Schebler DLX 13 Finishes

[downunder vl]

Hi all,

I am having the Schebler DLX 13 Nickel plated for my Series 19 Excelsior and want to be sure that I plate all the parts to make the carburetor correct.

I have attached an exploded diagram and I would appreciate it if someone could print out the image and circle the part numbers for all the carts that require Nickel finish.

Thanks in advance
Phill

[Steve Slocombe]

Dear Phill, don't forget to make it flat/dull nickel, as many platers put in chemical brighteners and it comes out too shiny.

[T. Cotten]

Dear Phill, don't forget to make it flat/dull nickel, as many platers put in chemical brighteners and it comes out too shiny.

That's true, Steve,

For the body, bowl, choke and throttle lever castings, it was 'Watts process' or 'flash' plating, but the machined bowlcap, bowl nut, needle knobs, gallery plugs, and screws were bright.

Internal machined brass hardware was not plated.

(Aluminum airhorns were "natural".)

....Cotten
PS:
Here are two DL59 bodies;
On the left is one with a patinated top, but the bowlstem was preserved in the bowl. The golden one the right is "electroless nickel".

DL59BODY.jpg


NOPATINA.jpg

Beyond destroying original finishes, the worst aspect of re-plating is that it 'telegraphs', or amplifies any blemishes at all, which platers ignore.

[exeric]

1919 Big Excelsior (not Big Valve) specified a Schebler HX-138 as standard through 1919, and a HX-162 as a replacement carburetor, not a DLX. I assume you can make a DLX work and that is fine, but I would keep looking for the correct model H if you're going to the trouble of nickel plating it. I have re-plated early Schebler carbs for various bikes and I use the Caswell electroless nickel plating kit. A plating company will over plate a carburetor because all they care about is how shiny it is and not about the function. If you plate it yourself, you can do all the blocking, take the extra care a plating company wouldn't know to do. Also the plating should be extra light on the carb body, but shiny on the bowl from my observations of originals.

[T. Cotten]

...Also the plating should be extra light on the carb body, but shiny on the bowl from my observations of originals.

Since you want to muddy the waters with HX Models, Eric,

Please note that some smaller HX bowls were 'polished' before plating, which certainly made them more 'shiny'!

The larger bowl shown was used on both 1¼" HX and Type A DLX models, as far as what crossed my benches.

SCHBBWL2.jpg

....Cotten
PS:

I would love to see a pic of the model stamp on an HX138, Eric!

[downunder vl]

Hi all,

Thank you for the input. Don't we all love those muddy waters.

Tom. Thanks for the float. Fits and works well. Just as well as your Harley ones that I have been using for years with 2 Aussie Cannonballs and 1,000's of kms behind them.

Eric. Into the Wilderness has the HX 162 listed and also lists the DLX 13 as being available for the 1919 Excelsior 61". (See attached) The DLX 13 works extremely well. The bike goes like a scalded cat !!!

The other reference that I have is from the Schebler Service Station Handbook 1928 (See attached) which also lists the DLX 13 as the correct carburetor for the Excelsior Series 19. I assume that the HX 162 was the standard carburetor and the DLX 13 was an available upgrade. The HX 162 was listed in the same handbook on a separate page. Having tried both on the bike the DLX is much more user friendly for a dill like me that thinks in Linkert speak.

Unless Into the Wilderness obtained his information from the 1928 Schebler Service Station Handbook we have two sources.

Thanks again gentlemen for the input. I think I'm clear on the finishes to use but welcome more comment.

Regards
VL Phill

Schebler HX Carburetor by Make and Model Into the Wilderness.jpg Schebler DLX Carburetor by Make and Model Into the Wilderness.jpg Schebler DLX Carburetor by Make and Model Service Station Handbook 1928.jpg