'27 JD Cut Down Project - SWAN

[Steve Swan]

Thank you for your kind words, Eric! yes, i am in the early beginning stage of planning building a 30x25 addition to existing garage for my shop, if i'm lucky will be ready to move into before snow flies... just went through a move to a different home, with a bit of remodel, so i hope to dismantle and paint this coming winter. the color scheme i'm planning for would be the Silent Grey Fellow colors, with dark blue and maroon stripes. i'm also going to switch to a 4-speed transmission. Frank is faithful. Nearly always starts first kick and it's confidence inspiring to have the Carrillo rods, new flywheels, pistons, electronic ignition, etc. i really do want to take at least an overnight or two trip, it would be fun to get out 300-400 miles, stay a couple days some place and then make the return trip home. i would really like to have a riding partner to do that with!

[Steve Swan]

i posted these pics in Fall Colors, but since Frank took me places i wanted to go, i will post the pics in his build; 1,400 trouble free miles now. Such a pleasure to ride; will soon have one of Ray Bartolemi's 4-speed transmissions. Rode up to 8,000 feet, the one pic you see the one yellow aspen tree, the mountain sides and tops are barren from the 2012 High Park Fire, burned 84,000 acres, 259 homes, flames got within 2 miles of us as the crow flies, smoke in the streets, lasted 21 days.



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[gharper]

Great pictures Steve! Looks like you had a great ride.

[Steve Swan]

Great pictures Steve! Looks like you had a great ride.

Thanks Gene! Every ride with Frank has been a great ride!

[Steve Swan]

Ol' 3 eyed Frank took me for a 37 miler today, 52 degrees, stopped for a hot cup of coffee and a slice of pie on my way back. The J-M clock now registers 1,361 miles. I keep experimenting with his looks these 6-1/2" spots really light things up. The picture of the policeman on the '26 is one of my favorite pics and an inspiration for Frank's current appearance. Those lights take up some space and really got the looks from people i met and passerbys. 20221107_155125.jpg20221107_155203.jpg1926 Frank Murray Dealership.jpg

[RichO]

Sacramento's finest. Frank J. Murray Harley Davidson, Your new lights are stellar!

[Steve Swan]

Sacramento's finest. Frank J. Murray Harley Davidson, Your new lights are stellar!

Rich, thank you for your comments. I had no idea Frank J. Murray was Sacto's factory dealer...! Stellar is a good descriptor for those 6-1/2" spots...! I like the look on the police bike, the spots on his bike are S & M's and appear to possibly be #70's... I'm still not sure i like Frank's new look... i'm looking forward to a night ride to see how they light things up, but doubt that won't happen 'til spring... The 6 LED bulbs draw approximately a little more than one amp according to the ammeter. 3 front lights, 1 speedometer light, tail and brake light.

[EricOlson]

From the little info I have the Officer in the picture is Sacramento County Police Officer Ed Schmidt. Here is one other picture I have of him on a different bike. He must have patrolled in the dark, because he seemed to like the spotlights! I hope yours work well for you Steve.

Sacramento County officer Schmidt, 1920s.jpg

[Steve Swan]

From the little info I have the Officer in the picture is Sacramento County Police Officer Ed Schmidt. Here is one other picture I have of him on a different bike. He must have patrolled in the dark, because he seemed to like the spotlights! I hope yours work well for you Steve.

Sacramento County officer Schmidt, 1920s.jpg

Wow! Eric! What a wonderful picture!!! Interesting how the headlight is lowered, and horn mounted on fender, or maybe a siren of sorts...? What is additionally interesting is all the wires or stuff he has wrapped around the handlebars... and he has some sort of box on top of the tank... Looking at front fender, appears to be a '25 model...?

Here are two Los Angeles County policemen astride their '26 models, similar appearing horn on front fender and with the man on the right, i can see a siren mounted by the rear wheel. The bike on the left, i can see the distributor cap.

Thanks again for that really wonderful picture!


1926 Los Angeles County Police.jpg

[Rubone]

The box on the tank was the toolbox used on magneto models.

[Steve Swan]

The box on the tank was the toolbox used on magneto models.

Robbie, what's the deal with that pulley that looks like it's coming off the generator and also that hand lever on left handlebar?

[Rubone]

Robbie, what's the deal with that pulley that looks like it's coming off the generator and also that hand lever on left handlebar?

The hand lever is the siren control lever. Not sure on that pulley but it appears to connect to the end of the crankshaft. If it did start out as a magneto model than all the electrical components are added, so it is likely an aftermarket generator of some sort.

[exeric]

That is the pulley assembly for an ABC generator but I'm surprised that it could handle that many components. ABC generators didn't have that much output, but made their mark updating magneto only motorcycle of the teens. A dim electric headlight was about as much as the 'non battery' ABC genny could power.

[exeric]

Here's a page from my ABC catalog showing a Harley-Davidson application.

abca0003.jpg

[Steve Swan]

Here's a page from my ABC catalog showing a Harley-Davidson application.

abca0003.jpg

Wow! Eric!!! Thank you so much for sharing this! Amazing good stuff! Boy! Talk about making good with what they had to work with before there was LED bulbs and microchips...