Rumor and shadows

[Steve Little]

Hi.
In the photo that has the top end displayed in front of the pre production bike, I notice they had a tack weld on the front and rear of the top engine mount. I havent seen a tack weld on the rear of the top engine mount on the production frames. It normaly has a tack on the very bottom and a tack on the front edge.

In the next picture with the derby cover and coil removed, there is a 5/16" rod with a split pin hole and a bend on the end sitting up in the air between the rear cylinder and the oil tank. What is it?
Regards Steve

[Chris Haynes]

[QUOTE=Matt McManus;99726]A friend of mine updates this list everytime he sees another 36, I dont have pictures of any of the bikes or know if all of the VIN's are good but it has some pretty high numbers listed. I think he started with the last of the 36 registry list and has been adding to it for a while.

35EL serial numbers known to have existed:
35EL1002, 35EL1003

36 OHV Serial Numbers:

Under 2000
1002, 1004, 1005, 1006, 1013, 1020, 1023, 1027, 1028, 1032, 1034,1042, 1050, 1051, 1057, 1059, 1070, 1074, 1075, 1078, 1083, 1087, 1102, 1104, 1106, 1108, 1112, 1117, 1137, 1141, 1142, 1144, 1153, 1160, 1166, 1168, 1169, 1180, 1188, 1205, 1210, 1215, 1217, 1221, 1238, 1256, 1288, 1302, 1361, 1374, 1375, 1379, 1405, 1415, 1423, 1435, 1438, 1439, 1451, 1453, 1462, 1472, 1480, 1512, 1536, 1539, 1546, 1563, 1566, 1571, 1580, 1585, 1586, 1590, 1633, 1641, 1650, 1652, 1655, 1656, 1665, 1674, 1175, 1676, 1685, 1700, 1701, 1709, 1711, 1739, 1758, 1785, 1797, 1824, 1835, 1859, 1861, 1863, 1881, 1936, 1965, 1972, 1974, 1980, 1985, 1996

Over 2000
2000, 2017, 2025, 2026, 2031, 2036, 2046, 2051, 2053, 2093, 2094, 2106, 2135, 2151, 2152, 2153, 2157, 2159, 2160, 2162, 2174, 2184, 2188, 2191, 2205, 2228, 2239, 2278, 2304, 2320, 2334, 2355, 2356, 2357, 2358, 2376, 2380, 2381, 2385, 2391, 2398, 2401, 2429, 2435, 2450, 2500, 2510, 2520, 2529, 2533, 2545, 2547, 2563, 2565, 2617, 2624, 2625, 2640, 2655, 2659, 2682, 2694, 2711, 2749, 2769, 2838, 2903..

I just looked through my files and I have photos of 36EL1028, 36EL1059, 1078, 1102, 1106, 1512, 2135, 2174, 2376, and 2617. I have added them to this list.

[Steve Little]

Hi Chris.
Are these pictures of complete factory bikes? Can you post the pictures of 2617.
Regards Steve

[Chris Haynes]

Just photos of engine numbers.

[HarleyCreation]

Another one for the updated Registry

Here's a claim for an existing motor: "36EL2647" -- I don't see that one listed on Gerry's updated Registry. Nice looking bike. I'd take it.

http://www.peter.berweger.eu/1936.htm

Notice how he claims total 36EL production was "1,526" so I guess his motor don't exist then. We've seen that before.

Also, there's some photos at another forum of an 36EL supposed to be. Quote: "fully origional except the float in the carb and an updated paint job. Runs like it was yesterday" (Post 1). There are a couple photo links for it, but they won't open for me.

Golly, I wonder if it's as original as claimed?????

http://www.harley-davidsonforums.com...tml#post283003

[Chris Haynes]

Golly, I wonder if it's as original as claimed?????

http://www.harley-davidsonforums.com...tml#post283003[/QUOTE]

He shows before and after restoration photos. In the before photos it is easily identified and a 1941-'46 machine with an earlier engine in it. After photos show tank badges removed and other parts changed but it is still a 1941 type frame.

[pete reeves]

In the next picture with the derby cover and coil removed, there is a 5/16" rod with a split pin hole and a bend on the end sitting up in the air between the rear cylinder and the oil tank. What is it?
Regards Steve

It looks like the front brake rod.

Pete Reeves.

[jwl]

Hi Chris.
Are these pictures of complete factory bikes? Can you post the pictures of 2617.
Regards Steve

Lots of pics of it on ebay right now.

[Greg H]

Here ya go

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...WAX%3AIT#v4-38

[Steve Little]

Hi.
Anybody know how to download the actual picture of the overall bike and a picture of the VIN from eBay to this thread.
If we try and rely on the ebay address/link, it will be erased shortly after the bike sells.
We could be at this issue out for a few months.
Notice people are telling the seller that the frame is wrong.

Does any body know how to contact Jim McClean who used to live in Ontario Canada?
Regards Steve

[Steve Little]

It looks like the front brake rod.

Pete Reeves.

Why is it beside the inner primary...maybe its a optical conclusion /ullusion.

[Greg H]

Try to insert pics

[silentgreyfello]

2617 is my bike. I bought it with some other bikes in a package deal from John Parham. Bike was restored perhaps 10 years ago? I will post some photos here when I get a chance to get on my work computer... maybe tomorrow. The consensus is that the frame is later, some have told me 1937, others 1938. Someone said the heads were wrong, etc.

I have a guy that keeps harassing me on ebay. A real jackass. He hides behind his handle rugood2go Anybody know who he is? I'd like to meet him.

[HarleyCreation]

He shows before and after restoration photos. In the before photos it is easily identified and a 1941-'46 machine with an earlier engine in it. After photos show tank badges removed and other parts changed but it is still a 1941 type frame.

A bit more changed than the "float and paint." Figures.

[HarleyCreation]

In discussing how long it would have taken to develop the modifications for the new frame and the date of the frame drawing we need to consider the following points.

This was a new model that had a major problem. The frame was weak and was breaking, the factory would be aware of this embarrassing problem and would have given it a top priority to be resolved. Reading the reports in Jerry’s book it would appear that there was a team of engineers tasked with solving the problems with this new bike.

Sometimes when rushed to solve a problem engineers will make parts from a simple drawing, if the fix proves to be successful the drawing office will draw up a proper blue print after the event.

The 37 style frame was only an upgrade of the 36 frame. Most of the frame components remained the same; it would not have been difficult for them to alter existing partially completed 36 frames to the new format.

The August board meeting report is telling us that 1937 model year bikes are already completed and in storage. This would mean that the 37 style frame must have been in production in august. or posibly even before.

Pete Reeves. 860

Another thing to consider is how many '36 style frames Harley built ahead of time and stockpiled for the spring rush of orders. We know they did that with motors and other components so they probably did it with frames too. If they had early style frames already made, did they go back and update them to '37 specs? I rather doubt that because not all of them did break so why bother. More likely they kept using the weak frame until they ran out of them. But when did they run out of them?

Nor are motor numbers a perfect guide.

Here is a documented example:

The Factory shipped these 36ELs to a Midwestern dealer on the following dates in 1936:

Jan 24: #1100 range
Feb 19: #1200 & 1400 range
April: #1400 range
May 13: #1700 range
No date: #1200 range (but listed here)
June 11: #1900 range (including landmark "36EL1936")

Those are what you'd expect, but then:

Sept 23: "36EL1884"

Why was that relatively low numbered bike not shipped until September? And was that bike just assembled? If it was, maybe it had the '37 frame update in spite of its lower number -- if that was done at all. Or maybe not!