47 Knuck engine finishes

[tomcat1]

I just want to confirm what Palmer's book says. All motor assembly hardware is Parkerized. And the intake manifold and nuts are parkerized. Correct?

TC

[T. Cotten]

TC!

I have encountered more than a few bronze manifolds from '47s that had traces of cadmium left.

....Cotten

[tomcat1]

And the plot thickens.

Ok. It looks like the 46 manifold is parked. The photo in Palmer's book shows a parked manifold. But it does state it's a 47 prototype. A 46 FL in partial 47 trim. So I wonder if he is basing this info. on that? I know the 48 pan then goes back to cad plate.

So what is correct? Or do we get into that discussion of a transitional year and that both could be correct depending on when in the year it was made and what parts where left in the parts bin coming down the assembly line. I ran into this while collecting M1 carbines.

TC

[40 Nuck]

Off topic, but would you happen to have any correct WWII carbines for sale? I have been casually looking for one for a while ... I have a couple of WWII era carbines but have been reworked complete with bayonet lugs, and mismatched parts.

Thanks,
Vic

[tomcat1]

Off topic, but would you happen to have any correct WWII carbines for sale? I have been casually looking for one for a while ... I have a couple of WWII era carbines but have been reworked complete with bayonet lugs, and mismatched parts.

Thanks,
Vic

Sorry, no. I already sold all my Correct M1 carbines and German Military stuff to fund this project. I do have a nice Springfield M1 Garand service grade for sale. It's not all correct. But nice shooter. NOS 51' barrel. I accually still have a few of those left. PM if interested. Or have anything to trade. I'm looking for everything.

[Erdos]

I am also doing a 47 knuck, an early one within the first 550. The parkerized hardware is correct but I to am torn on the manifold finish. I'm thinking that sticking with the parkerized manifold for my early 47 is correct. Also I have heard that the push rod covers are cad not chrome. Any thoughts on that.

[knuckleheadtim]

I'm quite certain the 61" motors in '47 used a brass manifold, cad plated. A friend down the street has one his dad bought in '48, and it had 13,000 miles on it when it was stolen in '72. He got it back in pieces, and the original carb was still bolted to the brass manifold. We've had this discussion many times while judging, and the consesnsus is this is correct. I don't know if '47 74s ever used a brass manifold.

[Chris Haynes]

Earl Kellerman JR, who is the longest working H-D trained mechanic, told me that the bronze manifolds were on the late 1940 and early 1941 models. Earl was born in '32 and has been playin' with Harley's since he was a kid. Earl currently maintains the race fleet for Bartels H-D.

[Jerry Wieland]

Chris I do not believe that brass intakes could have shown up in 1940. First off it would have to be newer than 40EL503x because this original paint bike was overhauled for the first time in 1989 and it had the 428 40 short intake. Secondly the brass intakes that I have seen all are the longer ones (428 401) which use the later carburator support bracket and I believe that it has a 1941 part number so probably was not available on a 1940 EL. I have seen at least 4 or 5 original low mile bikes with brass intakes and everyone of them is a 1947. In fact, I have never seen a brass intake on any original bike except 1947. Until somebody can show me even one non 47 bike with a brass intake, I'm not going to buy it -- I don't care what your friend says. Memories grow dim with age.

Jerry

[Chris Haynes]

Memories grow dim with age.

Jerry

How old are you Jerry?

[Chris Haynes]

I just got a call from Bruce. He tells me that John Nowak told him about the brass manifolds being a 1941 item over 25 years ago when his mind was still far from dim. I can also remember Santa Monica Harley Dealer Andy Verrone telling me about the brass being phased out in 1941 over forty years ago. Bruce also mentioned that while looking at factory photographs he found the following picture. Note that this picture was processed into the Pohlman Log on March-15-1944. Also notice that the manifold is painted not Parkerized. Brass can't be Parkerized. Also notice there is no casting seam on the manifold. There is no casting seam on the brass manifolds.


Now lets look at 46FL4204. The first thing we see is that the manifold is Parkerized. Meaning it is not brass but iron. Secondly were can clearly see the casting mold seam across the manifold that is not present on the brass manifolds.


Now the only question I can think of is what was a brass manifold still being used in March of 1944 when they supposedly phased out in 1941? My guess is they needed a 74 OHV and put one together out of parts on hand.

[Chris Haynes]

Notice that this '47 has a Parkerized manifold too.

[T. Cotten]

Chris and All!

Let us not forget the period of history involved.
Brass and bronze was a very strategic material through the war years, but by '46 or '47 it was abundant scrap. Consider also the pitifully poor quality of the brass castings as they can have disastrous porosities; On the other hand, Pre-War workmanship was immaculate.

...Cotten

[Lonnie]

Chris, is the Police '47 you show a pre-production motorcycle? Or a '46 in '47 trim? Also, what is with the saddlebag mount holes in the rear fender?

[Chris Haynes]

what is with the saddlebag mount holes in the rear fender?

That is something you need to ask William S. Harley. Not me.
It is a late production 1946. So would they switch from brass to iron and back to brass again?