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Looking for some info on a 1945 Big twin U. Should a 1945 U have tank emblems and was the top end of the motor ever painted silver? I did a search and could not find any info on the tank emblems only paint color. I also believe the top end of the motor should be painted black. I appreciate any help.
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All civilian models had the same type tank emblems from '41-'46. however, keep in mind that many police departments ordered bikes with no emblems during any time frame. If it wasn't military or police it should have emblems. Cylinders should be black gloss.Robbie Knight Amca #2736 -
Thank you Rubone.Comment
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One of the guys in the Fort Sutter chapter has a war time big twin flathead. I can't remember if it was 1944 or 1945 (I think it was 44), but I'm pretty sure it would be the same. Here is a picture of it from the Dixon meet. You can see the emblems and black cylinders and heads.
IMG_0711.JPGEric Olson
Membership #18488Comment
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The other question I have is about the spokes. Were the spokes painted black or cad plated? It looks like the spokes on the white bike in the picture has black spokes. The one I looked at the entire wheel was painted black. It was obvious that someone painted the wheels but I was wondering if they came all black from the factory.Comment
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Spokes and nipples should be cadmium on civilian models, parkerized on military..Last edited by Rubone; 05-18-2022, 09:21 AM.Robbie Knight Amca #2736Comment
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Thank you again Rubone.Comment
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I remember the emblems ( '42-'early '46) being non-plated also. I've seen blue, gray, black, and white. I believe this is correct.DrSprocketComment
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'42 models have plated emblems. In fact '42 civilian models were shipped with more chrome on them than any previous "Deluxe" package. My early '42 FL was like that. Almost all of the '42 production had already occurred in fall of '41 before the attack on Pearl Harbor and bikes were built through January of '42. Most of the '43 production had emblems in chrome unless they were ordered without trim for certain Police Departments. Some early '44 civilian production still had plated emblems until the stock was used up. Same with headlight bezels and shifter gates and a few other bits. .Originally posted by RichO View Post
I've never seen an actual civilian production bike like the picture above with military fenders, I believe that is someone's fantasy.Last edited by Rubone; 05-18-2022, 07:38 PM.Robbie Knight Amca #2736Comment
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Then I guess some late 1944, 45, and early 46 had painted emblems. The white bike is a 44 U and the one behind it is a 44 EL both came with military fenders and are ridden by fellow Fort Sutter Chapter members. Not fantasy bikes. Tank emblems on white bike may have been changed.DrSprocketComment
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Rubone, Let me back up. I just talked to the owner of the white bike who is best friends with the owner of the brown bike. The brown bike is a 44 E and was a shore patrol bike. The white bike is a 44 u that came from the dealer with a package car (he still has it) and reverse. It was owned by a tractor repair/ salesman who had a wooden left leg and so it has a plate to hold his leg on the left footboard and had a lever hand clutch on that side as well. He de-valanced the fenders because he took into muddy fields.Mark is the second owner. The E was his too for a long time. That U will RUN!DrSprocketComment
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I was going to say the same as Robbie,about the fenders.Using a restored bike for reference is iffy.There is a similar military bike [ULA] locally with civilian tank trim added in resto.Comment
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I have a civilian 1945 model FL. My research led me to cad plate the spokes and parkerize the nipples. The emblems are white with black and Harley-Davidson in red.Comment
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Does the Shore Patrol bike have an anchor in the serial number?Comment
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