eBay 1943 Knuckle cases

[Chris Haynes]

How does he explain a 1943 line bore number on a right case that was cast in May 1945? I also don't believe that a left case cast in April 1942 would have a 1943 number on it.
HARLEY DAVIDSON 1943 MOTOR CASES:eBay Motors (item 250520541097 end time Oct-31-09 16:26:59 PDT)

[46WL]

Yes, I agree.

[motorhead1]

And the VIN stamping is awfully pristine looking for a set of cases that old.

[LJH]

Hi, I think 1943 and up, had the open top 4 in the vin.
jwl, knows for sure, he has one. Lee

[flat-happy]

that seller is mark wall in tampa

[pete reeves]

Interesting Numbers?

I943 belly numbers on a case cast in 1945 proves with out a doubt that somebody has a set of number stamps.

I have seen a set of 43 cases with the d-2 cast mark on them before, and don’t have a problem with this,1942 knucklehead production was curtailed by the war, its logical that they would have used up existing left over stock for a limited run of 1943 bikes.

The1943 I have seen had the closed top 4 and it’s possible that the change to open top 4 took place some time during 1943.rather that exactly at the start of year.

The top serif on the number1 should be horizontal / parallel and come to an abrupt stop. The number 1 used on this case is tapered down from the top

The 3 looks odd but that could be down to angle/light of the picture.

No signs of any alterations to the number boss?

Sets of number stamps have been available on ebay for some time now. This year there was a vender openly selling them at Davenport, The easy availability of number stamps will inevitably lead to more rare bikes turning up.

Pete Reeves 860