WANTED: Real axle for 1947 Knucklehead (original)

[Chris in Japan]

Dear all,

The rear axle in my 47F is the one with an hexagonal head which is incorrect.

I am searching for somebody willing to sell me the right one which is the one with the rectangular head.

Many thanks and kind regards!

Chris.

[Chris Haynes]

Chris,
What is the range of your serial number?

[Chris in Japan]

Hi Chris!

Do you mean VIN? Mine is a 47F20XX. (low compression engine)

(Using the XX because everybody does it! No idea what is the big secret behind that??!?)

I attached a couple of pictures of the old lady and a close up of the rear (hex head) axle. (At the time of those pictures, muffler, shock and few add-ons were still missing...).

Many thanks and kind regards!

Chris.

[Chris in Japan]

Axle found, gentlemen... Just the steering damper is missing! Any clues (for an original one!)?

Kind regards.

Chris.

[Chris Haynes]

Axle found, gentlemen... Just the steering damper is missing! Any clues (for an original one!)?

Kind regards.

Chris.

eBay......

[Chris in Japan]

Yup! But after several months of "observation" none appeared yet!

Actually, when I come to ask help to the Community is because normally I have been facing some problems with ebay...

I have a short list for my 47F which are the last and toughest ones: emblems, steering damper, cable clip (left side of crankcase - to circuit breaker), screws dash plate to frame, two terminals for the headlamp bracket.

These are tough because I want them OEM! The bike is so original that hurts to put some repros on it...

I have also a 48FL/LE that was quite a mess but I was able to collect a good quantity of OEM parts... In this early Panhead my biggest headache is the wrong frame (I have the one with the non-rounded blocks for the horn fixation - I think is a 1950...) that I would need to buy/swap and - lacking of parts catalogue - some sort of "kit" with all OEM external screw around the bike! I asked Olddude, but they can sell only after parts number and have no idea about these numbers...

You see, Chris... Tough life!

Regards,

Chris.

[Chris Haynes]

[QUOTE=Chris in Japan;79016]

I have also a 48FL/LE that was quite a mess but I was able to collect a good quantity of OEM parts... In this early Panhead my biggest headache is the wrong frame (I have the one with the non-rounded blocks for the horn fixation - I think is a 1950...) that I would need to buy/swap and - lacking of parts catalogue - some sort of "kit" with all OEM external screw around the bike! I asked Olddude, but they can sell only after parts number and have no idea about these numbers...

Actually the 1948 frame has no horn mounting blocks on it. As does the 1954 Wishbone frame. But they are easy to tell apart. The '48 has the skinny top motor mount while the '54 has the big wedge.

As for the hardware. I have to sit down with a parts book and write the part number and quantity of stuff I need when ordering from Old Dude. You would think he would get off his keester and make stuff available in kits as Colony does to make life easier on everybody.

[c.o.]

Chris in Japan.......that's one awesome Knucklehead you have there! They are so full of soul when they look like that! Sometimes you've got to make them shiney but I'm glad you chose to leave yours as is!

[Chris in Japan]

Thanks c.o.! Always enjoyable to hear nice words about my baby...

Actually this "soul" you mention is partially gone because I am still struggling in the heavy japanese bureaucracy to get all documentation to ride it here in Tokyo. Until then, she is waiting in the living room (no closed garage here - this is not USA!).

Maybe you won't like it much but I "dressed" her a little bit. This is how she looks like now...

[c.o.]

Ah, it still looks pretty darn good to me! What are the bureaucrats worried about? Maybe, it's got something to do with you looking cooler than them going down the road!

[Chris in Japan]

Who knows, Cory!

Only 18 months here and I can tell you the Japs are one of a kind!

I am a born argentinian and not everything is here obvious to me! However, it is a fascinating country and culture to know.

Kind regards.

Chris.