Just drug this home today...they're still out there. The first pic is of the original owner. (now deceased). It's been sitting quite a few years, but still kicks over. It's a 1949 45cube. It came with an extra motor, sheet metal,etc. Nice that it already has a Triumph fender on the rear!!!!...oh yeah...it was just around the corner from Donzies house....(he he he he he!!!!)...in my best Homer Simpson voice.
A friend wanted me to go look at a 650 yamaha he wanted to buy...cheap, not running. When he told me about the yamaha, he also mentioned the lady had "an old harley or two" in the garage. One complete as you see, and an extra motor and usable things. Took about a month to persuade her to sell it at a reasonable price. Her son kept telling her..."put it on ebay"....cash talks...home it comes. Since I got it home, I got the clutch working so I could see if it would kick over....It DOES!!!! happy happy joy joy joy!!!!!! And no...Donzie didn't tell me about it....bad bad me!!!
Excellent........that is the very same style bike I learned to ride...a '48 Harley 45 but it had a '47 "R" motor in it. A factory racing engine offered by H.D. It was my dad's motorsicle and he converted the springer front to a K-model hydraulic fork arrangement and changed the hand shift to an aftermarket foot shifter [that would hang-up if shifted too fast] He yanked anything that had no use, like lights,insturments, mufflers and front fender. Used a peanut tank and the rear fender was bobbed with the factory turn-up welded back on. A magneto replaced the distributor so no battery was required.... ran the 1/4 mile at 88 mph while missing 2nd gear shift..... I'd fire it up and ride it around the countryside after coming home from school...get it home in time for the pipes to stop snapping and popping before the ol' man got home from work.......... You're gonna love it!
I also got the pieces in the first pic...rear fender with tombstone taillight, running lights, etc. I think I might just get it running and drive it "as is"...as you can see, I already took the sawzall to the "sissy bar"....(I have my limits!!!)....I owned a 1937 45 back in the eighties....not too fast, or comfortable, but definitely cool bikes....can't wait to get started!,,,looks like all other things in my life take a backseat now....
hope you get piles & can't sit on it! good find, get some video when you first fire that sucker up, that'd be cool to see.
Wow, great find Hatch. I had a 1942 45 Harley many years ago. Love the suicide clutch. I'm disappointed you cut the sissybar, I'd have thought you'd wanna keep it all "original"!
Well...it was either cut the sissybar, or add a wing..... ....progress update...progress update...got the clutch cable freed up.....the back wheel off, derusted the axle and aired the tire...it rolls....tomorrow its off the the battery store and rip the tanks off and steam em...
Cool find Hatch...you know, I'm not toooo good at fixin' wheel cylinders...but I might be able to help you out on something to cover the seat
On the topic of old Harleys, A guy I met and know a little bit was wondering if I could point him towards some websites about points on the old flathead harleys (i.e. 1940) anyone able to point me towards some ?
So Skip....are you insinuating that my NEW seat has something to be desired????? .... Hmmm....got any old "patina'd" leather layin around?????....I have some, but it is in the form of a 1950's Gen-U-wine HD jacket....Probably shouldn't cut it up for a seat cover.
Nice score HAtch. that thing is sweet. I've wanted something like for ever. keep us posted. I curious to know if shes gonna run. Oh , and how did you get the pic of the origanal owner? Thats kinda cool in a creepy sort of way, knowing he's no longer around
What a weird place to put the motor....get it over the rear wheel where it BELONGS!! Throw on some Hatchibrand wheels, some apes, nasty ass pipes ... ...then don a little chrome brain bucket with a spike on top and I'll race your ass!!
When she was looking for the title, the pic was with the other paperwork....I asked REAL nice if I could borrow it to make a copy and she OK'd it...Gotta return it on Tuesday.....Wouldn't it be great to ride the bike out to drop the pic off????....I'm THRASHIN!!!!!!!!!
thanks hatch, i made it through the day without getting jealous about something. sweet find, hope you got a good bargin on it. im glad to see that the sissy bar came off. now if you can send me a free triumph engine, it would be appreciated. trey
I'm not saying what I paid, but I didn't steal it!!! I think I can get it going and then sell some extra parts, then I should be lookin good. I feel it was a bargain...how much of one, only time will tell.....progress update...progress update....cleaned the points and hotwired it...squirted some gas in it....it fired!!!!.......cant wait till I get the tanks cleaned out tomorrow. It did pump some oil on the floor(lines off), so I'm OK there.
Gonna keep the patina? Grammas will call it a rat-bike if you do. You'll hafta grow your hair and beard and get a chain drive wallet too.... Hey, izzit an optical confusion or is there a massive flat spot on the front tire? Just wonderin, as Tim says.
Yup...massive flat spot on both the tire and owner......we have BOTH been sitting for 25 years. Real biker???....you mean a divorced orthodontist on a 20/20 bike(20k to purchase and 20k in accessories)??? Gotta keep the patina...this will be a 24 hour restoration.
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