Tank Caps

[MikeW]

Can someone remind me of the years that tank caps stamped "GAS" and "OIL" were used before plain caps became standard? I seem to recall that they were fitted up until 1925 and would therefore be correct for my 21F.
P1050104.JPG

[exeric]

This illustration is from a 1920 H-D brochure. My '16 has plain caps so I guess this was a new feature in 1920.

Brochure%2003c.jpg

[MikeW]

Thank you Eric. Always something of interest and instructive from you. I had assumed (with no solid evidence or research of my own), that with the change in 1916 to the larger caps for gas and oil compartments, the practice of stamping "Gas" and Oil" (as on the smaller 1915 caps) simply continued until 1925 when "Gas" and "Oil" were then stamped on the gear shifter gate, and the caps themselves were unmarked. Your post sent me hunting in my files for any photos of (supposedly) original condition 1916 motorcycles. I found a few, but the only one which showed the tank caps was this one, auctioned by Bonhams some time ago. It has stamped gas and oil caps,(or at least a gas cap, is supposedly unmolested, but who can tell if someone changed the tank caps in the early 1920s?!

Mike

HD 1916 Bonhams 5.jpg

HD 1916 Bonhams 2.jpg

[exeric]

That is great information, Mike. The 1913-'21 parts book has no detailed description of caps for 16-'21 which is no surprise. The book simply states "EK29A: Gas cap (2): 1916-1921" and nothing about a marked gas, and oil cap. However the second picture you posted sure looks like the real deal. So now I'll be in the hunt for marked gas, and oil caps. I guess that's what keeps this hobby interesting, and never ending Thanks for posting those pictures.