Month: December 2014

1913 PARTS HELP WANTED

I got this message from Denny who is looking for some parts, maybe someone can help.

Hi Ian, I am searching for parts for my 1913 Harley Single belt drive. I am searching for a usable rear wheel assy and right side gas tank. I am not restoring this bike just getting it driving again, so the parts don’t have to be in real good shape just usable or repairable. My bike has no paint at all and very little nickel left and I only plan to oil it to preserve it not a full restore so new parts will not look right with the rest of the finish. may have to buy new and try to rust the new parts. Maybe someone knows a source. Thank You for the help!

Denny

walser@newulmtel.net

September posts from the old blog

Friday, 26 September 2014

Original paint

I took the trans tower off the Chief to inspect the gearbox and ensure everything was in order, which it was, but I couldn’t stop myself from cleaning part of the inside of the chain cover. It showed the original colour as Indian Red.  I’ve done this before, again on a Chief, and after identifying the colour, repainted the complete bike to get it back to original.  If the hippy chic gets too much at least we know how she started out.
 

Top off the transmission and drive sprocket as well.

 126_0020
All back together without problem.
Posted by at 14:35 No comments:

Thursday, 25 September 2014

16 rear stand fitted.

The new stand fits perfectly.
 
 
Posted by at 03:31 No comments:

Thursday, 18 September 2014

Maintenance

There always seems to be things to do with old bikes.  It’s not because of neglect or poor quality parts, it’s just that old things tire, wear and eventually fail.  But that’s part of the hobby.  I was out riding the 9B last week and after a few miles the bike just died.  I tried everything, including going completely through the carb, more than once, but eventually worked out that it was the magneto.  I know for sure that it hasn’t needed repair in the last 20 years so that’s not too bad, but it still needs doing.
I’ve sent it to Andy and Steve; the Magneto Guys in Hailsham but they are so busy I won’t see it again before the New Year. That’s the problem with dealing with the good guys … they’re always busy.  Fortunately I have a friend in California who has one I can borrow until mine comes back.

Bosch ZE1, 45 mm shaft height, clockwise rotation.

Posted by at 11:35 No comments:

Saturday, 13 September 2014

Stewart and Corbin speedometers.

Friend Kevin has these nice early speedos for sale.

Corbin is 80 mph teens up to early 1923.  Stewart is rarer but less popular teens speedo; very hard to get parts for.

I have a friend who makes adaptors so that you can run the Stewart speedos with a Corbin cable; good idea.
Posted by at 10:15 No comments:

Number plate.

Well I at last got round to sorting out the number plate on the 9B.It was a nasty stamped alloy type, not very teens.
 

But now it is a more period looking hand painted item.  Maybe I should mount it (very) slightly lower.

Posted by at 10:09 No comments:

Twin carb knuckle for sale.

Kiyo, formerly of the Garage Company is selling a 1942 knuckle basket case.  Not really much different BUT it comes with a twin carb motor.

Nice start for a bike but its expensive at $27,000.

Its also on consignment from a customer so he doesn’t know the history of the motor.

Hi Ian,

This motor is consignment. ( include all other parts )
The owner said it was running long time ago.
I can see a lots of carbon on the piston but I don’t know how many miles on it.
It is cranking but I can’t see inside condition.

Thank you, Kiyo

Posted by at 09:58 No comments:

Hippy Indian Chief start up.

Well she is mostly finished now.New wiring loom, sealed beam, some bulbs, seat post springs and bushing.  Gas and ignition spirals swapped over, left hand shifter fitted, plus a load of small bits, missing fastenings, etc.  She’s come out really well, I just need to put some miles on her now and check out the ride.
You can also see me getting a belt off the rear plug in my attempt to show that the motor was cold!
Posted by at 07:53 No comments:

Sunday, 7 September 2014

Corbin speedometer for sale

Corbin Brown speedo for sale.  Fits 1930 – 34 Harley VL and some others.
Complete unit including head, cable  drive ring and bracket/clamp to fit on tank. All you can see. It works well and has a lovely finish.
The photos show the unit set up on the bench and operating at various speeds.
$1500 all in.
 
 
Posted by at 13:54 No comments:

August posts from the old blog

Friday, 29 August 2014

CK253

CK253 Rear stand only for Harley 1912 – 1916 singles and twins.
Listed new in 1912 as a spare part at $2.00 but by October 1923 was $2.50.
I just paid $400 plus shipping for this repop stand.  I have compared it to an original I have on a ’15 and I have another on a ’13.  The form it’s made out of is quite difficult to copy and the alignment angles need some work.  The sides need to be filled with shaped bar but it has been made well and isn’t covered in MIG or TIG welds like so many parts are these days.  Nice part.
 
 
 
Posted by at 04:06 No comments:

Wednesday, 27 August 2014

Mag-dyno

Rarer than hen’s teeth.  Magneto-dynamo for 1915 and 1916 Electric models.
Will fit some later versions as well.  Has 45 mm shaft height like the Bosch ZEV.
It’s a very interesting part but didn’t last for long.
 
 

Posted by at 08:22 No comments:

Monday, 25 August 2014

Wiring tidy up.

Nightmare wiring in the Hippy Indian.
 
Nice little wiring loom from Moen at IPE in Denmark.
You can also see the left hand shifter installed now.
Posted by at 07:00 No comments:

Tuesday, 19 August 2014

1948 Hippy Indian

I’ve got the Indian in the workshop now.  Bought as a runner a month ago but you know the story.
She won’t need much though, a re-wire, new sealed beam and some bulbs, swap the gas and timing controls over and then fit a left hand shifter.
Indian Chiefs – I love em.
 
Posted by at 14:00 No comments:

1913 all blinged up.

All blinged up but it’s not easy finding era correct parts like these.
 
Can’t fault the finish on the headlamp, great Handphone horn and fully connected Prestolite gas cylinder for the lights.
A better view of the Prestolite and the brass head Corbin speedometer.
 
Rack is correct for 16 and later but not 13.  The length needed to be altered to make it fit.
Very useful for rain gear and spare fuel; the tank only holds one gallon (UK).
Very rare Fidelity rear gas light but I need to do a better job with the number plate.
 
Super rare A-K front wheel lock.  Era correct, I’ve never seen another one.
Perfect matching tax disc holder came of a 1914 Triumph.
Posted by at 13:59 No comments:

JD rear band brake

I keep seeing this JD band brake on US eBay.  Its a nice part and they don’t come up often but at $250 all in, it might just sit on the shelf forever.  I’ve seen better for less money and it needs relining and some repair.
But it is a nice part……..
 
Posted by at 13:57 No comments:

Thor rear hub

This is the rear hub on my 1913 Harley.
Its by Thor, has a coaster brake inside the hub and a clutch by Freewheel.
All the parts on the far side are the Corbin speedometer ring gear and fittings.
 1913_9B_014
And this is a pattern copy of the same part.  It will go on my 12 twin.  It’s almost a complete unit.  I just need to make a couple of spacers and sort out a cover for the oiler.
 
Posted by at 13:56 No comments:

What the finished 16J might look like

If I put a Remy mag-dyno on the 16 then she will end up like this.  Battery under the seat, electrics box on the Remy, plus the electric options.
That’s a tool box on the gas tank.  Very nice job by someone.
 
A better view of the electric horn and front light. Nice correct tool box as well.
Posted by at 13:55 No comments:

1916 Harley Davidson 16F

This is the 16F; the magneto version of the 16J.  Its exactly the same bike as the J but without the Remy mag-dyno and the electric lights and horn.

This is a very ride-able bike, three speed (second year) and a proper kick starter (first year).
It’s also got a ‘proper’ brake rather than the earlier coaster type.
 
This particular machine was restored by Antique Bike in Sweden.
http://www.antiquebike.se/en/clevland-1922.html
Posted by at 13:54 No comments:

1916 Harley Davidson 16J


This is an interesting project that has just come in;  Fresh from California via Felixstowe.
Its a 1916 Harley Davidson model J.  This (J) is the electric model with electric lighting via a generator and an electric horn.  The F came with just a magneto for ignition, the J had a mag-dyno to do the ignition and lighting jobs.  This was the second year of the electric model.This is a great project with loads of extra parts including spare carbs, clutches, tanks (including one with original paint) AND a year correct side car (16L).
I’ve started ordering up all the missing parts and will either complete the project and sell as a running bike or find the missing parts and sell it as a complete project.I just need to decide whether to go with the original Remy mag-dyno; very rare but somewhat unreliable or to fit a ZEV magneto; not so rare and can’t run the electric options but much more reliable.Fitting the mag only is what they did back in the days when the Remy used to fail.
 
 
 
Posted by at 04:59 No comments:

Vincent for sale.

Vincent for sale

 
Posted by at 04:59 No comments:

Monday, 18 August 2014

Assorted knuckleheads

Can you have too much of a good thing?
From the left, stocker, bobber, chopper.
 
  
Posted by at 13:04 No comments:

The Indians are coming (and going).

I restored this 348 a couple of years ago now.  A lovely bike from Holland.  She was hand painted blue when I got her but I matched the original paint, lovely Indian Red, on the underside of the fenders and it came out really well.  I also had to swap the throttle and ignition hand spirals (throttle was originally on the left side) and convert the hand shift from the right side of the tank to the left.
She went to a really nice bloke call Scott and as far a I know he still has her.
 
This black and red basket came in last year from an old friend in Tacoma, Washington and was a quick turn around – sold as a non running project. All there, lovely Flanders bars and Beck grips.
This one is a recent arrival and in the workshop now.  Sold as a runner but guess what?
I’ll keep the hippy chic finish and get her running right before she leaves.

 

Posted by at 13:02 No comments:

1908 Excelsior

This was an interesting project but it was never finished.  I bought it from old friend Zeke Rhodes in Colorado.  The top two picture come from Steve Wrights book, they show what the model was originally like.  The next two show the actual bike, but an offer made ‘mid project’ meant that she was sold uncompleted.
I never found out how she finished up.
 
  
Posted by at 12:34 No comments:

1910 Thor

I bought this as someone else’s unfinished project.  She was mainly all there baring the very hard to find Hedstrom carb and manifold (plus the usual small bits).
We fitted a very early, pre-tickler, Schebler carb and there is a film on YouTube of her starting up for the first time in donkey’s years.  Loads of smoke, Kevin pedalling like a lunatic and almost having a seizure,
me laughing my head off.  So much for health and Safety!
 

Jones 50 mph speedometer

Lovely rare teens 50 mph Jones speedometer came on the 8X but its another job that needs doing.
Luckily the speedo head doesn’t need repair but the cable does.  It’s fiddly but should be repairable otherwise I will need to fashion a complete new cable and then attach the ends.
 
 

It really is a lovely part.  But again I have a spare so the owner won’t need to worry about speeding tickets!

Persons seat repair

I just got this 12 single in.  The seat is torn and needs repairing.  I have a spare; exactly the same barring the name tag, so the bike will still be ride-able.  It shouldn’t take long after I get the patch sorted.

 
 

A patch cut out to support the centre and then cut to expose the diamonds down the spine.  Then glued to join the split and attach the patch, job done.

 

1913 parts help wanted

I got this message from Denny who is looking for some parts, maybe someone can help.

Hi Ian, I am searching for parts for my 1913 Harley Single belt
drive. I am searching for a usable rear wheel assy and right side
gas tank. I am not restoring this bike just getting it driving again, so the parts don’t have to be in real good shape just usable or repairable. My bike has no paint at all and very little nickel left and I only plan to oil it to preserve it not a full restore so new parts will not look right with the rest of the finish. may have to buy
new and try to rust the new parts.
Maybe someone knows a source. Thank You for the help!

Denny

walser@newulmtel.net

Denny

walser@newulmtel.net

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