I guess I've been watching too many Wheels Through Time youtube videos.
I’ll bought this 1942 WL a few days ago. It is in running/riding condition, though, the tires are quite old, as it has been 22 years since it was last registered for the road. Lights and horn work. It has been converted to 12V.
I am completely new to the flathead world. My oldest bike until this is a 1966 Ducati Monza 250.
My plan is to put it back to stock. The frame and fork appear to be unmolested. First order of business will be correct wheels. It has a 19” rear, laced to what appears to be a correct hub. The front is 21” and is quite possibly from a dirt bike. I really like the look of the 1937-1939 bikes, and would prefer 18” wheels instead of 16” wheels. Or, I might do an 18" front, and 16" rear with a fatter tire to soften the rear ride.
Other things that it obviously will need are correct fenders and floor boards. The speedometer is not working, could be the cable or drive. The speedometer is also from the wrong year (1958). The rear brake switch is something cobbled onto the bike too. I’m sure there is much more incorrect that I don’t know about yet.
As I said, I like 1937-1939, and would like to do paint and graphics from those. years.
The serial number says this is a true civilian WL, and not a “civilianized” WLA. That makes it actually pretty rare from what I’ve read. Will making it look like a 1937-1939 bike actually hurt the value of the bike (I always have to consider resale value of my bikes for, down the road)? Or, would I be best off staying true to 1942.
This bike is a true time machine. It is so cool to ride a piece of history such as this. The foot clutch and hand shift are a new experience for me, which I am getting the hang of. For those not familiar with hand-shift/foot clutch Harleys, the Harley foot clutch is a rocker assembly that stays where you put it. “Toe to go, heal to stop”. The throttle, front and rear brake are all in the locations we’re all used to today. The left grip is ignition advance/retard. Gear changes are done with the left hand via a lever mounted to the left side of the fuel tank.
As all bikes of this era, it is hardtail. The “pogo-stick” seat post under the solo seat does a very good job of isolating the rider from the rough PA roads. The springer fork works pretty well took, better than I expected.
While I do well switching back and forth between my two right-foot-shift Ducatis with GP shift pattern and the others, I can’t imagine switching between a Harley and an Indian back in the day. The controls are all pretty much switched from the Harley. Throttle and front brake on left handlebar, ignition advance on the right grip. Foot brake is the same location, as is the clutch, BUT, the clutch operates backwards of the Harley clutch. It is HEAL to go, toe to stop.
