1942 Knucklehead cylinders and lifter blocks

[DANPATCH]

Did the 42 knucklehead cylinders have the date tag up on the barrel like 1941. Were the lifter blocks more of A ivory color than white. Thanks for your time.

[Chris Haynes]

Did the 42 knucklehead cylinders have the date tag up on the barrel like 1941. Were the lifter blocks more of A ivory color than white. Thanks for your time.

Yes to both.

[46EL]

What is the earliest anyone saw white lifter block on a Knuckle? Were Lifter Blocks on Bikes made prior to Pearl Harbor Dec. 7th 1941 white? Any opinions?

[Chris Haynes]

When did white appear? Hard to say. I have photos of 1940 military models with white parts. When did the start of civilian models? This is not known. The factory photos of the 1941 models show silver. But these were early photos. The only Knuck photo after that is the 1942 ELC model and it does have white parts on it.

[46EL]

I had 42EL 19xx a while back and the motor was already done with Black Lifter Blocks before I built the bike. Back then probably 10 years ago everybody who looked at it disagreed on what was correct. Personally I though that if the Bike was built before Pearl Harbor even Chrome plating would be available? I would also think that right after we declared War Civilian Production would cease but i'm sure there was stuff laying around chrome plated or silver painted and i'm sure they didn't throw it in a dumpster? I had many a know it all pick apart my bike. I built it like a barn bike and now I wish I had kept it. Jp

[Chris Haynes]

Lifter blocks were never black or chromed. They were painted silver. Then white for war production and back to silver after the war.