1930-1936 v vl manuals

[toddjg4036]

Where can i find a shop manual to rebuild v and vl motors? I see harley has reprints of old books are these worth it does anyone make a good manual?

[Sargehere]

Best one made is from VL Heaven in England. AMCA Senior Judge Steve Slocombe has endeavoured (English spelling there, eh?) to fill the gap with the manual that Harley never wrote: $50, airmail postage paid from England, last I checked. http://www.vlheaven.com/

[toddjg4036]

i have that i meant a shop type manual for rebuilds.diagrams procedures things like that.

[Steve Slocombe]

Hi Todd and my VL Restoration Book is all there is for this model. It does not repeat well known workshop techniques, but has procedures for most components specific to the VL. I've tried to make exploded diagrams for key assemblies, which were not available originally. If there is information you need which is not in the book, please contact me through www.vlheaven.com.

[Chris Haynes]

To my knowledge H-D never had a shop manual for the VL's. Riders Handbook and Shop Dopes is all there was. Parts and accessory catalogs were printed. Use Steve's book and live happily ever after. All you need for rebuild is the clearances and prior H-D knowledge.

[Lippy]

You can find reproductions of VL years parts and accessory catalogs at:

http://www.replicantmetals.com/library.html

Along with other parts for the early Harley's.

[John Guntner]

The information you want is not out there. Steve's book is a bit of help but not technical enough for a gear head, machinist. Someone is making tools (for auction). We are making our own tools starting with the clutch and transmission. We will document everything you need to know in time but that won't help you know.

[Steve Slocombe]

Dear John, I think all the known clearances are in my VL book, and I've guessed at some of the others. The Harley Shop Dope reprints contain several specifications of engine clearances and valve/ignition timing. Many VL tools have been re-made. The valve cover wrenches, tappet puller, pinion gear puller and wheel hub wrench are available from myself or Vintage Motorcycles Nothwest. I've made the gearbox X-tool and laser cut a less expensive version of the 2" manifold wrench, while Mark Masa has made a fine VL clutch puller which saves distorting the clutch drum with a three-leg puller. There are even plans to make the frame table with a big laser cutter, and that's serious. The VL clutch assembly jig is a possible needed item, but expensive if you don't use it often.

[Tommo]

Your best bet is J.B. Nicholson's book Modern Motorcycle Mechanics but you will need to ensure you get a first or second edition because by the third edition a lot of the early info has dropped out in favour of the later stuff.
First editions will be hard to find but second editions shouldn't be too hard as there were at least two reprints of that volume.

[c.o.]

You nailed it Tommo. "Modern Motorcycle Mechanics" has proven to have info that in a lot of cases, can't be found elsewhere.

[Sargehere]

Sounds like we need for someone in possession of a 1st (1948?) or 2nd Edition of J.B. Nicholson's book Modern Motorcycle Mechanics to scan it page-by-page and commit it to CD. And share it among the VL community. It's not hard.

If anyone's interested, I have Victor Page's 1920 book "Motorcycles and Sidecars" done that way. Also Harley Knucklehead/U-model, 45, and Rigid frame Panheads (1948-57) Service manuals on a single CD, for postage. PM me.

[c.o.]

I have the 4th (1953) edition of Bernie's book. It's 674 pages worth of knowledge. Tommo is right, as the books progressed, earlier info is left by the wayside. Ironically enough this edition has more information on J-Models than it does Vl's...go figure! By this stage in the game the British bikes were flooding the continent and it has tons of Brit stuff. As far as Harleys go, it mostly covers '37-'52. It also has some good Indian info. If my book were in better shape I would attempt to scan it but it's hanging by it's last thread and I'd hate to destroy it any further. I would be happy however to pass on info if questions come up and the book has the answer. I know a guy who got a copy of the 1st edition at an old library sale for a dollar. It can be worth it to hit the used book stores as well. Copies can be found but if you're shopping on e-bay expect that first one to go for big bucks!

[Sargehere]

Cory, if your book is truly "hangin' by its last thread," that is the most important reason to copy it. As a digital record, it has a chance to last "forever." As a broken-down book, it has little value as a book, if that makes any sense to you. On CDs, today's literature may be carried into space, to other planets and stars. That's how William Shakespeare will be read in coming millenia, on the Moon, and beyond.

The words and illustrations in that book are priceless (and "public domain," no doubt, as the copyrights are probably expired), but the pressed, dried, and shredded wood paste they are printed upon gradually rots into dust. Today, the best thing you can do with your books,ones you already admit are too far gone to have any 'collector value,' is to have them re-bound by an expert bookbinder. Every major city has at least one.

That will give your books another lease on life. I had a 19th century songbook rebound recently; it was surprisingly inexpensive, they saved all of the pages, and it looks like a brand new volume. I hope you'll consider that, so you can share. I want to see what's in there, myself!

[c.o.]

Sarge,

You have certainly given me food for thought. I will have to ponder it a bit as I'm quite a distance from any major city. You do have a good point though as the sharing of info is one the great perks about this club. I find it rather surprising that you've not seen between the covers of Bernie Nicholson's legendary "Mechanics" books!!!

[Tom Wilcock]

Sarge: There is a second edition on Ebay. Item #320844781648. There are other editions on other auctions also. Tom #381