The making of a 1936 Knucklehead springer front end

[riverbend]

image.jpgu. I know my 37 el has this also my extra springer has it I believe it is a 36-37 only thing but I am not sure

[harleytoprock]

Jerry, Thank you for the clarification and photo.

Riverbend, Thank you for the photo. I have two 36 forks and neither have the dent as in your photo.

[riverbend]

When matt olson had his oem37 at Wauseon 2-3 years ago i remember it having it, like I said I am not the expert but I have seen it on 3 forks that I am aware of, 2 of which I own .

[harleytoprock]

Riverbend, Interesting! Maybe Matt, Carl or others can jump in and shed some light on this mystery dent.

[BigLakeBob]

Ok I'm confused,which is easy to do by the way. My knowledge of fork year differences is mainly from Palmers. I attached some photos of what I believe is a 38 rear leg. Why in post #31 are there grease fitting bosses on the outside if that is a '36 leg? Thanks, Bob

[len dowe]

The rear leg notch ended in 38 for the early damper. Debate is too inboard or outboard zerks with angled or straight grease zerk fittings.

[Jerry Wieland]

I looked at all 5 of 36/37 springers that I have here (stock and chopped) with the small fender tabs and none of them have the dent in the upper tube. Is it possible that some piece of equipment these things carried could have put it there?

Jerry

When matt olson had his oem37 at Wauseon 2-3 years ago i remember it having it, like I said I am not the expert but I have seen it on 3 forks that I am aware of, 2 of which I own .

[Jerry Wieland]

The rear leg notch ended in 38 for the early damper. Debate is too inboard or outboard zerks with angled or straight grease zerk fittings.

Len I have only ever seen straight zerks and that is what the literature always seems to show. I personally believe the zerk change occurred in mid production 1938.

Jerry

[BigLakeBob]

Len I have only ever seen straight zerks and that is what the literature always seems to show. I personally believe the zerk change occurred in mid production 1938.

Jerry

Did '36/37 have inboard or outboard straight zerks? So if post #31 is a '36, then were they made with outside zerks, removed in '38 then put back on again in '39? Jerry, I see the leg you are using has both outside and inside zerk bosses, are you removing the outside ones or leaving them? Also, in your 1st post you show what appears to be a NOS black painted leg in your fixture, it looks like it has outside zerk bosses, what year is that leg supposed to be? Thanks, Bob

[Jerry Wieland]

Did '36/37 have inboard or outboard straight zerks? So if post #31 is a '36, then were they made with outside zerks, removed in '38 then put back on again in '39? Jerry, I see the leg you are using has both outside and inside zerk bosses, are you removing the outside ones or leaving them? Also, in your 1st post you show what appears to be a NOS black painted leg in your fixture, it looks like it has outside zerk bosses, what year is that leg supposed to be? Thanks, Bob

Bob I think the inboard zerks went all the way to mid 1938. I think Riverbend misstated when he called that springer a 36. It is definitely later. The NOS springer I pictured in my fixture is a very late inline with the heavy springer perch and with no inboard zerk bosses like the offset front ends all have. Some people claim that bikes never left the factory with a front end like it. I also have a 1937 front end that I believe is NOS - either that or it is the nicest used front I have ever seen.

Jerry

[len dowe]

Len I have only ever seen straight zerks and that is what the literature always seems to show. I personally believe the zerk change occurred in mid production 1938.

Jerry

Jerry,
But didn't they stop the notch in the back leg for the early damper rod with pin in 38 and went to the later rod in 39? I have never seen a back leg with the notch and outboard zerks. All indication's on what I have read and researched shows my leg to be a 38 and not a 39 as with the front brake cable clip hole location as well. Guess I'm beating the dead horse again but I still don't understand it for all the controversy out there.
Len.

[Matt McManus]

Jerry,
But didn't they stop the notch in the back leg for the early damper rod with pin in 38 and went to the later rod in 39? I have never seen a back leg with the notch and outboard zerks. All indication's on what I have read and researched shows my leg to be a 38 and not a 39 as with the front brake cable clip hole location as well. Guess I'm beating the dead horse again but I still don't understand it for all the controversy out there.
Len.

Len,

I have a few springers currently with the notch for the early damper rod and outside grease fittings, My 38UL also has this front end.


Regarding the dent in the upper tube on 36 front ends, every real 36 rear fork I have seen has this including the one on Rick Allen and Dave Minerva's original paint 36's have this dent.

[len dowe]

Thanks for posting Matt,
On the zerks for inboard, Straight or angled? Heard both ways and was curious on an untouched op bike.
Len.

[riverbend]

Thanks Matt , and Merry Christmas, see you in florida, jamie

[riverbend]

Jerry on post 40 what springer are you referring to that i mistakenly called a 36