Excelsoir single motor question

[tomfiii]

Hi, A friend of mine gave me this motor # "2 01 94 A" and would appreciate any info on. thanks

[aka HAWG]

pictures tell a thousand words
aka HAWG

[bobbyt]

I assume it's got a mechanical intake; the singles got a mechanical intake in 1912. The serial would indicate
a 1913 or 1914.

Bob Turek
#769

[LouieMCman]

I put this stuff together a few years ago when I was looking at an old Ex, I can't vouch for it's accuracy but here it is...........Part 1

Excelsior Serial Numbers

From Henderson dealer and after market parts supplier Ballock (Ballak?) from St Louis?

http://www.hendersonkj.com/ffo/docum...lak/index.html

Year Engine number
1914 50000 ->
1915 63500 ->
1916 75000 ->
1917 88200 ->
1918 93375 ->
1919 97373 ->
1920 103500 ->
1921 107500 ->
1922 108000 ->
1923 108500 ->
1924 108800 ->

Model 61 1914 #50000 - 63499
Model 61 1915 #63500 - 74999
Model 61 1916 #75000 - 88199
Model 61 1917 #88200 - 93374
Model 61 1918 #93375 - 97372
Model 61 1919 #97373 - 103499
Model 61 1920 #103500 - 107499
Model 61 1921 #107500 - 107999
Model 61 1922 #108000 - 108499
Model 61 1923 #108500 - 108799
Model 61 1924 #108800 and up
Super-X 45 1925 #1000 - 2999
Super-X 45 1926 #3000 - 4499
Super-X 45 1927 #4500 - 4999
Super-X 45 1928 #5000 - 6499
Super-X 45 1929 #6500 - 6999
Super-X 45 1930 #7000 - 7399
Super-X 45 1931 #7400 and up


Henderson Models:

Detroit Built Model A 1912
Detroit Built Model B 1913
Detroit Built Model C 1914
Detroit Built Model D & E 1915 #3372
Detroit Built Model F 1916 #5243
Detroit Built Model G 1917 #6500
Detroit Built Model H 1918 #H or Z
Detroit Built Model 1919 #2 H or 2 Z
Chicago Built Model K 1920 #K 1200 - 1899
Chicago Built Model K 1921 #K 1900 - up
Chicago Built Deluxe 1922 #D 1000 - 2999
Chicago Built Deluxe 1923 #D 3000 - 4999
Chicago Built Deluxe 1924 #D 5000 - 12999
Chicago Built Deluxe 1925 #D 13000 - 19999
Chicago Built Deluxe 1926 #D 20000 - 22999
Chicago Built Deluxe 1927 #D 23000 - 24999
Chicago Built Deluxe 1928 #D 25000 - 27999
Chicago Built Streamline 1929 #KJ or KL 28000 - 32999
Chicago Built Streamline 1930 #KJ or KL 33000 - 34999
Chicago Built Streamline 1931 #KJ or KL 35000 and up

Fall 1995 issue of the Antique Motorcycle:

1907 000 - 289
1908 290 - 835
1909 836 - 3727
1910 3728 - 9246
1911 9247 - 15319
1912 15320- 18063
1913 18064- 48977
1914 48978- 55909

Using the above numbers gives the following production units so long as every available number was used.

1907 289
1908 546
1909 2892
1910 5519
1911 6073
1912 2744
1913 30914
1914 6932

And then by using the figures you posted from Ballock source;

1914 13500
1915 11500
1916 13200
1917 5175
1918 3998
1919 6127
1920 4000
1921 500
1922 500
1923 300

Juggling between the two different start numbers for 1914 can give other production figures for the 1914 /15 years.

The higher production numbers for the 1914-15-16 years I suppose can be put down to the First World War effort but almost 31000 in 1913.
Where did all the 1913 models go to, as by the law of averages they should be the most common surviving Excelsior.

[LouieMCman]

Part 2 ...................

Back in the Winter 1980 issue of the club magazine a

was soliciting information for a Excelsior / Henderson Register.
What has become of all the research notes he must have made?
Was the Register ever circulated?

Note:
"Note that the serial numbers for singles and twins were not consecutive, I would assume the factory used "blocks of numbers" for the singles and twins back then."

Note:
My 1921?? has 15 ribs on the cylinder itself, and 8 on the exhaust camber.

Note:
This would make a difference when it comes to #'s. 1913 was the first year with 61ci (1000cc) only. Jerry Hatfield writes this in the book Antique American Motorcycle Buyer's Guide (on page 12). The V-twin was introduced in 1910, and Excelsior had a two -model range in 1910, 1911 and 1912. The 1910 v-twin was 50ci (819cc). The v-twin from 1911 until 1921 was 61ci. From 1921 Excelsior also delivered an additional 74ci v-twin.

Note:
I have my grandfather’s 1915 Excelsior twin, with documentation indicating he purchased it from the factory in November 1915, calling it a 1915 model. Motor number is 77918. From Knut's list of numbers, this would be a 1916 model. So, what do I really have? bas2910@aol.com

Note:
Here is an easy way to tell if your X is a 15 or 16;

Look on the right side of the gas tank just behind the shifter. The 16 and later models have a petcock there with fuel lines running to the front and rear cylinders for cold start priming.

The 15 has just primer cups on the cylinders without the lines or valve on the tank, (and no provision on the tank for a valve).

Note:
I checked the 1914 2 speed I am assembling now and the engine number is 59313. The "patina" of the engine cases and the original clutch housing on the 2 speed would make me think that this is the original engine to the bike. Hope this helps, Paul

Note:
Hello, is this discussion still alive? my 1912 Excelsior engine number is 17190 , you can look at all the Excelsiors that www.yesterdays.nl have sold by clicking on 'links' then 'archive' then 'motorcycle archive' , their 1911 engine has sold , it sports engine number 1887 BUT this looks wrong as if the numbers between 1&7 have been polished out and two upside down '8's' have been stamped ?? , they have had a good number of American bikes for sale - Harleys , Indians , Hendersons , Excelsiors and even a Cleveland Century , I wish I had their magic wand !!!
Marcin , have you tried to contact Knut via his ''profile'' , maybe the best way ? good luck with your rebuild , Ken Lee

Note:
I have a Excelsior Autocycle model 4 C with 1913 features such as the large oil cap and small gas cap style tank, Corbin band brake, primary chain guard,
one year only right crank arm, and saddle bar. But the engine number starts with 16XXX which would put in the 1912 range. The engine appears to be original to the bike.

Note:
Hi Guys and Gals

just started group on Yahoo convinced to Excelsior super X

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/excelsior_big_x/

if anyone of you is interested, just join and check often whats happening there

if enaugh super X owners will join
we can make realy huge source of info about this rare bikes

Best Regards
Marcin

Note: Super X
Super Sport differences - all the top end stuff was different, bigger carb, intake manifold, intake valves, housings and rockers. Different cylinders, exhaust valves and tappets. Different flywheels, connecting rods and pistons. Different cam. Different magneto. Even different handlebar spirals (presumably less twist to full open). There's probably other stuff I don't know.

The logic with the interchangeable pistons was this. If you reduced compression with a plate under the barrel, then when you removed it to increase compression, ring travel wasn't the same (they'd now be going up higher in the bore than before). Increasing the height of the piston above the rings to increase compression kept the rings in their same old wear zone ... Perry

[bill campbell]

Thanks Louie for posting some great stuff I just sent my XS motor home with Bruce I had it at a friend shop but he mixed up everything had big intake on the front and small intake on the rear I didn't know of the spiral controls hope my rolling chassis has them I have a handful of case's and a couple of crates of parts when my motor is done everything will be sold or donated to a worthy cause will also log on to the web page you started

[bobbyt]

Thanks for posting. The singles ran a different sequence from the twins thru 1914.
I've been collecting Ex and Henderson serials for several years now, building on
the roster the Carter and Pease did.

Bob Turek
#769

[everiman]

There were at least three different companies who made Excelsior motorcycles, US 1907 to 1930 British 1896 to 1964, Germany 1901 to 1939

[aka HAWG]

I have a handful of case's and a couple of crates of parts when my motor is done everything will be sold or donated to a worthy cause

what do you have to sell bill -looking for various little's ( for engine, seat, and chassis goodies for single belt drive )

any one else out there with items please contact

hope to have bike running and complete for it's 100th birthday ( 2014 )

aka HAWG