1939 EL Knucklehead gas tank info

[George Greer]

Rod,

I apologize for butting into your thread/question.

George

[LJH]

Hey, Jerry
Thanks, for your input on the subject, of the late 39s
I like to try to know what was done, in early and late year knuckleheads.
My friend in Wisc., has an early 39, s/n 108X, it has the 38 frame
I guess that is why, I like mid year bikes. All the right stuff!
Lee

[Kevinpager]

I am the new owner of Rod's 1939 as of 5/12/2019. It still has the 1940 fuel tanks with the plunger type petcock on the top. If I were to swap out the 1940 fuel tanks for 1939 tanks would I be increasing the value? If so by how much approximately? It also has a 4 speed transmission. It originally had a 3 speed with reverse. I have the original gate and transmission parts. The 4 speed is: 1, N, 2, 3, 4. This is from a 1940 as well. Rod said he chose that trans because the 1939 4 speed was a one year only and didn't work very well. HD replaced it after only one year because it was so problematic.
Also is there someone in Colorado that can give me an accurate appraisal of this bike?

[1950Panhead]

I am the new owner of Rod's 1939 as of 5/12/2019.

Congratulations !

It still has the 1940 fuel tanks with the plunger type petcock on the top. If I were to swap out the 1940 fuel tanks for 1939 tanks would I be increasing the value?

Yes

If so by how much approximately?

Only God knows.
Guys that own close to original bikes pursue the correct parts for personal satisfaction.

It also has a 4 speed transmission.
It originally had a 3 speed with reverse. I have the original gate and transmission parts. The 4 speed is: 1, N, 2, 3, 4. This is from a 1940 as well. Rod said he chose that trans because the 1939 4 speed was a one year only and didn't work very well. HD replaced it after only one year because it was so problematic.

39's had to go through 2nd to get to neutral, bad idea, many have been converted to 1,N,2,3,4 pattern.

Also is there someone in Colorado that can give me an accurate appraisal of this bike?

Yes, or post photos here.

[Kevinpager]

0359B249-05D3-455A-B1C3-8EA840B6BCA6.jpg
419E66B3-9E71-4AF7-A930-93C1A817E9B1.jpg
I have tons of pictures but this is all I have for right now.

[Rubone]

Are you sure you have 3&R parts or do you have the correct '39 4 speed parts and someone was using a 3&R shifter gate on it to make it work? The '39 gates interchange.

[Kevinpager]

Well I know the shifter gate has reverse. As far as the park so I’m just going by what the previous owner told me. And I have no reason to doubt him.

[len dowe]

Kevin,
May I suggest starting your own thread as to not take away from Rod's thread.

[Rubone]

Kevin,
May I suggest starting your own thread as to not take away from Rod's thread.

Well it is the same bike....

[Rubone]

Well I know the shifter gate has reverse. As far as the park so I’m just going by what the previous owner told me. And I have no reason to doubt him.

I realize that, however someone may have used the '40 tanks with the 3&R gate to make it work with the '39 4 speed and I was just curious if the gears you have are indeed 3&R or are the original '39 4 speed that were swapped out to the '40 up pattern. They are quite hard to come by and a bit special if they are, the 3&R not so much as they were the same into the early '70s and then just minor changes to '79.

[Kevinpager]

Was told it had 3andR

I realize that, however someone may have used the '40 tanks with the 3&R gate to make it work with the '39 4 speed and I was just curious if the gears you have are indeed 3&R or are the original '39 4 speed that were swapped out to the '40 up pattern. They are quite hard to come by and a bit special if they are, the 3&R not so much as they were the same into the early '70s and then just minor changes to '79.

Rod told me that it had a 3&R back in 1982 when he bought the bike. He changed it to a 1940 four speed.

So are you saying that I can’t use the four speed on a 1939 tank?

[Rubone]

Rod told me that it had a 3&R back in 1982 when he bought the bike. He changed it to a 1940 four speed.

So are you saying that I can’t use the four speed on a 1939 tank?

Nope, not saying that at all. The 4 speed gate bolts right to the '39 tanks without any issues.

[T. Cotten]

Rod told me that it had a 3&R back in 1982 when he bought the bike. He changed it to a 1940 four speed. ... ...

Gasp!

A sin against History!

I'd a done it too.

In a heartbeat.

....Cotten

[len dowe]

Well it is the same bike....

I see that now and missed it. My apologies.

[Kevinpager]

Main question

I see that now and missed it. My apologies.

The main question I have is whether the bike would be more valuable with 1939 tanks.