Oh man Im so glad I am not the only 23 yr old that likes these. Its cool to see other enthusiasts of "Old school iron" as you elegantly put it. I am also a novice rider. I started a 2 weeks ago! haha but I have always loved looking at pics of these old bikes. Something about them is just so magical and amazing. Have fun riding! Cheers ^^
I do admire the patience and passion it takes to own a bike like this. I love the style, the history, the looks, but for me in particular, it's all about the practicality of an electric starter. But as a biker myself, it's good to know that there are guys like you out there, taking good care of these treasures. Congratulations on your bike. Keep her alive.
That's great! It's all about creativity and having fun with it. Doesn't have to be an expensive Harley or Indian. One of the most fun bikes I ever had was a Yamaha SR500 with a big piston in it. I wanted a cafe racer look. So I took the tunnel side surfaces of the SR tank and melded a Suzuki cafe style tank to the outside of it. Cut the two tanks apart with a jig saw and got a local guy to weld them. The more of your own work you do on a project bike, the more you really make it your own.
Thanks. Mine does the vent oil spewing as well, but that only brings down the oil level in the gear case. The crankcase is BIG and the only way it can clear out excess oil is via the flywheel scrapers and the rotary valve on the return pump. Since this takes a while if the crankcase is half full, when those two big pistons come down, oil pumps past the rings into the combustion chamber. However I think that the check ball is seating better now... it doesn't smoke near as bad as it used to.
That's a wonderful machine you have sir! Kickers were a good reason to keep your bike in reasonable tune! Proper kicking technique is important to avoid limping, thanks for the video
Thanks for the reply. I'm 76 YO, bought my first harley a 37 UL in 1950 for 50.00. I've never stopped riding. By the way, I found a devils face for my Maytag model 72 (its a bottle opener, that I can make into a muffler). You have me inspired.
Man I love the OLD Harleys. Been looking for one to build for a few years now. Dont want to make a trailer queen, but just restored to what you would find back then and ride the ol girl from SC to CA and back.
Very Nice bike!...the old 42 WLC ("45"} I had was exactly the same starting procedure rain or shine. Never failed to start in 8 years of riding. Only got "bit" once when it backfired.
Thanks. Knowledge is a very humbling thing. The more you learn, the more you come to realize just how little you really know. And there certainly isn't anything wrong with that. I wish I knew as much about flatheads as Dick O'Brian ( former head of the H-D racing department) did in 1969.
Nice....These bikes not for every Internet troll obviously.....they can't appreciate anything....what history the machines have....dedication to be a owner...mechanically...and financial.....Thanks....Love the old iron.....
+Rat Bike Thanks! Good observations. I guess the saddest thing to me is that more and more of these old bikes are being relegated to collections as an investment. They don't get ridden any significant amount but are merely show pieces... status symbols if you will. Me and my good buddy Ted (he rides a WL) did a trip to the coast last year (about 3200 miles) and our bikes got lots of attention. But the people who claimed to have Knuckles or Panheads were riding modern HD's. So as wealthy buyers push the prices up beyond the reach of the average joe and the bikes get restored but then just sit, the demand for critical parts plummets and the suppliers either fold or move on. And eventually people like us who ride these things will no longer be able to afford to rebuild them... things like pinion shafts and crankpins will require a trip to a machine shop.
Although I never had the same smoke problem on startup. Only oiling problem I had was the oil pump check valve between the tank and motor not staying closed. The oil from the tank would drain into the motor case while off and when it was kicked it would spew oil out the crankcase vent. Then would have to kick it over very slow for a few kicks to pump the oil back to the tank. After that all was good.
Yup, the same procedure works for a "45" as well. Had a few bikes but the most fun and best bike i`ve ever owned was my 1942 "45"bar none! Bought mine as a puzzle and after a few months work an understanding (ex)wife and some coin fully restored...rode for it for 8 years. Moved on to a newer wide glide but I will always miss my flat head!.
snoman003 The bike I wish I hadn't sold was my old 33 VL. I started with an engine and collected the other parts over a few years in the early 80's (VL stuff was worth peanuts back then). I built it myself and rode it for 5 years. It was primitive, slow and oily, but man did I have fun with that bike! I too moved on... and went through a slew of modern bikes. But nothing ever had the same charm as that old VL. The smell of burnt oil and gas residue on those wickedly hot cast iron heads. The ticking of the lifters and the uneven heartbeat of the engine at idle. Gliding down the highway on a cool autumn day ("flathead weather") with the mechanical noise of ancient machinery... all the while knowing the responsibility that you alone bear to keep everything in tune and working properly. That's what I missed the most! Modern bikes are too easy! Turn a key and go. If this is tuesday it must be Utah. Take a primitive old bike on a 3000 mile trip and its always an adventure. Sitting on the side of the road to make a minor adjustment. And someone always stops to see if you're alright and get a gander at an old machine. Even if nothing breaks there is always an hour of maintenance (and beers) at the end of the day (OK, maybe more than an hour of beers). But that's when you communicate with your machine... How's your chain? Better check your exhaust lifters! Hmm... you used more oil than usual. I've never been stranded for more than a half hour on either the VL or UL because they are simple enough that you can work on them yourself and usually get them running again. Unlike my Evo sportster that I pushed home a mile, uphill in 90 degree weather when an alternator magnet fell out! (OK... maybe it wasn't uphill) But here I am rambling on. Thanks for your comments. Nice to hear from someone who can relate!
Nice bike, love the old style. have a 90 softail, building it to look like these old army bikes, will keep the suspencion, like to ride long trips, so a bit of comfort is needed ;)
Nice collection. I almost bought a late '30's Chief once... very pretty bike. Also rode a '33 VL for a time in the '80's and later on I had a Norton 16H single. And I built and sold four or five HD 45's, but I guess I always preferred the big twin flatheads.
I'm a flathead nut also, I have a 42 HD 45, 48 Chief, 37 Chief, 40 ULH, 39 BSA M-20, and am building a 30 AV8 with a 53 8BA engine. I love your bike and the Maytag engine, I have one, that needs some coil work.
I live in Atlanta and have had ALL kinds of bikes. But I have a 3rd cousin in the N Georgia Mtns, Floyd, who still has his 1st and only street bike--a 1942 WL. Motor rebuilt twice but otherwise 1942, still has original olive drab paint (VERY faded) with "for official use only" on the tanks. Floyd's truck--1951 Chevy, his granddad's, also original. We are both machinists but he has a 2nd job as well...Justice of the Peace! Here's to all the Real People out there, Keep It Rockin.
Thanks man! Wow! Two rebuilds in 72 years... impressive. A friend of mine up here in Canada has two WLC's, the Canadian military version. One's a '42 and the other's a '43. He rides the '42 a lot. It has a Sten gun (deactivated) in the leather gun scabbard. Military drab, of course.
Roy Ledford A Generator Shovel... nice! I was looking for one of them before I got the UL. Saw one sitting on the side of the street down town and it looked so pretty that I couldn't get it out of my mind for years. I thought it was an ex-police bike too. Low, black and mean-looking with just the right amount of chrome (just a little bit). I've had lots of Japanese and Brit bikes too, but the first bike I ever built was a '50 EL Panhead mild chopper in the '70's (started with only an engine). Then after my brother picked up a 42 UL I was hooked on flatheads. So in '80 I bought a 1933 VLD engine in the Yukon (I was working up there) and by '84 that was my ride. I also built 5 45 WL's from a stash of parts I had bought, but I mostly just sold them rather than ride them much. We just never had enough money to keep stuff for very long. I had a military surplus 1942 WLC engine in the crate that ended up being sold in a running bike. A friend of mine sold a complete original '28 JD daily rider for $200 to pay the rent. I sold an almost complete 1911 Flying Merkel for $7500 in 1990 when I bought my first house. What would these things be worth now... crazy money! Even the WL's are worth 3 to 4 times what I got for mine! Oh well. As for my brother's UL, he later blew it up riding with a group of modern bikes doing 75 mph on a sweltering hot day... it had 74" cylinders bored .125" to the 80" sizes and then .060" on top of that, so the cylinders were just too thin. The entire lower rear cylinder blew apart and the con rod took out the back of the cases. Cast iron shrapnel was bouncing off the pavement and showering everyone around him. Pretty dramatic!
@nortonaavs Thanks. You're right about the spark. I forgot... mine has an auto advance timer. The bags are 60's accessories off ebay. Keep watching and you will eventually see some for sale. You're going to love that '46 when you get it going. (like to see a video!) The big flatheads can run surprisingly strong. Between the primary belt ratio and the 25 tooth tranny sprocket mine just purrs at 75 mph and only 3200 rpm. (I've got a tach in the speedo) FLATHEADS FOREVER!!!
Install of disc was a hassle because I wanted to keep the star hub. I took an old rear brake drum, cut away everything but the center part that mounts to the star hub and welded to it a piece of thick plate to provide a mount for the disc. The caliper is late model rear HD off e-bay. My electrics are 12V. The headlight shell is '40's lucas. I got a late reflector-lens H-4 unit on e-bay, broke the lens out, and riveted it to the old crappy Lucas reflector. The focus is not perfect but it's okay.
Yeah... the suspension on the old girl is pretty primitive. I went on my annual trip to BC this August and the first 400 mile day in the saddle was brutal. Sore ass, sore back, sore wrists, sore neck... it would be quicker to list what wasn't sore. Perhaps I'm too old for this? But evening beers have incredible healing properties. After six days and 2400 miles I was completely conditioned and could have easily ridden indefinitely. Good luck with your Softail build. Sounds like a cool idea!
@nortonaavs Not currently an AMCA member. Used to go to the Davenport meet every fall but the WL Bonneville racing effort has conflicted with it for the last 7 years (see my other vids). A few years back my buddy Ted had a real nice 38 UL bobber. A young customer was in his shop admiring the bike and asked how hard it was to start. He turned the ignition on and just brushed the kicker with his heel. The bike started! He wryly told the kid "Apparently not that hard." Only ever happened one time.
Yea, my dream bike is an old school Knucklehead or Indian. In the mean time I'm putting together a little bobber project out of a Honda Rebel 250. Sort of reminds my of a chopped BSA once you get it stripped down.
i love the starting of these old bikes they just keep on going.modern bike are so well made but the computer bits in 60yrs will they still work?yes cos some old boy will fix the computer and they will still be running.
You know, my neighbors can't hate me for that reason any more! Sometime last summer the oil pump check valve finally decided to seat properly. The first time I started it up this spring there was no smoke and there was no oil puking out of the breather. Surprised the hell out of me! (Do kind of miss all that smoke though.) And as for Iron Sportsters... they got tons of class. If you get the chance, check out the Copperhead video on my channel. It's a heavily worked over '79 Ironhead.
@usabadone Thanks. I work pretty hard trying to make the videos creative. As for the old Flathead, next winter she's going to get a fresh top end and some new paint (a reward for getting me through a 2500 mile trip last summer with no breakdowns)
@oOOpIIIqOOo The bell shaped thing is an ignition timer (sort of like a distributor on a car). The left twist grip advances and retards that ignition timer. You want the ignition retarded some when you kick start the bike so it doesn't kick back on you and hurt your leg! When you are riding down the road you want the ignition fully advanced, or the engine will run too hot. I should have mentioned retarding the ignition in the video, but I forgot because I have an auto-advance timer installed.
that it is..and you are quite correct..every new thing i learn just opens up a whole new avenue/ direction/can o'worms....there are so many facets to the motorcycle,all equally important,and in a very symbiotic manner... I'm 42 now, and a relatively new HD owner....I just hope i can learn enough to keep one on the road at all times 'till I kick off.. =) (if you have a few minutes to spare, would you have a look at my bikes over on my channel? ) Thanks
@tootiredtocare1 In reality the neighbors actually pretty good about it. I guess because in the summer the smoke helps keep the mosquitos at bay for a while...
That's how I am with all my stuff. My guitars are all personally customized, my guitar amps are personally tweaked, I work on my own firearms and I build my own amateur radios. I hate having other people do my work for me... haha
Yea growing up I was always the kid tearing everything apart and making it my own. My other idea take a V-star 1100 and build up with a classic vibe like this Harley... but alas I am young so time is on my side but my finances, not so much...haha
@mcflathead thanks, you really helped me out here! just one more thing, turning the grip towards me (as in opening the throttle with the right grip) delays the ignition right?
Thanks for the interest! The bike actually does idle down to about 800rpm (if you ever heard a big twin flathead idling with straight pipes, you would hear how beautiful a Harley can really sound). But being a carbureted bike, here being started in the cool temps of late fall in Canada, I couldn't take the choke off and idle it down until, well... probably 15 or 20 minutes of riding it on the road. It would stall...
Translated: "Cool vehicle, but not for long distances." In reply: Thanks! As to long distance it all depends on your attitude. If you have to cover long distances quickly, rarely stopping to refuel, then this kind of bike is not for you. Having said that, last summer I rode 3000 miles (4800 km) in 5 days travelling at 65 - 70 mph (105 - 113 kph). And the big seat is very comfortable. On the down side, gas stops are every 100 miles and daily maintenance is needed every night over cold beers :)
tristannolan85 Thanks! Just got back from the coast with it (a 3000 mile trip). One fried ignition coil (I always carry a spare), two sinking brass carb floats (you would figure that at least one of two brand new brass floats would actually float... fortunately I had a spare composite one), a broken clutch pedal rod (a resident 50 yards from where I was on the side of the road had a welder... and he refused to take money for the repair... 99% of people are great and want to help you if they can) and a few minor annoyances... but the engine performed flawlessly. What a great trip! When you tour on old machines people are always coming up to you to ask questions and tell their own stories. So when a guy came up to me at a service station in Cranbrook BC and snidely asked "What's wrong... can't afford a new bike?", I told him without hesitation "I wouldn't want one!" Turned out that he had an old Panhead. Lots of people have old bikes, but they are afraid to tour on them.
mcflathead just make sure you have a tool box and another box of spare parts lol..thats what my dad told me, if youre going to ride an old harley better carry some tools
tristannolan85 Yup! You're dads right. I carry all the tools necessary to service or even completely disassemble the bike... carefully selected and all in an 11" x 3 1/2" x 3" tin box! The spares are in a similar sized case, and I'm covered for most everything except generator problems and catastrophic engine or transmission failure. And if your generator does fail, you can limp home on battery power alone as long as your lights are off (In 1985 I rode back from Sturgis on my Panhead (6-volt system) using those square 6-volt dry cell lantern batteries... I could get 100 miles to a battery running the ignition only). Leaving only catastrophic engine or transmission failures... and these rare in old Harleys if you have built them according to specs and monitor your oil levels daily. They are very robust and were designed to put on big miles without incident. Yes... you do have to be a man who knows and cares for his machine. Things do go wrong, but they are easy to troubleshoot and you can almost always fix 'em (never been stranded yet!). And you get some great stories out of your trips! My buddy Ted once carved temporary carb floats for a BMW out of wood and another time he made a temporary clutch pedal pull rod using a doubled-up boot lace (that was for my bike... and it worked smoother than the original rod!). There's a greater sense of adventure riding an old bike! I was always kinda bored on modern machines... nothing to ever adjust.. no reason to get to know your bike... no challenge... push a button and go... yawn! Sure, they rarely break down, but when they do you won't know how to fix 'em and probably can't. The biggest payback in riding an old machine is all the attention you get! You meet a lot of interested (and interesting) people! Thanks for your interest!
@oOOpIIIqOOo I'm not absolutely sure. Take the cap off the timer. Kick the engine over to see which way the cam turns. I believe it turns clockwise? When the timer body rotates against the direction of cam rotation (counterclockwise?) ignition will occur earlier. When the timer body turns with the direction of cam rotation ignition will occur later. If I'm right (may not be) the cable pulls advanced and pushes retarded, so knuckles back should be advanced? Do you have spark? Clean the points.
hi, im currently getting my dads old wl 45 going. i think its 1948 but not sure. i only started replacing the fuel line and cleaning the carburetor and i was just wondering.. if the clutch is the pedal on the left side, then what does the left handle bar grip do? it turns that bell shaped thing on the right side of the engine, but i have no clue what it does. help very apreciated.
very interesting, i wish i could ride those old bike. Can you explain a bit about how to operate the suicide clutch? After you get into any gear, do you have to balance the clutch and throttle to get it moving? I drive a manual transmission car, wonder if the same procedure would apply to operate suicide clutch harley.
+ton san Exactly the same! A bit of throttle and a bit of clutch engagement. Away you go! The only difference is that you have to steady the bike with you're free leg (the right) until you get rolling. The nicest thing about the flathead UL is that it had the heaviest flywheels that Harley ever used in a production bike. You have to be really clumsy with the clutch engagement to actually stall the motorcycle!
Thanks very much for this video. My father passed away not long ago and he left me his 1940 UL harley, I really regret it now but I didnt show much interest in the bike while he was alive. Now I'm very motivated to get it going and get it on the road and your video will help a lot I'm sure. Does your bike purge much oil near the brake pedal when you're kicking it?
An old UL will be a great way to remember your dad. Once they're set up properly they are really nice to ride. HEAVY flywheels mean gobs of low-speed torque... you can mess up and be in fourth gear when you should be in second and still accelerate without changing gears. They don't accelerate fast, but you can hang some pretty crazy sprockets on them and IDLE down the highway at 70-75 mph all day long without a problem. The oil purging near the brake pedal is originating from the cam chest and being blown out the breather in the cam cover. What it indicates is that the oil feed pump check valve is seeping oil into the cam chest and/or crankcase and slowly filling them up. It's real common in these bikes if they sit for a while, and really nothing to worry about unless it still happens when you are riding every week. If so then you better pull the check ball out of the feed pump and see how bad the seat and ball are. The check ball is readily available. The seat can be lapped by making a tool... you weld a steel ball the same size as the check ball to a rod, charge with lapping compound and twirl it on the seat until it is a smooth grey all around. With mine, if it sits for more than a month then it will purge oil... so I don't worry about it. Good luck!
Wow its great to come across knowledgeable guys passionate about these machines. I had grand plans of a nut and bolt restoration but the more I work on it the more I just want to ride it. I want to get it solid reliable of course. How about the ignition advance? How do you set that starting idling and running?
Ah,thanks for reply,only i run a mag on my wlc,and forgot to advance it ,woops,very nearly seized it up,lucky i didn't go far,i think im gonna fix it in advanced mode and kick it hard ?
Russell Blampied Sorry man, but full advance is how you have to run a older (non-advancing) mag. However WLs are easier to kick over than ULs. My buddy Ted runs a mag on his 45 wl and it usually starts first kick... and almost never more than two.
I like the old harleys over the taller old British bikes. . Also the fat look and perfect form of a motorcycle. All bikes have their own importance thou. I wish had the choice of doing something crazy to get a flathead or a knucklehead. Sadly in India we have all British bikes if one wants something from the past. For Harleys i will have to migrate. We do have the modern evo engines but they are missing the whole point. The moment i see a rear shock abs on the rear it puts me off and the HID performance lights. Where are the flickering bulbs inside the headlight which gives a lighter sunny shade light. Telescopic forks over the springers ..no no..no..
I understand your despair! The old spring fork, rigid frame Harleys had beautiful lines. Are there not still Harley 45 flatheads in India? I vaguely remember an article from the 1980's in Easyriders or Iron Horse magazine about "thousands" of Harley 45's in India. Probably most of them were three wheelers, but with an aftermarket frame and rear wheel one could converted to two wheels.
With a bigger gearboxsprocket a SU carb and some reliving at the cylinders and grind off 1 millimeter on the heads and at last a 1 1/2 inch prim. belt you can drive to China whitout any problem that`s for sure.
+Bikerblad The cylinders were relieved and the combustion chambers in the heads were welded and profiled to the wedge design used in the KR's. The primary uses a 1 1/2" BDL belt. I will never run a primary chain again! I was running a 26 tooth drive gear sprocket. It worked great on the flat plains... you would essentially be idling down the highway at 65-70 mph. But on downhills in the mountains the engine would tend to load up because the throttle wasn't open wide enough. So now I run a 25 tooth and it works just fine. A friend of mine swears by SU carbs. He ran one on a 45 flathead for years and loved it. I tried one my old Yamaha SR 500, but all it seemed to do was hinder acceleration and top end. I'll probably stick with the three bolt Linkert. Its easy to adjust and works fine as long as the float doesn't leak. (Out of three brand new brass floats, all of them sank within 24 hours! Now I run one of those black composite things.) I like to run out to the coast once a year. Its about 3000 miles round trip.
They were an aftermarket accessory from the sixties. Blue Moon Cycle (BMW) had some repops for sale last winter on ebay, but it looks like they are long gone. You also see original ones for sale on ebay from time to time.
That is undoubtedly one of the most gorgeous bikes I've ever seen. It looks 'stock'? Is it? Thanks for sharing this...(from your Canadian 'brother' in Victoria).
Thanks. No, it wasn't very stock then, and the video is quite a few years old now, so even less stock now. The 16" tires always seemed to be a bit twitchy at speed, so I laced on some 19" rims with nice fat Dunlop tires. It completely changed the ride for the better! Non-skirted ribbed fenders to go with the tires... sorta like a JD. Cheers from Winter-peg!
The stock mechanical front brake faded in a downpour and I slid through a red light. I was lucky... the cross traffic got a slow start. I had never been happy with the stock front brake in modern traffic, but that incident sealed it. This bike has never been intended to be a restoration project. I bought it as a rolling basket with a hodge-podge of incorrect parts... '42 engine, repro frame, '60's tranny, Panhead gas tanks, etc. etc. To do a proper restoration I really only had a stock military '42 engine, front fork, wheels, and badly bent handlebars... all the rest was incorrect. So why not build a " sort-of " 42 UL with some concessions to reliability (12 vs 6 volt electrics) and safety (brakes) and perhaps some styling changes. I love innovating and creating far more than restoring. And since I can only afford to ride one bike, it was pretty much a no-brainer. If the purists hate it, so be it. In their stables of pristine restored antique cycles and cars, there's usually a current model HD under a tarp somewhere... and thats the one that sees most of the riding time. As for me, if I'm on my way to the coast and back, it'll be to the rumble of a big old flathead mill. Many many smiley faces!
This made me laugh, not at you but at those old bikes. That is good advice on not locking your knee, I ended up on the other side by doing that. If you get a chance check out my vids I have a 42 an 80 and a 96 2 of them are kick starts.
Oh man Im so glad I am not the only 23 yr old that likes these. Its cool to see other enthusiasts of "Old school iron" as you elegantly put it. I am also a novice rider. I started a 2 weeks ago! haha but I have always loved looking at pics of these old bikes. Something about them is just so magical and amazing. Have fun riding! Cheers ^^
I do admire the patience and passion it takes to own a bike like this. I love the style, the history, the looks, but for me in particular, it's all about the practicality of an electric starter. But as a biker myself, it's good to know that there are guys like you out there, taking good care of these treasures. Congratulations on your bike. Keep her alive.
Thank you! When I was your age I was more into choppers, but I slowly came to see beauty in the more stock looking vintage bikes.
That's great! It's all about creativity and having fun with it. Doesn't have to be an expensive Harley or Indian. One of the most fun bikes I ever had was a Yamaha SR500 with a big piston in it. I wanted a cafe racer look. So I took the tunnel side surfaces of the SR tank and melded a Suzuki cafe style tank to the outside of it. Cut the two tanks apart with a jig saw and got a local guy to weld them. The more of your own work you do on a project bike, the more you really make it your own.
Outstanding bike! I'm a 23 year old novice rider and love the look of old school iron.
Thanks. Mine does the vent oil spewing as well, but that only brings down the oil level in the gear case. The crankcase is BIG and the only way it can clear out excess oil is via the flywheel scrapers and the rotary valve on the return pump. Since this takes a while if the crankcase is half full, when those two big pistons come down, oil pumps past the rings into the combustion chamber. However I think that the check ball is seating better now... it doesn't smoke near as bad as it used to.
That's a wonderful machine you have sir! Kickers were a good reason to keep your bike in reasonable tune! Proper kicking technique is important to avoid limping, thanks for the video
Thank you for great advice. My wife just gave me a 1943 WLC - going by your way of doing it - starts first or second kick every time...
Thanks for the reply. I'm 76 YO, bought my first harley a 37 UL in 1950 for 50.00. I've never stopped riding. By the way, I found a devils face for my Maytag model 72 (its a bottle opener, that I can make into a muffler). You have me inspired.
Man I love the OLD Harleys. Been looking for one to build for a few years now. Dont want to make a trailer queen, but just restored to what you would find back then and ride the ol girl from SC to CA and back.
Couldn't agree more! The easy lope of a big, low compression flathead. Its beautiful...
Very Nice bike!...the old 42 WLC ("45"} I had was exactly the same starting procedure rain or shine. Never failed to start in 8 years of riding. Only got "bit" once when it backfired.
Thanks. Knowledge is a very humbling thing. The more you learn, the more you come to realize just how little you really know. And there certainly isn't anything wrong with that. I wish I knew as much about flatheads as Dick O'Brian ( former head of the H-D racing department) did in 1969.
That will do it for anyone.At least your around to talk about it. Love your bike!!
Nice....These bikes not for every Internet troll obviously.....they can't appreciate anything....what history the machines have....dedication to be a owner...mechanically...and financial.....Thanks....Love the old iron.....
+Rat Bike Thanks! Good observations. I guess the saddest thing to me is that more and more of these old bikes are being relegated to collections as an investment. They don't get ridden any significant amount but are merely show pieces... status symbols if you will. Me and my good buddy Ted (he rides a WL) did a trip to the coast last year (about 3200 miles) and our bikes got lots of attention. But the people who claimed to have Knuckles or Panheads were riding modern HD's. So as wealthy buyers push the prices up beyond the reach of the average joe and the bikes get restored but then just sit, the demand for critical parts plummets and the suppliers either fold or move on. And eventually people like us who ride these things will no longer be able to afford to rebuild them... things like pinion shafts and crankpins will require a trip to a machine shop.
Although I never had the same smoke problem on startup. Only oiling problem I had was the oil pump check valve between the tank and motor not staying closed. The oil from the tank would drain into the motor case while off and when it was kicked it would spew oil out the crankcase vent. Then would have to kick it over very slow for a few kicks to pump the oil back to the tank. After that all was good.
Yup, the same procedure works for a "45" as well. Had a few bikes but the most fun and best bike i`ve ever owned was my 1942 "45"bar none!
Bought mine as a puzzle and after a few months work an understanding (ex)wife and some coin fully restored...rode for it for 8 years. Moved on to a newer wide glide but I will always miss my flat head!.
snoman003 The bike I wish I hadn't sold was my old 33 VL. I started with an engine and collected the other parts over a few years in the early 80's (VL stuff was worth peanuts back then). I built it myself and rode it for 5 years. It was primitive, slow and oily, but man did I have fun with that bike! I too moved on... and went through a slew of modern bikes. But nothing ever had the same charm as that old VL. The smell of burnt oil and gas residue on those wickedly hot cast iron heads. The ticking of the lifters and the uneven heartbeat of the engine at idle. Gliding down the highway on a cool autumn day ("flathead weather") with the mechanical noise of ancient machinery... all the while knowing the responsibility that you alone bear to keep everything in tune and working properly. That's what I missed the most! Modern bikes are too easy! Turn a key and go. If this is tuesday it must be Utah. Take a primitive old bike on a 3000 mile trip and its always an adventure. Sitting on the side of the road to make a minor adjustment. And someone always stops to see if you're alright and get a gander at an old machine. Even if nothing breaks there is always an hour of maintenance (and beers) at the end of the day (OK, maybe more than an hour of beers). But that's when you communicate with your machine... How's your chain? Better check your exhaust lifters! Hmm... you used more oil than usual. I've never been stranded for more than a half hour on either the VL or UL because they are simple enough that you can work on them yourself and usually get them running again. Unlike my Evo sportster that I pushed home a mile, uphill in 90 degree weather when an alternator magnet fell out! (OK... maybe it wasn't uphill) But here I am rambling on. Thanks for your comments. Nice to hear from someone who can relate!
That BIKE IS AWESOME love that it appears to be all orig...
Nice bike, love the old style.
have a 90 softail, building it to look like these old army bikes, will keep the suspencion, like to ride long trips, so a bit of comfort is needed ;)
Nice collection. I almost bought a late '30's Chief once... very pretty bike. Also rode a '33 VL for a time in the '80's and later on I had a Norton 16H single. And I built and sold four or five HD 45's, but I guess I always preferred the big twin flatheads.
I'm a flathead nut also, I have a 42 HD 45, 48 Chief, 37 Chief, 40 ULH, 39 BSA M-20, and am building a 30 AV8 with a 53 8BA engine. I love your bike and the Maytag engine, I have one, that needs some coil work.
The neighbors complaining about the smoke is sort of like someone complaining to Michelangelo about the paint fumes. That UL is a work of art!
I live in Atlanta and have had ALL kinds of bikes. But I have a 3rd cousin in the N Georgia Mtns, Floyd, who still has his 1st and only street bike--a 1942 WL. Motor rebuilt twice but otherwise 1942, still has original olive drab paint (VERY faded) with "for official use only" on the tanks. Floyd's truck--1951 Chevy, his granddad's, also original. We are both machinists but he has a 2nd job as well...Justice of the Peace! Here's to all the Real People out there, Keep It Rockin.
Thanks man! Wow! Two rebuilds in 72 years... impressive. A friend of mine up here in Canada has two WLC's, the Canadian military version. One's a '42 and the other's a '43. He rides the '42 a lot. It has a Sten gun (deactivated) in the leather gun scabbard. Military drab, of course.
mcflathead In all honesty--I would rather have that UL than a 2015 Road King!
Roy Ledford I think that's the highest compliment my little bike could possibly receive. Thank-you very much!
The oldest bike I have had (built) was a 1969 Electra-Glide, ex-Atlanta City PD bike. What I wouldn't give to have it back!
Roy Ledford A Generator Shovel... nice! I was looking for one of them before I got the UL. Saw one sitting on the side of the street down town and it looked so pretty that I couldn't get it out of my mind for years. I thought it was an ex-police bike too. Low, black and mean-looking with just the right amount of chrome (just a little bit). I've had lots of Japanese and Brit bikes too, but the first bike I ever built was a '50 EL Panhead mild chopper in the '70's (started with only an engine). Then after my brother picked up a 42 UL I was hooked on flatheads. So in '80 I bought a 1933 VLD engine in the Yukon (I was working up there) and by '84 that was my ride. I also built 5 45 WL's from a stash of parts I had bought, but I mostly just sold them rather than ride them much. We just never had enough money to keep stuff for very long. I had a military surplus 1942 WLC engine in the crate that ended up being sold in a running bike. A friend of mine sold a complete original '28 JD daily rider for $200 to pay the rent. I sold an almost complete 1911 Flying Merkel for $7500 in 1990 when I bought my first house. What would these things be worth now... crazy money! Even the WL's are worth 3 to 4 times what I got for mine! Oh well. As for my brother's UL, he later blew it up riding with a group of modern bikes doing 75 mph on a sweltering hot day... it had 74" cylinders bored .125" to the 80" sizes and then .060" on top of that, so the cylinders were just too thin. The entire lower rear cylinder blew apart and the con rod took out the back of the cases. Cast iron shrapnel was bouncing off the pavement and showering everyone around him. Pretty dramatic!
@nortonaavs Thanks. You're right about the spark. I forgot... mine has an auto advance timer. The bags are 60's accessories off ebay. Keep watching and you will eventually see some for sale. You're going to love that '46 when you get it going. (like to see a video!) The big flatheads can run surprisingly strong. Between the primary belt ratio and the 25 tooth tranny sprocket mine just purrs at 75 mph and only 3200 rpm. (I've got a tach in the speedo) FLATHEADS FOREVER!!!
Install of disc was a hassle because I wanted to keep the star hub. I took an old rear brake drum, cut away everything but the center part that mounts to the star hub and welded to it a piece of thick plate to provide a mount for the disc. The caliper is late model rear HD off e-bay. My electrics are 12V. The headlight shell is '40's lucas. I got a late reflector-lens H-4 unit on e-bay, broke the lens out, and riveted it to the old crappy Lucas reflector. The focus is not perfect but it's okay.
Very cool gary! I love this video!
That is real music, hearing that old beast start up.
You forgot to turn your low idle out couple turns to richin it up,helps in cold weather, been running a 58 pan M 74 linkert,love it
Yeah... the suspension on the old girl is pretty primitive. I went on my annual trip to BC this August and the first 400 mile day in the saddle was brutal. Sore ass, sore back, sore wrists, sore neck... it would be quicker to list what wasn't sore. Perhaps I'm too old for this? But evening beers have incredible healing properties. After six days and 2400 miles I was completely conditioned and could have easily ridden indefinitely. Good luck with your Softail build. Sounds like a cool idea!
@nortonaavs Not currently an AMCA member. Used to go to the Davenport meet every fall but the WL Bonneville racing effort has conflicted with it for the last 7 years (see my other vids). A few years back my buddy Ted had a real nice 38 UL bobber. A young customer was in his shop admiring the bike and asked how hard it was to start. He turned the ignition on and just brushed the kicker with his heel. The bike started! He wryly told the kid "Apparently not that hard." Only ever happened one time.
Yea, my dream bike is an old school Knucklehead or Indian. In the mean time I'm putting together a little bobber project out of a Honda Rebel 250. Sort of reminds my of a chopped BSA once you get it stripped down.
Beuatiful machine you have! Nice vid!
awesome bike, thanks for showing
That is a great bike sir!
Sick , love them older bikes.and thank on lesson.
i love the starting of these old bikes they just keep on going.modern bike are so well made but the computer bits in 60yrs will they still work?yes cos some old boy will fix the computer and they will still be running.
model U the greatest bike ever my profile pic is of me on mine the day I got it exactly 40 years ago next month, and I still have it and love it.
Loved ever minute of this video
You know, my neighbors can't hate me for that reason any more! Sometime last summer the oil pump check valve finally decided to seat properly. The first time I started it up this spring there was no smoke and there was no oil puking out of the breather. Surprised the hell out of me! (Do kind of miss all that smoke though.) And as for Iron Sportsters... they got tons of class. If you get the chance, check out the Copperhead video on my channel. It's a heavily worked over '79 Ironhead.
@usabadone Thanks. I work pretty hard trying to make the videos creative. As for the old Flathead, next winter she's going to get a fresh top end and some new paint (a reward for getting me through a 2500 mile trip last summer with no breakdowns)
great bike, congrats
beautiful cases !!
That is a beautiful scooter. Thanks.
Very Nice and a Thumbs Up !
@oOOpIIIqOOo The bell shaped thing is an ignition timer (sort of like a distributor on a car). The left twist grip advances and retards that ignition timer. You want the ignition retarded some when you kick start the bike so it doesn't kick back on you and hurt your leg! When you are riding down the road you want the ignition fully advanced, or the engine will run too hot. I should have mentioned retarding the ignition in the video, but I forgot because I have an auto-advance timer installed.
Why Thank-You. That's high praise indeed!
That is a COOL BIKE!
Same method I use on my strimmer !! GREAT BIKE
that it is..and you are quite correct..every new thing i learn just opens up a whole new avenue/ direction/can o'worms....there are so many facets to the motorcycle,all equally important,and in a very symbiotic manner...
I'm 42 now, and a relatively new HD owner....I just hope i can learn enough to keep one on the road at all times 'till I kick off.. =)
(if you have a few minutes to spare, would you have a look at my bikes over on my channel? )
Thanks
Cool ride .
Even in the war years the vehicles were pretty capable and looked stylish.
exactly eight years after,,,,,,I hope your still ridin that scoot.
Very cool video!
nice man. I m from the same part of the world as you too. well, a few hours east. Keep it going
Thanks. Hopefully winter will start late and end early...
who doesn't have a smoke when they first wake up? i wouldn't deny her the simple pleasure i enjoy myself, lol
Cool bike!
@tootiredtocare1 In reality the neighbors actually pretty good about it. I guess because in the summer the smoke helps keep the mosquitos at bay for a while...
Thanks! I did it as "art deco" as I could.
Good video. Thanks. Nice bike
That's how I am with all my stuff. My guitars are all personally customized, my guitar amps are personally tweaked, I work on my own firearms and I build my own amateur radios. I hate having other people do my work for me... haha
take a look at your oil pump spring pressure and set it could be a tad out also along with your ball not seating, could be over oiling
Yea growing up I was always the kid tearing everything apart and making it my own. My other idea take a V-star 1100 and build up with a classic vibe like this Harley... but alas I am young so time is on my side but my finances, not so much...haha
@mcflathead thanks, you really helped me out here! just one more thing, turning the grip towards me (as in opening the throttle with the right grip) delays the ignition right?
Nice. Surprisingly high idle on choke compared to a newer Harley.
Thanks for the interest! The bike actually does idle down to about 800rpm (if you ever heard a big twin flathead idling with straight pipes, you would hear how beautiful a Harley can really sound). But being a carbureted bike, here being started in the cool temps of late fall in Canada, I couldn't take the choke off and idle it down until, well... probably 15 or 20 minutes of riding it on the road. It would stall...
Nice bike. Next time take us for a ride.
Thanks for the great comments.
Beautiful bike Bro! And if you were my neighbor I'd be there with you LOL! Thumb's up video!~John
Thanks John. Friends of the Flathead are always welcome!
Translated: "Cool vehicle, but not for long distances." In reply: Thanks! As to long distance it all depends on your attitude. If you have to cover long distances quickly, rarely stopping to refuel, then this kind of bike is not for you. Having said that, last summer I rode 3000 miles (4800 km) in 5 days travelling at 65 - 70 mph (105 - 113 kph). And the big seat is very comfortable. On the down side, gas stops are every 100 miles and daily maintenance is needed every night over cold beers :)
cool video, nice bike...would have to like to hear it rev up a bit tho
tristannolan85 Thanks! Just got back from the coast with it (a 3000 mile trip). One fried ignition coil (I always carry a spare), two sinking brass carb floats (you would figure that at least one of two brand new brass floats would actually float... fortunately I had a spare composite one), a broken clutch pedal rod (a resident 50 yards from where I was on the side of the road had a welder... and he refused to take money for the repair... 99% of people are great and want to help you if they can) and a few minor annoyances... but the engine performed flawlessly. What a great trip! When you tour on old machines people are always coming up to you to ask questions and tell their own stories. So when a guy came up to me at a service station in Cranbrook BC and snidely asked "What's wrong... can't afford a new bike?", I told him without hesitation "I wouldn't want one!" Turned out that he had an old Panhead. Lots of people have old bikes, but they are afraid to tour on them.
mcflathead just make sure you have a tool box and another box of spare parts lol..thats what my dad told me, if youre going to ride an old harley better carry some tools
tristannolan85 Yup! You're dads right. I carry all the tools necessary to service or even completely disassemble the bike... carefully selected and all in an 11" x 3 1/2" x 3" tin box! The spares are in a similar sized case, and I'm covered for most everything except generator problems and catastrophic engine or transmission failure. And if your generator does fail, you can limp home on battery power alone as long as your lights are off (In 1985 I rode back from Sturgis on my Panhead (6-volt system) using those square 6-volt dry cell lantern batteries... I could get 100 miles to a battery running the ignition only). Leaving only catastrophic engine or transmission failures... and these rare in old Harleys if you have built them according to specs and monitor your oil levels daily. They are very robust and were designed to put on big miles without incident. Yes... you do have to be a man who knows and cares for his machine. Things do go wrong, but they are easy to troubleshoot and you can almost always fix 'em (never been stranded yet!). And you get some great stories out of your trips! My buddy Ted once carved temporary carb floats for a BMW out of wood and another time he made a temporary clutch pedal pull rod using a doubled-up boot lace (that was for my bike... and it worked smoother than the original rod!). There's a greater sense of adventure riding an old bike! I was always kinda bored on modern machines... nothing to ever adjust.. no reason to get to know your bike... no challenge... push a button and go... yawn! Sure, they rarely break down, but when they do you won't know how to fix 'em and probably can't. The biggest payback in riding an old machine is all the attention you get! You meet a lot of interested (and interesting) people! Thanks for your interest!
@oOOpIIIqOOo I'm not absolutely sure. Take the cap off the timer. Kick the engine over to see which way the cam turns. I believe it turns clockwise? When the timer body rotates against the direction of cam rotation (counterclockwise?) ignition will occur earlier. When the timer body turns with the direction of cam rotation ignition will occur later. If I'm right (may not be) the cable pulls advanced and pushes retarded, so knuckles back should be advanced? Do you have spark? Clean the points.
Reminds me of my 48 Chief - you could be my neighbor anytime.
Nice useable bike.
You have a disk brake on the front wheel. Do you plan on stoping the bike?
hi, im currently getting my dads old wl 45 going. i think its 1948 but not sure. i only started replacing the fuel line and cleaning the carburetor and i was just wondering.. if the clutch is the pedal on the left side, then what does the left handle bar grip do? it turns that bell shaped thing on the right side of the engine, but i have no clue what it does. help very apreciated.
great job!
Are those Manitoba plates I see?
It's.... so... beautiful...
very interesting, i wish i could ride those old bike. Can you explain a bit about how to operate the suicide clutch? After you get into any gear, do you have to balance the clutch and throttle to get it moving? I drive a manual transmission car, wonder if the same procedure would apply to operate suicide clutch harley.
+ton san Exactly the same! A bit of throttle and a bit of clutch engagement. Away you go! The only difference is that you have to steady the bike with you're free leg (the right) until you get rolling. The nicest thing about the flathead UL is that it had the heaviest flywheels that Harley ever used in a production bike. You have to be really clumsy with the clutch engagement to actually stall the motorcycle!
just the vid i was looking for , thanks .
so what is the left timing advance used for ?
+mcflathead thanks helps a lot . currently shopping for a 41 wl flathead . nice bike by the way .
hey, i really enjoyed your vid..thanks ..wish i knew one/ tenth of what you do about bikes..
Thanks very much for this video. My father passed away not long ago and he left me his 1940 UL harley, I really regret it now but I didnt show much interest in the bike while he was alive. Now I'm very motivated to get it going and get it on the road and your video will help a lot I'm sure. Does your bike purge much oil near the brake pedal when you're kicking it?
An old UL will be a great way to remember your dad. Once they're set up properly they are really nice to ride. HEAVY flywheels mean gobs of low-speed torque... you can mess up and be in fourth gear when you should be in second and still accelerate without changing gears. They don't accelerate fast, but you can hang some pretty crazy sprockets on them and IDLE down the highway at 70-75 mph all day long without a problem. The oil purging near the brake pedal is originating from the cam chest and being blown out the breather in the cam cover. What it indicates is that the oil feed pump check valve is seeping oil into the cam chest and/or crankcase and slowly filling them up. It's real common in these bikes if they sit for a while, and really nothing to worry about unless it still happens when you are riding every week. If so then you better pull the check ball out of the feed pump and see how bad the seat and ball are. The check ball is readily available. The seat can be lapped by making a tool... you weld a steel ball the same size as the check ball to a rod, charge with lapping compound and twirl it on the seat until it is a smooth grey all around. With mine, if it sits for more than a month then it will purge oil... so I don't worry about it. Good luck!
Wow its great to come across knowledgeable guys passionate about these machines. I had grand plans of a nut and bolt restoration but the more I work on it the more I just want to ride it. I want to get it solid reliable of course. How about the ignition advance? How do you set that starting idling and running?
te felicito, es hermosa la moto!
It's surprisingly easy, especially with a ratchet-top tranny. Shifting is "more relaxed" than with a foot shift ...kinda pleasant!
I want this bike..... i love it ...... damn!!!
I'm not an expert at all, so forgive my ignorance. Why are the exhaust pipes so narrow at the end?
Ah,thanks for reply,only i run a mag on my wlc,and forgot to advance it ,woops,very nearly seized it up,lucky i didn't go far,i think im gonna fix it in advanced mode and kick it hard ?
Russell Blampied Sorry man, but full advance is how you have to run a older (non-advancing) mag. However WLs are easier to kick over than ULs. My buddy Ted runs a mag on his 45 wl and it usually starts first kick... and almost never more than two.
Nice bike...
I don't want to live anymore after seeing ur bike. lucky man !!! one bike like this is equivalent to 100 lamborginis
Wow! High praise indeed! Now don't do anything crazy just because of a little old flathead... thanks for the comments
I like the old harleys over the taller old British bikes. . Also the fat look and perfect form of a motorcycle. All bikes have their own importance thou. I wish had the choice of doing something crazy to get a flathead or a knucklehead. Sadly in India we have all British bikes if one wants something from the past. For Harleys i will have to migrate. We do have the modern evo engines but they are missing the whole point. The moment i see a rear shock abs on the rear it puts me off and the HID performance lights. Where are the flickering bulbs inside the headlight which gives a lighter sunny shade light. Telescopic forks over the springers ..no no..no..
I understand your despair! The old spring fork, rigid frame Harleys had beautiful lines. Are there not still Harley 45 flatheads in India? I vaguely remember an article from the 1980's in Easyriders or Iron Horse magazine about "thousands" of Harley 45's in India. Probably most of them were three wheelers, but with an aftermarket frame and rear wheel one could converted to two wheels.
Fishtails... they were real common in the 30's and 40's.
With a bigger gearboxsprocket a SU carb and some reliving at the cylinders and grind off
1 millimeter on the heads and at last a 1 1/2 inch prim. belt you can drive to China whitout any problem that`s for sure.
+Bikerblad The cylinders were relieved and the combustion chambers in the heads were welded and profiled to the wedge design used in the KR's. The primary uses a 1 1/2" BDL belt. I will never run a primary chain again! I was running a 26 tooth drive gear sprocket. It worked great on the flat plains... you would essentially be idling down the highway at 65-70 mph. But on downhills in the mountains the engine would tend to load up because the throttle wasn't open wide enough. So now I run a 25 tooth and it works just fine. A friend of mine swears by SU carbs. He ran one on a 45 flathead for years and loved it. I tried one my old Yamaha SR 500, but all it seemed to do was hinder acceleration and top end. I'll probably stick with the three bolt Linkert. Its easy to adjust and works fine as long as the float doesn't leak. (Out of three brand new brass floats, all of them sank within 24 hours! Now I run one of those black composite things.) I like to run out to the coast once a year. Its about 3000 miles round trip.
+Bikerblad I will thank you for the answer mcflathead.
never seen saddle bags like that before, where those an option back then?
They were an aftermarket accessory from the sixties. Blue Moon Cycle (BMW) had some repops for sale last winter on ebay, but it looks like they are long gone. You also see original ones for sale on ebay from time to time.
very cool, they actually look like they were design for that bike
You just have to learn these things for each bike. They all have their own qwerks.
i was wondering why the old gangsters didn't use harleys as get away vehicles...now i get it..
That is undoubtedly one of the most gorgeous bikes I've ever seen. It looks 'stock'? Is it? Thanks for sharing this...(from your Canadian 'brother' in Victoria).
Thanks. No, it wasn't very stock then, and the video is quite a few years old now, so even less stock now. The 16" tires always seemed to be a bit twitchy at speed, so I laced on some 19" rims with nice fat Dunlop tires. It completely changed the ride for the better! Non-skirted ribbed fenders to go with the tires... sorta like a JD. Cheers from Winter-peg!
safe ride
What's with the disc front brake?
The stock mechanical front brake faded in a downpour and I slid through a red light. I was lucky... the cross traffic got a slow start. I had never been happy with the stock front brake in modern traffic, but that incident sealed it. This bike has never been intended to be a restoration project. I bought it as a rolling basket with a hodge-podge of incorrect parts... '42 engine, repro frame, '60's tranny, Panhead gas tanks, etc. etc. To do a proper restoration I really only had a stock military '42 engine, front fork, wheels, and badly bent handlebars... all the rest was incorrect. So why not build a " sort-of " 42 UL with some concessions to reliability (12 vs 6 volt electrics) and safety (brakes) and perhaps some styling changes. I love innovating and creating far more than restoring. And since I can only afford to ride one bike, it was pretty much a no-brainer. If the purists hate it, so be it. In their stables of pristine restored antique cycles and cars, there's usually a current model HD under a tarp somewhere... and thats the one that sees most of the riding time. As for me, if I'm on my way to the coast and back, it'll be to the rumble of a big old flathead mill. Many many smiley faces!
@@mcflathead A wise brake conversion there and you could always put the original front brake back on.
Хороший байк, хороший звук, мужик!
This made me laugh, not at you but at those old bikes. That is good advice on not locking your knee, I ended up on the other side by doing that. If you get a chance check out my vids I have a 42 an 80 and a 96 2 of them are kick starts.
what i would do to ride that to school
Actually I'm already halfway through the next one!