Linkert M-51X ?

[41craig]

I just saw this Linkert for sale by Dale Walksler. It's a steel Linkert !
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Harley-Davi...UAAOSwgmRemONN
Craig

[T. Cotten]

Ain't that interesting, Craig!

Perhaps found upon a '44, but its a 4-line script body, and a pre-War nickel lift lever, bowlnut, and floatvalve, yet a '40+ bowl.

Pre-War M51 castings were numbered 2-3(3)8 (with the digit in parenthesis stamped). '40 and later were all-cast 2-348; This one has the space to be stamped, but nothing apparent.

Civvy HS needle and choke lever, so we may never know its true origin, but it proves one thing for certain: Never say 'never' when it comes to American motorcycles!

....Cotten

[41craig]

Cotten; I'm partially colorblind. Is it painted black with 80 years of dirt?
Craig

[T. Cotten]

Cotten; I'm partially colorblind. Is it painted black with 80 years of dirt?
Craig

Smells like common rust to me, Craig..

As it would be for cast steel (or iron), of course.

The consensus is that pre-War bronze bodies were nickel, and then early 1940s productions (other than military olive drab productions) were "aluminum lacquer".

Judging by the other steel hardware, it could easily have been cad!

....Cotten
PS: "Brass", as referred to in the listing, would have been a much more precious strategic commodity early on in the war.
Yet experts still declare that the true brass manifolds were 1941 only.

Yeah,... Right.... Uh-Huh... Sure.

[41craig]

I'd like to see under the plug or low speed spring collar.
Craig

[T. Cotten]

I'd like to see under the plug or low speed spring collar.
Craig

Me too, Craig!

Even though I figure it would be just rust.

....Cotten
PS: Never to snivel about any magnificent trophies, but what makes even such a Historical piece, that is not AMCA "correct" for anything, so precious?

[41craig]

Cotten, it looks like it came off the 1944 U that is also for sale. He sort of mentions it at the end of his motor description. And it appears to be attached in the first pic. The motor is just as rusty. Maybe the factory, during the war, started cleaning off their shelves.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1944-Harley...YAAOSwFz9enxQE
Craig

[T. Cotten]

Any foundry experts here, Folks?

How is the process different for casting steel than bronze?

Could it possibly have been a pattern?

(Let us please remember that L&L produced and stamped their carbs, rarely amended by the MOCO.)

....Cotten
PS: If it were a military production, there would have been tons of them in cosmoline somewhere.