at a time starting at the head and working your way back. Check the progress as you carry through the assembly to verify everything is still lined up as originally modeled.

After checking progress through the model it might be necessary to place multiple sections on the bike to assure that all pipes are headed the right direction.

This will insure that items like body components and suspension will clear the exhaust and riders legs.

Now that you know exactly what you need to do to not only build your next pipe, but change it on the fly or replicate it for a customer, head on over to www.Mooscraft.com and order your kit and get to building! —— Moosmits

Special thanks:

Mooscraft

Www.Mooscraft.com

Icengineworks

Www.Icengineworks.com

Lincoln Electric

Www.LincolnElectric.com

Motorcycle Missions

Www.Motorcycle_Missions.org

Weld Tables

Www.WeldTables.com

Ihave always been a bit goal oriented when it comes to riding motorcycles, in a way that’s a tad pointless in fact. I am definitely a mile tracker, destination counter and one who likes to check milestones off my list. As some of you may remember, I choppered to the northernmost point of the east coast Highway 1 a few years back, so of course that meant I needed to reach the southernmost as well. This would also act as a double hitter as the southernmost point of Highway 1 is also as far south as you can get in the United States. For a goal-oriented guy such as myself, this was perfect. I could check two items off my ridiculous list in one shot. Add this to fact that I got to spend a day riding across a series of fantastic bridges, another favorite activity of mine, and there was nothing to not love about this ride.

The morning started not unlike many others except for the fact that I was not alone. Beanr’e and I had decided the night before to meet in Homestead, split a hotel room and make our way south together. And that we did, well,

Article And Photos By: Charlie Weisel

not until after Beanr’e crashed his motorcycle in the hotel parking lot. Ok, ok, I’m being a bit dramatic, but I just couldn’t leave that part out...Sorry Beanr’e. After that though, we were on our way. In classic form I found myself incredibly overdressed for the arrival of warm weather, I had not, until this point, felt warm temperatures for nearly five months, being that I reside in Colorado, so my typical riding gear was proving to be a bit much. Aside from this though I couldn’t help but marvel at the incredible beauty that is the Florida Keys. Nearly every stretch of road is lined with beach front property, the Seven Mile Bridge is an absolute engineering marvel and the feeling of literally riding a motorcycle straight out across the ocean is hard to beat. Beanr’e and I made a handful of stops to chat with old friends of his, grab lunch and of course, take the quintessential “90 miles from Cuba” photo. After the classic tourist photo was taken, Beanr’e and I parted ways. He was beach bound and I was campsite bound, we would not see each other again on this trip but I am sure we will lay down miles together in the future.

I pulled into Boyd’s Campground in Key West with the intention of spending a quiet night alone under the stars, maybe even get some writing done, but what

happened next would change all that and is a testament to just how small our planet really is. As I stood there near the campground lobby, marveling at the sheer quantity and size of the RV’s stuffed into this so-called camping oasis, a man walked over. Strangers wandering over to comment and ask questions about my motorcycle is nothing new but when they say that they recognize the patch on my back I tend to pause and take notice. In all honesty I thought he was full of crap for a second until he asked if I knew a guy named Kruze. Kruze lives in Milwaukee and we share the same patch. I looked at him with a curious eye, glanced at that the van he had walked out from behind and noticed the Wisconsin plates. I asked how he knew Kruze, he replied “from the Shed”. If you live in Milwaukee and ride motorcycles, there is still a decent chance you don’t know The Shed. I began to ask about other people he might know to verify he wasn’t name dropping people he barely knew, his story checked out and I was left baffled as to the chances of meeting someone like him in a place like this, I probably should have bought a lottery ticket. Tim, that was his name, offered me a place to sleep in his campsite and even went as far as to make us a fantastic dinner of fresh steak and shrimp, a perfect way to spend an evening on the island. As I set my head on my rolled up sweat shirt and shut my eyes to get some sleep, I thought that

although my stay in Key West was brief, this experience would stay with me for a lifetime.

Alas, the sun was up, and it was time to roll. My journey to the Southernmost tip of the United States was coming to close and my 2,500-mile trek home was beginning. My route would take me through the Everglades and Alligator Alley north to St. Petersburg. My good friend, Fletch would offer me a place to sleep on his boat in Demen Marina in the heart of downtown. The road home was filled with twists and turns, long stretches of straight and narrow, rain, heat and cold, but not a mile of disappointment. These rides, the long ones, are where the mind is afforded the time to clarify what is important to us, the time to reveal what we truly want from life and the things that are holding us back. For me, this ride, unlike others in the past, was intended for just that purpose. My career has turned into a soul sucking march into a perpetually exhausting state of gloom and a change is on the horizon, a change must take place. This 5,200-mile ride south and back did what I asked of it, it opened my eyes, wider then they have ever been, that far too many of us live our lives chasing the almighty dollar while running away from what actually makes us happy. Working day in and day out at menial jobs that suck our life force away from us, offer nothing back to society and provide nothing more than a few bucks to line our pockets. There is more to life, I promise you there is. Maybe this a mid-life crisis, maybe it’s burnout, I don’t know. But whatever is, the voices are loud enough that I can’t help but notice. As always, I encourage you to get out and explore our great country and world on two wheels, the time is now, start that motor.

For more photos from this trip and previous trips, be sure to follow me on Instagram @ charlietravelingchopper.