Odd Ball manifold?

[Erdos]

Seller says it is a 1940 but has the -401 casting number of a 1941 and later. Is there a later brass manifold?

Item #250718831781

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Harle...ht_2982wt_1164

[T. Cotten]

Geoff!

Attached is a pic that compares a '40 manifold to the (late-'46?+) '47 manifold.

This is a common confusion.

....Cotten

[Chris Haynes]

Old timers have told me that the brass manifolds appeared in 1941. Newcomers say they are from 1947. I believe the old timers.

[Jerry Wieland]

Chris I believe the newcomers (as I am one of them). All you have to do is show me 4 or 5 original paint 41's with the brass intake and I will start believing the old timers .... that is probably how many 47's I have seen with the brass intake.

Jerry

[Chris Haynes]

It is my understanding that the brass intakes had a problem with the air inlet bushings not sliding on them and were replaced by steel. Personally I have never seen one on an original '41 or '47. I know they exist because I have had several of them over the years.

[Jerry Wieland]

No doubt Chris they had problems. They almost always show severe signs of compression shrinkage where the brass seals sit. Chris you have probably seen them and did not realize it. They are painted silver originally and the only place the brass shows thru is where the choke rod passes over the intake and wears a very small bit of the silver off. It is real hard to notice on some bikes.

Jerry

[Erdos]

I'm confused. So the 1940 manifold was not brass. The brass manifold is for 1946-early 1947? I was lead to believe that my early 47fl had a parkerized manifold which can't be done to brass. So what to do for my very early 47fl should I go with brass or silver paint an iron one because the brass is too problematic or is it parkerized like Palmers states.

[Jerry Wieland]

Erdos First off, the 1940 intake manifold is not brass but is the one in Cottens post above - the casting number is 428-40 and not the more common 428-401. Bruce Palmer in his 'How to Restore your Harley Davidson' book mistaken assumed that the 1940 manifold was brass and this is where that rumor started. He knows better now but the publisher refuses to update his manuscript with this and other corrections.

Secondly I am not sure all 1947's came with the brass intake. If it was my bike I would use the steel one and be done with it.

Jerry