2 more JD's for the road

[Steve Swan]

the short answer is i don't know. i've been looking at my 22-27, 22-28 and 27-31 parts books and am not finding a quick answer. we need a J-type expert, seems they aren't around anymore or aren't pitying us to answer!

i have seen that base before, bu the bases on my '27, they are like a cup, not simply flat with no walls like the one in you picture.

[aumick10]

I have three "cup" types, two with rotor drives and one without, as well as the one in the photo.
The threads in the handlebars you mention are well gone, have to figure out something else.

I am not sure my battery box is original, the wooden base doesn't look like a HD part.20190526_163829.jpg

[Steve Swan]

the rotor on your '26 timer looks like what i would expect top see on 27-29.

got pics of entire box? the wood part is a special one of piece and no longer grows on trees....

[aumick10]

I agree on the timer.
I counted the growth rings of the wood and it looks like a 1922 part.

[aumick10]

I have replaced the main gear split bush on my 1927 mainshaft. I now need to turn it down to size.
can anybody tell me what clearance I need to machine to to suit the high gear ID?

Thank you,
Mick

[Peter Cooke]

Mick,

Steve Slocombe recommends 2 thou clearance for the 31 to 36 VL's which use the bronze bush pressed in to the main drive gear. The 30 VL's use the same set up as yours but I don't see why the clearance would be any different.

[aumick10]

Thanks peter, I have just dropped it off to be machined for 3 thou clearance.

[aumick10]

As I have been going through this 29 in detail, I am finding out things I hadn't noticed yet.
One item was the frame head stem. It looks like someone has added some strengthening brazed onto both sides of the head-stem.
It is a very neat job, and i wonder if this may be a factory fix. Has anybody seen anything like these before.

Whatever the ideas behind this mod, it wasn't successful. A crack in the head-stem developed at the bottom edge of the additional parts. This crack is the full width of the head-stem, and will need to be repaired before the bike is put on the road.

Currently changing the rear fork for a 1929 model with the front brake anchor bracket.

I found another late breaker in my stash, but still need a pair of 29 coils.
Hope to get to Dixon this weekend and find some of the parts I still need.
20190609_134745.jpg20190609_134756.jpgCrack.jpg

[aumick10]

Help with front end.
I have assembled a 1929 front end, with brake.
Once I put it on the frame, I have an issue with the fork stop.
The front end I took off didn't have a brake anchor on it, but the fork stop lined up with the frame stop.

The 29 front end didn't line up with the frame stop, it rides over the top of the frame stop.
The fork stop on the 29 rear fork is 1/2" higher than the rear fork i took off.

The 29 front end is not an I beam front end.
Can anybody help identify what year my 29 rear fork is please, or where this misalignment comes from?

I have two 29 frames and both frame fork stops are in the same place.

Thank you,
Mick

[aumick10]

Here are some photos of the different position of the fork stops.
One set has the fork stop at 5" to the top of the stop, the other set has 5" to the bottom of the stop.
20190612_114223.jpg20190612_114302.jpg

Sorry for the bad photos.

[Steve Swan]

Mick, it's hard for me to tell by the pics, do the frame and fork stops completely miss?

[aumick10]

Steve,
I hope this picture is better.
The fork stop rides over the top of the frame stop, just enough to jam on full lock.
It looks like the fork casting has been brazed too high on the rear fork tubes.
20190612_195936.jpg

During my research, I came across a comment that in 1929, harley changed the height of the front end to keep the same ride height with the new " non clincher" tires.
Don't know if this is true or not, but is it possible that 28 and 29 rear tubes and frames are not interchangeable
I have a 26 and two 29 frames and the frame stops are all in the same position.

[Steve Swan]

Wow, hmm. my only frame of reference is the 2 matching yearframe/fork setups i've seen, by buddy's 29 and my '27. both of us complain that the stops don't fully align but do contact each other. i'm about ready to get the '27 front end on the '29 frame ; do you happen to recall if the stops matched each other on that setup? but to completely miss, that seems extraordinary, unless as you mention the factory made some changes. i wonder if a '29 Enthusiast would have info on that change...? would be nice if some of the more knowledgeable guys could illuminate.

[aumick10]

Steve, I think from memory that the stops matched on the setup you have, but don't take my word for it. it was a while ago.
I found my 29 top triple clamp, I was checking my dash fitting and left it in that box.

I think the change comment came from a senior member here but on another forum.
Cheers
Mick

[aumick10]

I have been making good progress on reassembling my 29.

Went through the transmission and replaced mainshaft bearings and bush. Countershaft in good condition. The transmission I have is stamped as a 1927, so i will have to build rebuild one of my later boxes to suit the 29, at some stage. The clutch hub and mainshaft bearing surfaces were not in very good condition. I didn't want to restore this yet, so I installed a needle roller bearing with inner and outer races. This will serve until I build the correct box for it, as well as a clutch hub and sprocket. It took a few goes to get the correct thrust washer fitted.
20190614_101441.jpg20190614_101456.jpg

The clutch was OK, just needed a cleanup. My original primary covers need a lot of repairs, so I put on a repo primary cover.
20190621_195731.jpg

Front end is together. Non standard lights and horn, but at least they work.
I have a front guard that has been repaired, but the repair was done so the valance panels won't fit on the guard. I installed a good cutdown guard for the moment. The original one was in very bad condition. I think I will make one guard out of the original one and the red half I have fitted at the moment, then I can installed the correct 29 valences. Original dash rebuilt with a new ammeter.
20190621_195828.jpg


Bike has been wired and everything working. Still have no late coils so the distributer is still fitted. Good spark.
20190621_195652.jpg

I am ready to start wetting up the bike and get it running.
Now I have a very good idea of what OEM parts I need to search for to complete this bike.