'27 JD Cut Down Project - SWAN

[Tommo]

That bike you're discussing is either 1923 or 1924.
1922 had the two brace rear mudguard and 1923 and 24 had 3 brace rear mudguards with the short rear mudguard flap.
1925 was a one year mudguard with the long rear flap and the rearmost mudguard stay was almost parallel with the ground whereas the 23/24 stay was up at quite an angle just like the ones in that photo.
Unless that bike has been fitted with the 1923-24 rear guard it is not a 1925 model and quite some modification would have needed to be done to fit the early mudguard to a 1925 bike.
My eyes can't see if it's a loop frame or not but I would suspect it is.

[Steve Swan]

Well, i'm excited. Ray Bartomeli built me one of his 4-speed's in a '27 JD case. Ray's trademark is the bronze cover and clutch arm. Not sure when i'll make the swap, maybe this winter for next year's riding , but i am also thinking of waiting until next year at this time, as i hope to tear Frank down for some shiny paint, but that seems like a long time to wait...


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[RichO]

Steve, What's the solution on the shift gate (3 to 4) ? Inquiring minds need to know. That transmission looks like m/c jewelry. Cool beans!

[Steve Swan]

Steve, What's the solution on the shift gate (3 to 4) ? Inquiring minds need to know. That transmission looks like m/c jewelry. Cool beans!

Thanks Rich! Yes, good stuff. I'm already envisioning in my mind how the swap will go. pretty sure i won't be able to wait more than a year to give Frank this treat, so probably be nice winter project; one of the things about the J-bikes, so simple and straight forward. The gate is what is used on 1936 models, as i understand it, first year for the 4-speed.

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[Steve Swan]

Today, we had temps in the lower-mid 40's, so i took a quick test ride with Ray Bartomeli's new 4-speed conversion and WOW! What a positive improvement! Evenly spaced ratios between gears and a lower Low and a higher High! Albeit my ride was less than 2 miles, i was able to get things moving to just below 65, so Third in the 4-speed felt like High in the 3-speed, basically around 50+ mph in Third in which 50-55 was an engine-happy highway speed with the 3-speed, so High in the 4-speed seemed like 60+ was at the least a happy speed for the engine. Eventually, I'll be moving down to a 41t on the rear wheel from a 43t which should make 65 mph easily and comfortably sustainable. Shifting was smooth and positive and quieter than the 3-speed. For going straight out on the road for the first time after setting up shifting on the lift, for the most part Low and High felt positive. On the repro gate, i filed away on the front as far as i dared, i still have another 1/8" i can remove on the rear, so i believe i can get just a little more shift lever movement to make Low and High thoroughly positive. I would like to find an original factory clutch release lever for the 4-speed transmission. Once weather is warmer, i will take Frank out for our 60 mile route.

You'll also note Frank now has 3 eyes; i may have to change his name to Polyphemus the Cyclops who was a Greek god with a 3rd eye...


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[gharper]

Steve,

Nice job! That is very interesting that it cruises at such a high speed and is happy there. Curious what your final gear ratio is.

So I can understand what's going on inside the new gearbox: Is this a 3 speed with an overdrive? I suspect so because you mentioned new 3rd gear is similar to the old high gear. Interesting that the shift pattern is 1-2-N-3-4, like the ill fated 39 transmission setup which was abandoned after 1 year. Is that an odd setup to shift through?

[Steve Swan]

Steve,

Nice job! That is very interesting that it cruises at such a high speed and is happy there. Curious what your final gear ratio is.

So I can understand what's going on inside the new gearbox: Is this a 3 speed with an overdrive? I suspect so because you mentioned new 3rd gear is similar to the old high gear. Interesting that the shift pattern is 1-2-N-3-4, like the ill fated 39 transmission setup which was abandoned after 1 year. Is that an odd setup to shift through?

Hi Gene,

Great to hear from you and my best wishes to you and yours for 2023.

Re: the 4-speed, my knowledge of anything other than the '26 through '29 J-type machines is pretty limited. As i understand it, the 4-speed gears are 1936-only fitted into the JD case with the 1936 cover cast in brass as again, from it's been explained to me, another very difficult to find one year only part. As i understand it, the 1936 case was fairly similar to the J-cases which makes the conversion using a J-case possible. I don't know the ratios, but i will ask, as it would be good to know and to compare to the 3-speed transmission. As far as High gear being an overdrive, it doesn't feel like that, but i need to get some honest miles on the rig to form a more accurate impression. The picture of the shift gate isn't very good, but the shift pattern is 1-N-2-3-4. I'll follow back on the ratios once i learn more.

[Steve Swan]

Hi Gene,

Great to hear from you and my best wishes to you and yours for 2023.

Re: the 4-speed, my knowledge of anything other than the '26 through '29 J-type machines is pretty limited. As i understand it, the 4-speed gears are 1936-only fitted into the JD case with the 1936 cover cast in brass as again, from it's been explained to me, another very difficult to find one year only part. As i understand it, the 1936 case was fairly similar to the J-cases which makes the conversion using a J-case possible. I don't know the ratios, but i will ask, as it would be good to know and to compare to the 3-speed transmission. As far as High gear being an overdrive, it doesn't feel like that, but i need to get some honest miles on the rig to form a more accurate impression. The picture of the shift gate isn't very good, but the shift pattern is 1-N-2-3-4. I'll follow back on the ratios once i learn more.

Gene, if factory engine and rear wheel sprockets are used, this 1936-only 4-speed's Low gear is slower than the 3-speed. Second and Third are evenly spaced. High gear goes no faster than the 3-speed's High gear. i have an 18t engine and 41t rear wheel sprockets, so the engine comfortably motors down the road at 55 mph. Third is really nice in the hills.

[Steve Swan]

Frank's apart, ready for new paint. Yesterday, i bead blasted all the large parts. A few days ago i ran all the small parts through the cabinet blaster. Today, i took the parts up to my friend who's going to do the paint. The paint scheme will be 'ten's-'teen's era grey for tinware, frame, forks, etc, will be a dark blue. Have yet to decide striping colors. We're trading work. I'm going to get his 1970 Triumph 650 Trophy running which will include an engine rebuild and going through the chassis so it's road ready.

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[joe fxs fxr]

Oooh the fun begins, it's going to look like a motorcycle soon!

[Steve Swan]

Frank's new coming out party includes her new name, Frankie!!! Tool Man Tim gray primer to Betty Boop Electric Blue Pearl! Tanks, fenders, etc, will be Butane Blue Metallic which is actually a gray with a subtle tint of blue.

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[Steve Swan]

[Steve Swan]

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