Well, went & looked at this yesterday & couldn't resist - the price was good for here (unfortunately, the exchange rate ruined that) & decided I'd have it. It was advertised as a 42 WLA, but it appears to be a 39 w/wrong front end. But that's OK - it's on the road (unlike my other WL project) so I can enjoy it now!
How do you do it, wish i had as many toys as you.....save some money for your next latest acquisition that will power one of your previous acquisitions! "he who dies with most toys wins" nice acquisition by the way!!
[ QUOTE ] save some money for your next latest acquisition [/ QUOTE ] That money is already set aside & earmarked
[ QUOTE ] the engine number will tell you the year of manufacture. i.e. 39W1234 or 42WLA1234 [/ QUOTE ] Not if it's got an Army surplus engine with a blank number pad! The guy got the bike in Holland & someone just made up numbers - the engine has no stampings at all. The made up number isn't even a real Harley number. But it had a valid Dutch ***le & now a Valid UK V5 registration on the "made up" number that is on a tag attached to the frame (also not original). I don't believe the bike to be a bitsa bike - I believe it to be a 39 that didn't have paperwork & someone had paperwork for a 42 WLA & married them up. I don't know squat about licensing in Holland, so there's no telling for sure. Like I said, except for the front end, which should be an I-beam springer (and the taillight - tombstone instead of beehive), the rest of the bike looks like it belongs together as a '39 although I have a hunch the rear fender may be aftermarket. Who knows, it could be a bitsa bike - I don't really care - it runs, drives, & is legally ***led!
[ QUOTE ] How do you do it, wish i had as many toys as you..... [/ QUOTE ] If Ernie has more toys than you Limey he must have an aircraft hanger to keep them in
[ QUOTE ] If Ernie has more toys than you Limey he must have an aircraft hanger to keep them in [/ QUOTE ] Yeah, I get tired of telling him that! Besides, I have to be extra nice to him - at least until I pick up my flathead! Couple of crates of John Courage is the price, right?
I bet Ernie was the last one to step foot in one....hangar that is! yeah John Courage.....i still can't get it here but i can get Sam Adams! go figure
Well, I got it finally. Backed the truck up to a small rise & rolled it off the back. Kicked her over & rode home (had to walk back & get the truck, but it was only 1/4 mi or so). Clutch was slipping, so pulled the primary - this thing has a belt drive! It is indeed a '39 as I suspected. Pulled the clutch & found the seal had been installed poorly - pinched lip = leak = slipping clutch. Wrote down the seal #, put it back in carefully, cleaned it all off real well, put it all back together, adjusted the clutch a bit & rode it for a while. Haven't ridden a hand shift in about 4 years, so had to knock off a little rust. Runs smooth, pulls well - 2nd is hard to find, but that's common on these bikes. Now, anyone got a clutch hub seal for a '39 WL? Seriously - most of the catalogs all start at '41. If someone has a big bearing supply house nearby, here's what I got: OD of the surface the inside of the seal rides on = 2.180" ID of the hub the seal presses in = 2.670" Approx thickness of seal = 0.300" Standard spring collar single lip seal - only markings are: MFC SC 55 68 8 109 1 But I can't tell what's the beginning/end as they're evenly spaced around the cir***ference of the seal...
[ QUOTE ] Well, I got it finally. Backed the truck up to a small rise & rolled it off the back. Kicked her over & rode home (had to walk back & get the truck, but it was only 1/4 mi or so). [/ QUOTE ] Now that's a Poster waiting to happen!!!! Mark
Show off!!!! Ernie give Riverside motorcycles a ring, if you can't find the number i'll dig it out for ya......he's sure to have one on the shelf (London)
[ QUOTE ] give Riverside motorcycles a ring [/ QUOTE ] Kev - found 'em on the web & sent an email. I've got a few emails out to a couple vendors & the specs on the seal to my dad (who works near a big bearing supply place). Took the army rack & saddlebags off today & re-did the dash & tank strip in wrinkle black. Original finish was a bit tatty having been painted over a couple times. One more pic for my self-licking ice-cream cone of a post!
Ernie Any bearing supplier will have that seal, its a standard size. OD 68mm ID 55mm width 8mm. If you want I can order one up for you from work.
From that last picture, it looks like it has a 16" in the rear and an 18" in the front. I know it aint correct but I'd run 16's front and rear, those 18 look real spindlely and cheap(the hub that is). I love them lil' 45s would like to own one someday. I noticed J&P cycles has NOS army engine cases for sale, and front cylinder and pistons to. -Jesse
The Jalopy Journal
