My first Harley was a 1942 WL civilian model with the big buddy seat and windshield. I was 14 in 1955. I rode it to a high school track meet 4 miles away and took a girl for a ride on it. We have been married for 62 years last June 1st. I am 80 now and ride a 99 Softail Custom. Have great memories of the old 45 flat head. Wish I still had it. I started riding on Whizzer motor bikes in the late 40,s. Then Cushman Motor scooters, When I was 10, I bought a Doodle Bug. I have been on some motorized 2 wheeler ever since that first ride on a friend of my older brother let me ride his Whizzer Pacemaker motor bike. That old 45 was a great motor. Tough as nails. Thanks for bringing back the memories.
Her parents never knew. Besides. My father was a Baptist minister so I could be good for nothing. LOL. And I pretty much was. Thank God eternal life is a free GIFT from God. Romans 6:23 They did make me come to the door to see her. I tried honking, but her mother would not let her come out till I went to the door. Her mother was a wise woman. You can tell a teenager, but you can not tell them much. LOL. We have all heard our parents say at times. I hope you have a child just like you. But they forgot. They were once that child too. My father was a good man, but not perfect. And neither am I. But I have been blessed beyond measure. My wife has supported me in what ever I have wanted to do. We raised four teenagers our selves. We had four in five years. If you can live through raising four teenagers at one time you can get through anything. LOL. They actually all turned out pretty good in spite of us. Enough of my drivel. I get carried away some times. Love talking bikes though. Rode an 84 Iron head Sportster for 23 years.
I'd really like to see you and Craig freshen up the engine, clean the bike up and fix anything else to make it more functional and safe, but not a restore.
ya thats pretty much what i was going to suggest ,go through it mechanically ,send out the speedo, as i know there are companies who specialize in restoring speedos and source out an original headlight ,then have a sodium bicarbonate steam wash or clean ,then thats it, no rechomeing or paint,oh and some rubber do dads for the foot shifter ..lol and after you do that id say keep it ,enjoy it at least for a while then if you decide to ,sell it hmm Wheels through time might be a good place for it to go to .
SaddleTramp jajjajaj got ya! Lurking here! Remember me I don't think so. Hope this helps a little. (Mouth Trap)jajja gotta visit your channel soon! Just a subcriber!
Same here. That’s exactly why I mostly ride on my own. I can go exactly where I want to ride, not tag along on some shitty trip to a place I don’t really want to go..
That is the best bike you have ever owned overall. l had a 1946 61EL with a foot clutch and a suicide shifter witch is under your left leg. That a tank shift your riding
True story. Back in 2000 I was passing through Santa Fe N.M. and stopped by a one man repair shop and sitting right by the old school glass counter with an old time cash register on it was one of these military bikes. Had a rifle scabbard on the front wheel and it was in immaculate showroom shine condition. I asked the old gentleman that owned the shop if he was the one that refinished it and he said “No it was a customer’s and it wasn’t redone.” He told me the only thing that was not original was “the oil and gas.” He went on to tell me the owner was a Captain in the army during WW 2 and when the war was over he was put on a transport ship in the English Channel that had 100’s if not 1000’s of these beautiful Harley’s sitting on the deck most brand new. So to make room for the troops they just started shoving them off the boat into the Channel! The Captain made a deal with someone and he was told he could keep one of the bikes, but he would have to ride home sitting and sleeping on the bike until they got home. He evidently paid some privates to sit on it some of the ride home so he could get a break. I don’t know if that story is true or not, but I’ll never forget that bike!!!!! Thanks again for a great video!!
In WW2 depending on the ship it took anywhere from 5 to 15 days cruise speed from England to the US. A long ass time to be sitting and sleeping on a bike.
Love watching these old Harleys start up. You gotta kick them 3 times, blip the throttle twice, spit on the tires and pull the choke and then they start right up.
That is something i never had a problem with. Mine always started right up after a kick or to choked. I had straight pipes and it was loud in cool fall weather. But no one complained about noise back in the 50's. Or a 14 year old kid riding a Harley without a license. Small towns. My Father was a Baptist minister so I could be good for nothing. LOL.
I know it looked sad hanging up on a wall. It wasn't meant for that. It's an old man. You got to take Grandpa out for a walk every once in a while!! "Sure we can go 50 miles" might take us 2 days! But just enjoy the scenery!
Get the bike running absolutely perfect eg. engine, brakes, suspension etc but NO paint job....maybe a Clear Lacquer over the paint work to keep it exactly like it is and prevent more wear. Then you’ll have an awesome piece of Motorcycling History that’ll be worth not only money but pride and joy and the happiness it will bring you and your family, maybe your Great Grandkids will be tinkering with it one day keeping it running as part of the family tradition. Imagine that....cool
My Dad and I built the servi-car (three wheeler) version of that bike when I was a kid. Some of my favorite memories with my Dad are centered around that bike. Unfortunately, when I was in college, he had to sell it and there is not a day that goes by that I don't wish I could get my hands on it or another like it. I lost him less than a year ago and watching this bring back a lot of great memories. Maybe someday I will be lucky enough to get my hands on one again, until then, I will always have the pictures of that old bike.
I knew an amazing guy that was a fighter pilot in WW2. When they came home he said they got off the boat, and were told see ya later. He had no idea how to get home to texas from the east coast.... so he spent $25 and bought a WLA, and took it cross country all the way back to texas! Imagine that trip! I saw pictures of him with the bike in his flight jacket. What a guy!
Man, if I had the money I'd be making an offer. Not because of the antique Harley part, but because of it being Joey Chitwood's bike. My dad took me to see the Chitwood Stunt Show when I was five or six and I became fascinated by motorcycles and driving cars on two wheels from that day on. To date I've owned 39 street legal bikes and did manage to drive a Chevette on two wheels (once successfully, a bunch of times not so much). Please make sure that bike finds a good home.
Agreed. Nothing worse than a classic bike that doesn’t get used, it’s a waste. Like classic car owners who just Polish their car all day and never so much as take it up the local shops.
When referring to the clutch, it is better to say engaged or disengaged. I have a 46 Knucklehead with the foot clutch. It becomes suicide clutch when the bike is chopped and the rocker mechanism is discarded, making the pedal like a auto clutch. Sit at the light in gear, star to fall over to the left, put your foot down-then off you go into the intersection!
My 42 had the stock rocker clutch, but no front brake. The cable was broken. It got real interesting at a stop light on a hill. I stopped with the bike in first gear. Disengage the clutch put my left foot down and right foot on the brake. When the light changed, let off the brake and put my right foot down to operate the clutch with my left foot and hope I do not kill it. LOL. At 14 years old you can do anything. The cable to the advance on the left hand grip was also broken. So I had to retard it by hand when starting. You just do what you have to do to ride.
I have a WLA that somehow made it's way back to the States from Russia. When I got it a few years back, it still had tires on it that said "Made in USSR" on them. Pretty cool. It is now running again after languishing unloved for many many years. It is a blast to ride around the back roads of Berks County, PA.
I have a new found respect for Sean. I bought a 1964 Triumph TR6 earlier this year. Riding it home an hour and a half with the right side shift and crappy drum brakes was an experience. I can't imagine hoping on a 1942 Harley with a side shift and foot clutch and riding it home on the freeway.
This bike reminds me of my Dad's, about mid 1930s WLA flat head have a pic of it takin 1942. My uncle rode a Harley mid 1930s wile in the Marines WW2, mine was a 62 Pan Head back in 1975, thanks for the ride at the first of your video and thanks to Srkcycles for your down loading this bike
A friend of mine has a cherry WLA that he keeps at his museum (along with his Tanks and Half Tracks!)... Watching you start that and the grin on your face says it all. You have no idea how lucky you are! God Bless and Enjoy Life!
My first motorcycle was a 1942 WLA, in 1965, when I was 18 years old, bought for $75.oo. It only had a back brake, as the front was broken and no front fender. Sweet is the right word. That's what I learned to ride on. If it wouldn't start with the kick starter, like if it was 20 degrees f, we could push start it with a car. Sitting at a red light at the top of a hill, was thought provoking. Right foot on the brake keeping me from rolling back on the car behind me which it always seemed was almost on top of me already, and left foot needed to hold the bike upright, and also needed for the clutch when it was time to pull away... I wish you could have ridden it. That was a combat veteran. I'm 75 now and I have a 2014 H-D FXDL. Some people think motorcycles go stop and turn, and that's all they do. Anyone who ever owned a WL knows better Put a cable on the distributor and buy a can of spray paint, and ride that sucker.
Sean it sounds a little bit rough which is expected from an 80 year old bike but because this was similar to the military style version the primary things I would suggest is taking the engine out and cleaning all the parts on it because I believe a full on restoration of the motor may get it running to optimal speeds but i'm also very knowledgeable in how the foot clutches work so it's all about timing and since this bike has the indicator light (not sure if it still operates) that light is actually crucial because it doesn't just let you know when to shift but it also is an indicator so the gears inside the engine don't get grinded out since this bike was used for stunts and speed stuff so it may take a little bit of getting used to but for these styles of bikes shifting earlier as opposed to once your at the top gear speed will save you a lot of unwanted repair work to the engine and will keep the bike operational in the long run.
I met a gentleman who during WW2 was in the Army as a motorcycle rider-evaluater riding WLA's in the California desert. He had many, many interesting stories.
Sweet bike, love both your channels. FYI, that's a gate shift. A suicide clutch is an owner modification where the offset spring is removed from the clutch pedal so you have to hold it in without assitance. This mod is usally combined with the jockey shift mod where the lever comes straight off the tranny and you have to reach behind your left leg to shift.
One of my favourite old Harleys, the old WL! A real gem you have there, she just needs a LOT of work to put her into excellent running condition...and she is well worth it! I suspect there are lots of folks out there who would love to own her! Get her sorted...and keep her...and enter her in the Motorcycle Cannonball cross country race!.....😎...😎...!
This beauty is one of the coolest bikes I ever seen. 79 years is a complete life! The rough aspect and the fact that it still running Is amazing! I would never change it's appearance, I would just get it running as good as possible, and enjoy it.
Easiest way to get more power and make it more practical for everyday use is to stroke it with the 74” flywheel. Yes it’s a job to split the crankcase to install the flywheel, yes you’ll want a bigger carb. But those were the mods people did back then. And yes they take some time to learn to ride. Look into it as there are ways to hop them up. Also take the heads off and polish them and the piston heads. If you keep it you could make the mods over the course of the winter. My grandpa had one and the mods I mentioned he did. Also the intake manifold can be widened or a wider one( think the servicar had it at one point ) lastly Harley made the motor , G motor for 3 wheelers until 1973-74, so parts are out there if you look
My first Harley, was a '72 Servicar that belonged to the Long Beach Ca Police. Left hand throttle, left foot clutch, RIGHT tank side shift. The only thing they took off to sell it, was the siren. Still had the take down lights, and pull over lights. The LBPD star and insignia, while peeled off, was still very much easily readable in the paint. That little 45ci engine could barely get her up to 55mph (but national speed was 55 anyway!), but all the guys loved having me along, because the huge trunk could carry a lot of beer and ice! LOL! One week after I found an old spin-up siren from a fire truck to bring her back to glory, she was stolen. Never saw her again :(
My step dad bought one in 1948. Under several coats of paint we came to olive drab. We painted it red after bobbing it and the motor was hopped up by the people that built Joe Leonard's track bikes. It was one of the fastest street bikes in the Bay Area in the early 50s.
Pacific Mike is going to be your dude. Not only does he know a whole bunch about old Harleys, he knows all the people who have the parts and knows more stuff about old Harleys. Can't hurt to say hello.
While yours may have a top speed of 50. My old WLA would run at 65 all day with a top speed somewhere around 75-80. Back in the days of the 55 speed limit I rode from El Paso to Dallas many times and got more than a few speeding tickets. It's a hand shift or jockey top with a foot clutch. God that sound brings back memories. Loved that bike.
That is a great way to look at motorcycles. I kind of look at motorcycles that same way. I traded my motorcycle for a new one, and it sat at the dealership for almost a year without being bought. I felt so bad for it that I bought it back!
Hello, friend! I'm writing from Russia, watching your channel and especially about Harley-Davidson. I like them and I'll take them as soon as possible, but this model amazed me, with non-standard gearshift and clutch it's still the best of its kind, thanks for the video!
I absolutely LOVE that vintage H-D! That is such an awe-inspiring bike and I would give anything to just take it for a ride once! Thanks so much for sharing I really appreciate it!
That bike would be a fun restoration project...my 99 Road King had that automatic cruise control too when I first got it because it hadn't been ridden much & the cables were all crusty & didn't work right...replaced those cables with new ones & the throttle now operates like it should...
04:00 Some older motorcycles, police issued in particular, had the throttle on the left hand handlebar so that right handed people could fire their weapon with their right hand.
Looks like you're getting it down.. COOL! The old rigid bikes WERE a bear to ride, but I love em! Mine is actually a rigid scooter. Keep up the great work,and may God bless you.
If it was Joey's bike it definitely had a rough life lol. I met him and his son a few times, and even got to hang out after the show. They were an awesome bunch of guys!
Actually looked pretty good riding it. Some people try to be too gentle with shifts, and that can be worse… gotta be a bit firm. Practice timing up shifts with the throttle. And use the shift gate (may need to adjust the shift linkage). On my ‘49 big twin I back off the throttle and shift when stress is off the drivetrain, just a quick flick. Push the shift knob to the side when shifting and the gate should guide you right to the next gear. One little correction is you said the second ignition position was for the generator. Your generator was already running, because your GEN light went off right after startup. Second position on mine is lights. So start it, let it warm up, then turn the lights on when you take off (easy to forget). Pretty sweet bike, and they are a blast to ride.
Great that you brought this bike back to life and are using it! You look good on it. Interesting that it took until 1975 before motorcycle controls were standardized. So, my first bike, a 1984 Honda Nighthawk 650, was only nine years into standardized controls. Just something I took for granted.
100% keep it. Freshen it up a little, leave it the way she is, and pass her down to your kids. Way more unique than any other bike out there. A piece of history you can touch, smell, and ride. Imagine this being your kids first bike 🤘🏻
That bike really deserves to be restored. Restore it and ride it to meets and shows . Let the younger people know what motorcycles looks and ran like .
My old '39 Knucklehead model E only 214 units produced. Sean, those Flanders handlebars and risers are worth good money. Leave the patina, better yet, keep it.
noticed your avatar. my brother used to be able to rip out any VH guitar riff with amazing accuracy. he had health problems so that was about all he could do was play VH riffs to occupy his time. he was living proof practice makes perfect. if it werent for him i wouldnt be able to recognize a VH song from so few notes.
Dr. Jones: That thing belongs in a museum!!! Wheels through time: we can do that! If nothing else they would be a great resource for information on the bike. 🤔
Thanks for everything you do Sean, I went down for the first time on the road last night and if it weren’t for you I wouldn’t have ridden to work the next day
Bro you'd love riding an old Triumph if you haven't tried one already. The Harleys of the past were like tractors but the british bikes were the roadsters.
I love older motorcycles due to NOT having modern parts that fail you and are costly in complicated maintenance. Sadly I despise current large bikes. Size / weight/ cost versus comfort riding, control and ease of maintenance, I feel Harley and other brands abandoned the best of all motorcycles! Today, Honda makes NEW 1970 style CB750s for sale in Asia (only)! But to buy - ship over and taxes makes the price to high. Ship as parts in boxes is cheaper! But I need someone to put it together for me here. I own one but it resides in Philippines with my in-laws and I allow them to use it, no fear of tearing it up. (Excellent mechanics there and new parts). If Harley reproduced that bike with few changes to match brakes,clutch, etc. I would love to buy several of them! But you cannot give me current big bike. Thank you for sharing!
Sean you've got to be one of the coolest guys on the webs, love your vids, nice bike - I haven't ridden a cycle since 1985 and the KZ 550 LTD (sweet rider), but NOW, I really want a motor sickle , thanks man, keep the great vids coming
I rode a few 40s bikes. 46, 49, and a 48 i think. All servi-cars. I was a little nervous to ride the 46 with the " rocker" clutch. But it only took me about a mile before i got comfortable with it. Once you get the mechanicals sorted out it'll be a whole different bike. Don't sell it. Give her some tlc and enjoy. They are so much fun and a step back in time. I love em. P.s. im not that far from you. Id love to see it.
OK you won't believe this but I have a 1947 knucklehead. Entire engine has been gone through and runs beautifully very powerful. We kept the paint with the same patina with a light sanding cleanup and clearcoat. Everything about the bike is perfect. It runs very well very strong. So if I were you I would never sell that bike but I would improve it it's something that you will cherish. Ava
My first Harley was a 1942 WL civilian model with the big buddy seat and windshield. I was 14 in 1955. I rode it to a high school track meet 4 miles away and took a girl for a ride on it. We have been married for 62 years last June 1st. I am 80 now and ride a 99 Softail Custom. Have great memories of the old 45 flat head. Wish I still had it.
I started riding on Whizzer motor bikes in the late 40,s. Then Cushman Motor scooters, When I was 10, I bought a Doodle Bug. I have been on some motorized 2 wheeler ever since that first ride on a friend of my older brother let me ride his Whizzer Pacemaker motor bike.
That old 45 was a great motor. Tough as nails. Thanks for bringing back the memories.
That is just great. Good health for your wife and yourself. Keep riding bikes for many years!
Her parents never knew. Besides. My father was a Baptist minister so I could be good for nothing. LOL. And I pretty much was. Thank God eternal life is a free GIFT from God. Romans 6:23
They did make me come to the door to see her. I tried honking, but her mother would not let her come out till I went to the door. Her mother was a wise woman. You can tell a teenager, but you can not tell them much. LOL.
We have all heard our parents say at times. I hope you have a child just like you. But they forgot. They were once that child too. My father was a good man, but not perfect. And neither am I. But I have been blessed beyond measure. My wife has supported me in what ever I have wanted to do. We raised four teenagers our selves. We had four in five years. If you can live through raising four teenagers at one time you can get through anything. LOL. They actually all turned out pretty good in spite of us.
Enough of my drivel. I get carried away some times. Love talking bikes though. Rode an 84 Iron head Sportster for 23 years.
80 and still ride…that’s awesome. I hope to be like that when I am 80 too!
Thanks for sharing your story, it’s really awesome!
Coolest story ever! Sean should get you to ride it!
I'd really like to see you and Craig freshen up the engine, clean the bike up and fix anything else to make it more functional and safe, but not a restore.
ya thats pretty much what i was going to suggest ,go through it mechanically ,send out the speedo, as i know there are companies who specialize in restoring speedos and source out an original headlight ,then have a sodium bicarbonate steam wash or clean ,then thats it, no rechomeing or paint,oh and some rubber do dads for the foot shifter ..lol and after you do that id say keep it ,enjoy it at least for a while then if you decide to ,sell it hmm Wheels through time might be a good place for it to go to .
That seat!
Yes, exactly. Sort it, but Please don't restore it.
No wayy much cooler the way it sits !!!
@@farmermoejoe1912Agreed...
A love for motorcycles and the lack of real friends. Thought that was just me.
SaddleTramp jajjajaj got ya! Lurking here! Remember me I don't think so. Hope this helps a little. (Mouth Trap)jajja gotta visit your channel soon! Just a subcriber!
Same here. That’s exactly why I mostly ride on my own. I can go exactly where I want to ride, not tag along on some shitty trip to a place I don’t really want to go..
That's a family heirloom Don't every sell pass it down .
Most definitely
That is the best bike you have ever owned overall. l had a 1946 61EL with a foot clutch and a suicide shifter witch is under your left leg. That a tank shift your riding
Agreed. Unless you sell it to me of course
Lol I just seen your name an haft to point it out how's frank fritz doing 😅
@@wrongturnarchery2337 Fat and sassy I guess.
True story. Back in 2000 I was passing through Santa Fe N.M. and stopped by a one man repair shop and sitting right by the old school glass counter with an old time cash register on it was one of these military bikes. Had a rifle scabbard on the front wheel and it was in immaculate showroom shine condition.
I asked the old gentleman that owned the shop if he was the one that refinished it and he said “No it was a customer’s and it wasn’t redone.” He told me the only thing that was not original was “the oil and gas.”
He went on to tell me the owner was a Captain in the army during WW 2 and when the war was over he was put on a transport ship in the English Channel that had 100’s if not 1000’s of these beautiful Harley’s sitting on the deck most brand new. So to make room for the troops they just started shoving them off the boat into the Channel!
The Captain made a deal with someone and he was told he could keep one of the bikes, but he would have to ride home sitting and sleeping on the bike until they got home. He evidently paid some privates to sit on it some of the ride home so he could get a break.
I don’t know if that story is true or not, but I’ll never forget that bike!!!!! Thanks again for a great video!!
That sounds cruel. Just throwing these beautiful motorcycles into the sea.
In WW2 depending on the ship it took anywhere from 5 to 15 days cruise speed from England to the US. A long ass time to be sitting and sleeping on a bike.
Love watching these old Harleys start up. You gotta kick them 3 times, blip the throttle twice, spit on the tires and pull the choke and then they start right up.
haha i missd that step, you also have to the point the bike towards mecca
@@Srkcycles ??? Mecca?????ohhhhhhh!!!! you mean your Warehouse!!!!
That is something i never had a problem with. Mine always started right up after a kick or to choked. I had straight pipes and it was loud in cool fall weather. But no one complained about noise back in the 50's. Or a 14 year old kid riding a Harley without a license. Small towns. My Father was a Baptist minister so I could be good for nothing. LOL.
@@Srkcycles You meant Milwaukee?
@@MochiMotoPa Milwaukee
I know it looked sad hanging up on a wall. It wasn't meant for that. It's an old man. You got to take Grandpa out for a walk every once in a while!! "Sure we can go 50 miles" might take us 2 days! But just enjoy the scenery!
Get the bike running absolutely perfect eg. engine, brakes, suspension etc but NO paint job....maybe a Clear Lacquer over the paint work to keep it exactly like it is and prevent more wear. Then you’ll have an awesome piece of Motorcycling History that’ll be worth not only money but pride and joy and the happiness it will bring you and your family, maybe your Great Grandkids will be tinkering with it one day keeping it running as part of the family tradition. Imagine that....cool
I agree, he should clear over the patina. It looks bad ass just like that.
I second this. The paint is perfect
Love to see the bike be freshened up and it's hard to believe it was in a scrap yard
$125 in the 60s is actually $1,158.40 adjusted for inflation, not bad for a new bike!
The other $20,000 comes from the cushy seat, electronics, and cup holder... 😉
My Dad and I built the servi-car (three wheeler) version of that bike when I was a kid. Some of my favorite memories with my Dad are centered around that bike. Unfortunately, when I was in college, he had to sell it and there is not a day that goes by that I don't wish I could get my hands on it or another like it. I lost him less than a year ago and watching this bring back a lot of great memories. Maybe someday I will be lucky enough to get my hands on one again, until then, I will always have the pictures of that old bike.
God bless you my friend for giving that old beauty a second life back on the road. Awesome classic HD 👍🏻
I knew an amazing guy that was a fighter pilot in WW2. When they came home he said they got off the boat, and were told see ya later. He had no idea how to get home to texas from the east coast.... so he spent $25 and bought a WLA, and took it cross country all the way back to texas! Imagine that trip! I saw pictures of him with the bike in his flight jacket. What a guy!
This may be the coolest pile of rust and tears I’ve ever seen. Thank you for sharing!
Btw, when you recently selling soulless hellfire Chinese cafe bikes?
Man, if I had the money I'd be making an offer. Not because of the antique Harley part, but because of it being Joey Chitwood's bike. My dad took me to see the Chitwood Stunt Show when I was five or six and I became fascinated by motorcycles and driving cars on two wheels from that day on. To date I've owned 39 street legal bikes and did manage to drive a Chevette on two wheels (once successfully, a bunch of times not so much).
Please make sure that bike finds a good home.
That fact that you can run this dust bucket and still deliver a decent video monologue is astounding!
Thanks man, it kills me to see bikes like these sitting in displays when they were born to be ridden. Keep up the videos like these.
Maybe it wouldn't exist today if it weren't hung up on the wall all those years.
Agreed. Nothing worse than a classic bike that doesn’t get used, it’s a waste. Like classic car owners who just Polish their car all day and never so much as take it up the local shops.
When referring to the clutch, it is better to say engaged or disengaged. I have a 46 Knucklehead with the foot clutch. It becomes suicide clutch when the bike is chopped and the rocker mechanism is discarded, making the pedal like a auto clutch. Sit at the light in gear, star to fall over to the left, put your foot down-then off you go into the intersection!
My 42 had the stock rocker clutch, but no front brake. The cable was broken. It got real interesting at a stop light on a hill. I stopped with the bike in first gear. Disengage the clutch put my left foot down and right foot on the brake. When the light changed, let off the brake and put my right foot down to operate the clutch with my left foot and hope I do not kill it. LOL. At 14 years old you can do anything. The cable to the advance on the left hand grip was also broken. So I had to retard it by hand when starting. You just do what you have to do to ride.
yeah that terminology would be a little more clear wouldnt it
I have a WLA that somehow made it's way back to the States from Russia. When I got it a few years back, it still had tires on it that said "Made in USSR" on them. Pretty cool. It is now running again after languishing unloved for many many years. It is a blast to ride around the back roads of Berks County, PA.
I have a new found respect for Sean. I bought a 1964 Triumph TR6 earlier this year. Riding it home an hour and a half with the right side shift and crappy drum brakes was an experience. I can't imagine hoping on a 1942 Harley with a side shift and foot clutch and riding it home on the freeway.
This brings back memories. My 1st Harley was a 1946 wla. I was 16, and the year was 1972.
I heard you could get them real cheap then
That’s a really cool bike. It seemed like it shifted better with a little more RPM!
This bike reminds me of my Dad's, about mid 1930s WLA flat head have a pic of it takin 1942. My uncle rode a Harley mid 1930s wile in the Marines WW2, mine was a 62 Pan Head back in 1975, thanks for the ride at the first of your video and thanks to Srkcycles for your down loading this bike
A friend of mine has a cherry WLA that he keeps at his museum (along with his Tanks and Half Tracks!)... Watching you start that and the grin on your face says it all. You have no idea how lucky you are! God Bless and Enjoy Life!
My first motorcycle was a 1942 WLA, in 1965, when I was 18 years old, bought for $75.oo. It only had a back brake, as the front was broken and no front fender. Sweet is the right word. That's what I learned to ride on. If it wouldn't start with the kick starter, like if it was 20 degrees f, we could push start it with a car. Sitting at a red light at the top of a hill, was thought provoking. Right foot on the brake keeping me from rolling back on the car behind me which it always seemed was almost on top of me already, and left foot needed to hold the bike upright, and also needed for the clutch when it was time to pull away... I wish you could have ridden it. That was a combat veteran. I'm 75 now and I have a 2014 H-D FXDL. Some people think motorcycles go stop and turn, and that's all they do. Anyone who ever owned a WL knows better Put a cable on the distributor and buy a can of spray paint, and ride that sucker.
Sean it sounds a little bit rough which is expected from an 80 year old bike but because this was similar to the military style version the primary things I would suggest is taking the engine out and cleaning all the parts on it because I believe a full on restoration of the motor may get it running to optimal speeds but i'm also very knowledgeable in how the foot clutches work so it's all about timing and since this bike has the indicator light (not sure if it still operates) that light is actually crucial because it doesn't just let you know when to shift but it also is an indicator so the gears inside the engine don't get grinded out since this bike was used for stunts and speed stuff so it may take a little bit of getting used to but for these styles of bikes shifting earlier as opposed to once your at the top gear speed will save you a lot of unwanted repair work to the engine and will keep the bike operational in the long run.
I met a gentleman who during WW2 was in the Army as a motorcycle rider-evaluater riding WLA's in the California desert. He had many, many interesting stories.
Every single word of wisdom touches me and relates to my life. God bless you man.
Sweet bike, love both your channels. FYI, that's a gate shift. A suicide clutch is an owner modification where the offset spring is removed from the clutch pedal so you have to hold it in without assitance. This mod is usally combined with the jockey shift mod where the lever comes straight off the tranny and you have to reach behind your left leg to shift.
That's what I told him too. These young kids don't know anything LOL
I’m not a Harley fan, but I really like this bike. Sounds great too.
What a great find. Enjoy that piece of history awhile before letting it go. Now I want one.
One of my favourite old Harleys, the old WL! A real gem you have there, she just needs a LOT of work to put her into excellent running condition...and she is well worth it! I suspect there are lots of folks out there who would love to own her! Get her sorted...and keep her...and enter her in the Motorcycle Cannonball cross country race!.....😎...😎...!
This beauty is one of the coolest bikes I ever seen. 79 years is a complete life!
The rough aspect and the fact that it still running Is amazing!
I would never change it's appearance, I would just get it running as good as possible, and enjoy it.
The head light flows right in with the springer front end lol!
Beautiful old scoot. A rebuild and wow what a bike you would have.
Thank you for rescuing this bike!. And thanks to your channels, I decided to take my MSF course and purchased a Honda Shadow VLX :)
Old Harleys may not be the fastest but there's something about them that just makes you love them.
Easiest way to get more power and make it more practical for everyday use is to stroke it with the 74” flywheel. Yes it’s a job to split the crankcase to install the flywheel, yes you’ll want a bigger carb. But those were the mods people did back then. And yes they take some time to learn to ride. Look into it as there are ways to hop them up. Also take the heads off and polish them and the piston heads. If you keep it you could make the mods over the course of the winter. My grandpa had one and the mods I mentioned he did. Also the intake manifold can be widened or a wider one( think the servicar had it at one point ) lastly Harley made the motor , G motor for 3 wheelers until 1973-74, so parts are out there if you look
How can you put 74 flywheels into a 45 crankcase? The 45 crankcase is too small for them to fit.
I can never seem to find any of these in my junkyard...
My first Harley, was a '72 Servicar that belonged to the Long Beach Ca Police. Left hand throttle, left foot clutch, RIGHT tank side shift. The only thing they took off to sell it, was the siren. Still had the take down lights, and pull over lights. The LBPD star and insignia, while peeled off, was still very much easily readable in the paint. That little 45ci engine could barely get her up to 55mph (but national speed was 55 anyway!), but all the guys loved having me along, because the huge trunk could carry a lot of beer and ice! LOL!
One week after I found an old spin-up siren from a fire truck to bring her back to glory, she was stolen. Never saw her again :(
My step dad bought one in 1948. Under several coats of paint we came to olive drab. We painted it red after bobbing it and the motor was hopped up by the people that built Joe Leonard's track bikes. It was one of the fastest street bikes in the Bay Area in the early 50s.
Pacific Mike is going to be your dude. Not only does he know a whole bunch about old Harleys, he knows all the people who have the parts and knows more stuff about old Harleys. Can't hurt to say hello.
While yours may have a top speed of 50. My old WLA would run at 65 all day with a top speed somewhere around 75-80. Back in the days of the 55 speed limit I rode from El Paso to Dallas many times and got more than a few speeding tickets. It's a hand shift or jockey top with a foot clutch. God that sound brings back memories. Loved that bike.
That is a great way to look at motorcycles. I kind of look at motorcycles that same way. I traded my motorcycle for a new one, and it sat at the dealership for almost a year without being bought. I felt so bad for it that I bought it back!
Hello, friend! I'm writing from Russia, watching your channel and especially about Harley-Davidson. I like them and I'll take them as soon as possible, but this model amazed me, with non-standard gearshift and clutch it's still the best of its kind, thanks for the video!
I remember going and seeing Joey Chitwood and The Super Chevy show it was pretty insane it's cool with that bike has that kind of History
Happy for you Sean that you own a piece of rolling history. Just keep it, don’t even think of parting from it.
Oh the drama of it all! But glad you saved it and will hopefully restore it. Very cool.
I just love how the restoration job saved all the patina.
I feel ya man! I ride a ‘62 BMW and feel like the bike really appreciates being out on the road
I absolutely LOVE that vintage H-D! That is such an awe-inspiring bike and I would give anything to just take it for a ride once! Thanks so much for sharing I really appreciate it!
A bike with true soul. I would keep that thing and pass it down to my kids.
Listen to that clutch rattle! Love it!
Had a friend with a '43 45 and his foot/clutch broke but he just shifted at the right RPM and no problems!
That bike would be a fun restoration project...my 99 Road King had that automatic cruise control too when I first got it because it hadn't been ridden much & the cables were all crusty & didn't work right...replaced those cables with new ones & the throttle now operates like it should...
That bike is awesome, I like it old and rustic. Wouldn’t change a thing on it if I owned it.
It’s great to see an old bike being ridden.
Look at that dinosaur on the road! Always such a beautiful sight to see an old grandfather still have it's pep running around.
04:00
Some older motorcycles, police issued in particular, had the throttle on the left hand handlebar so that right handed people could fire their weapon with their right hand.
Many of those were also for parking meter duty, so the rider could use the tire marking stick as they rode by.
What a cool old bike. Stay safe and God Bless.
Looks like you're getting it down.. COOL!
The old rigid bikes WERE a bear to ride, but I love em! Mine is actually a rigid scooter. Keep up the great work,and may God bless you.
Damn, I wish I could find stuff like this in junkyards.
If it was Joey's bike it definitely had a rough life lol. I met him and his son a few times, and even got to hang out after the show. They were an awesome bunch of guys!
Actually looked pretty good riding it. Some people try to be too gentle with shifts, and that can be worse… gotta be a bit firm.
Practice timing up shifts with the throttle. And use the shift gate (may need to adjust the shift linkage). On my ‘49 big twin I back off the throttle and shift when stress is off the drivetrain, just a quick flick. Push the shift knob to the side when shifting and the gate should guide you right to the next gear.
One little correction is you said the second ignition position was for the generator. Your generator was already running, because your GEN light went off right after startup. Second position on mine is lights. So start it, let it warm up, then turn the lights on when you take off (easy to forget).
Pretty sweet bike, and they are a blast to ride.
This is The Best Motorbike channel on TH-cam!!!!!
Song "on a steel horse I ride, wanted dead or alive" history nice job
150th anniversary roadking 124,000 running strong 😊
150th? Interesting.
It's awesome watching you ride around on that
Great that you brought this bike back to life and are using it! You look good on it. Interesting that it took until 1975 before motorcycle controls were standardized. So, my first bike, a 1984 Honda Nighthawk 650, was only nine years into standardized controls. Just something I took for granted.
Crazy how far technology has come. Nowadays every bike has all three categories of reliability, efficiency and performance and we take it for granted
Don't talk , just camera , Ziggy , nice to hear your admiration The best REGARDS Canada
This really makes me appreciate my "crusty old" 90s bike, my Intruder looks very luxurious right now
100% keep it. Freshen it up a little, leave it the way she is, and pass her down to your kids. Way more unique than any other bike out there. A piece of history you can touch, smell, and ride. Imagine this being your kids first bike 🤘🏻
Double clutch when shifting should allow you to shift smoothly 👌
That bike really deserves to be restored. Restore it and ride it to meets and shows . Let the younger people know what motorcycles looks and ran like .
I would love to find something like this, an old rare bike to restore
'Wheels Through Time' is a whole running museum with legit 100's of bikes just like this.
Why I love my 2015 softail slim because it was modeled after these
My old '39 Knucklehead model E only 214 units produced. Sean, those Flanders handlebars and risers are worth good money. Leave the patina, better yet, keep it.
noticed your avatar. my brother used to be able to rip out any VH guitar riff with amazing accuracy. he had health problems so that was about all he could do was play VH riffs to occupy his time. he was living proof practice makes perfect. if it werent for him i wouldnt be able to recognize a VH song from so few notes.
Dr. Jones: That thing belongs in a museum!!!
Wheels through time: we can do that!
If nothing else they would be a great resource for information on the bike. 🤔
No,not a museum. That needs to be ridden.
@@derekcollins1972 check out wheels through time. That’s what they do, get them running where they can be ridden and seen by all.
@@davidhelmuth6654 Yes that's true.
Thanks for everything you do Sean, I went down for the first time on the road last night and if it weren’t for you I wouldn’t have ridden to work the next day
That is a cool bike I wouldn't even clean it, it has character just the way it is.
Bro you'd love riding an old Triumph if you haven't tried one already. The Harleys of the past were like tractors but the british bikes were the roadsters.
I had a smile the whole time
Very cool
Ride yur ride! You do you!
Love that bike! Brakes tune up! Enjoy!
I love older motorcycles due to NOT having modern parts that fail you and are costly in complicated maintenance.
Sadly I despise current large bikes. Size / weight/ cost versus comfort riding, control and ease of maintenance, I feel Harley and other brands abandoned the best of all motorcycles!
Today, Honda makes NEW 1970 style CB750s for sale in Asia (only)! But to buy - ship over and taxes makes the price to high.
Ship as parts in boxes is cheaper! But I need someone to put it together for me here.
I own one but it resides in Philippines with my in-laws and I allow them to use it, no fear of tearing it up. (Excellent mechanics there and new parts).
If Harley reproduced that bike with few changes to match brakes,clutch, etc. I would love to buy several of them!
But you cannot give me current big bike.
Thank you for sharing!
Sean you've got to be one of the coolest guys on the webs, love your vids, nice bike - I haven't ridden a cycle since 1985 and the KZ 550 LTD (sweet rider), but NOW, I really want a motor sickle , thanks man, keep the great vids coming
Ohhhh.... 'Chopper'.... I get it. Thanks for the living history lesson. Cool bike.
I dont have a beard, nor a bike, but I wish you all the best!
Budapest, Hungary
Definitely the next project bike!!
This is such a cool bike, Sean. Really loving the build btw. Can’t wait to see you ride this thing again
I rode a few 40s bikes. 46, 49, and a 48 i think. All servi-cars. I was a little nervous to ride the 46 with the " rocker" clutch. But it only took me about a mile before i got comfortable with it. Once you get the mechanicals sorted out it'll be a whole different bike. Don't sell it. Give her some tlc and enjoy. They are so much fun and a step back in time. I love em. P.s. im not that far from you. Id love to see it.
That bike made you work for this video for sure
That looks so hard to ride...... but soooo much fun. full of character that machine!
OK you won't believe this but I have a 1947 knucklehead. Entire engine has been gone through and runs beautifully very powerful. We kept the paint with the same patina with a light sanding cleanup and clearcoat. Everything about the bike is perfect. It runs very well very strong. So if I were you I would never sell that bike but I would improve it it's something that you will cherish. Ava
That bike is beautiful!!!!
I have wanted one of those since I first heard about them.
I think the look of those older bikes just looks good though I don’t why but they do
it is cool as it gets, please make it shine again
When the engine is humming it sounds good. Hope you can get the front end cleaned up....cool bike.
Torque monster!!!! in 3rd but doesn't stall. Legendary!
You need to keep this one what a cool old bike…