Spark Plugs Connected

Hi.

I've connected the spark plugs, using the old style copper connectors with cooling fins.

If you zoom in to the spark plug on the left you will notice that even the spark plugs are vintage original Harley-Davidson branded spark plugs. 

Tool Bag Fixed

Afternoon

When I bought the vintage Harley in November 2014, the motorcycle came with a rather beat up canvas bag that had some holes in it, the straps were ripped off and it was full of oil.

The canvas bag has a 1945 manufacturing date stamped on it.

I took this bag and asked Faik to fix the canvas bag for me. Which he did.

Vintage Tools have Arrived

Hi. 

I have collected a parcel with a number of vintage tools that I have bought over a period of time. Some eBay'ers in the continental USA doesn't ship internationally and I have shipped these tools to a friend of mine is the USA. He graciously collected the parts and after all the parts have arrived at his house, he shipped all of the tools in one parcel to me. 

In the process I saved hugely on shipping costs, as the shipping cost for the individual tools would have been more than 3 times what I paid for the one parcel. 

Here is a photo of the vintage tools. 

Note the NOS package for the chain breaker. Still in the "For U. S. Ordnance" packaging. 

The toolkit is coming along nicely. Here is a photo of the tools. 

 

This is seriously starting to look like an early WW2 H-D WL Toolkit.

 

Not shown above is the tyre levers (on it's way). What I am missing is the following:

•  The spark plug spanner;
• The Rear Wheel Lug Tyre Wrench.
• The tappet wrench.

 

Started Fitting the Horn

Afternoon 

I have also started fitting the horn. Just a reminder:

• The Harley was fitted with a 6V car horn when I bought her. I wanted to replace the car horn with an original Delco-Remy horn and the correct Harley winged face plate.
• A while ago I managed to buy a Harley horn with the winged face plate a while ago. It went very cheaply, but I was after the winged face plate - not the horn body as it was not Delco-Remy.
• After watching eBay for more than a year, I managed to buy a used Delco-Remy 16 6V horn (without the face place) - see "Finally, a Delco - Remy 16, 6 Volt Horn".

Between these two purchases I can assemble an original Delco-Remy 16 6V horn, with an original Harley winged face plate.

The first step to fit the the horn was to fit the horn bracket and thread the horn wires through the bracket. Here is a photo. 

 

Fitting the Tyre Pump

Morning. 

In a previous post "Vintage Air Pump for Toolkit" I have mentioned that I have managed to get a used, brass motorcycle tyre pump on eBay. 

The pump has arrived a week or so ago. I have taken it apart, resprayed the pump body black, greased all of the parts and reassembled the pump. It is working great!

With the pump working, I have fitted the pump, using the original pump clamps that I have sandblasted and painted many moons ago. 

Here is a photo - notice that I have used friction tape on the rear crash bar to prevent the clamps from sliding around.

Fitting the Seat

Morning 

The seat has been covered and is ready for fitment. This is the original seat that was on the motorcycle that I have sandblasted and resprayed almost a year ago.

Step 1 is to fit the bolts

Canvas Saddle Bags Fitted

Afternoon. 

I have collected the WW2 canvas saddle bags from Faik (one of the bags have a name and a 1942 date written on the bag). He has done a fantastic job on the bags. 

I could not wait to fit the bags on the vintage Harley. Here are some photos. 

The reason for the smaller bag on the left hand side is that I still have to fit the brass fire extinguisher on the left hand frame. A big bag (like the one the right) would have been too big. 

Harley Davidson Grip's and Handlebar Plunger's

Afternoon.

This is what Palmer has to say about the grips used by Harley Davidson during the early years. The grips that I have used in the restoration is therefore period correct, albeit reproduction grips.

Vintage Shifting Spanner for Toolbox

Hi

I am slowly but surely getting a decent vintage toolkit together.  Yesterday I won an auction on eBay for a vintage shifting spanner from the same producer that supplied Harley-Davidson with shfting spanners during WW2.

Here is a photo of the shifting spanner.

Vintage Air Pump for Toolkit

Hi!

The toolkit is coming along very nicely.  I have also bought a vintage air pump for the H-D.

Vintage Spoke Wrench for the Toolkit

Hi

I have also bought a vintage spoke wrench.

Vintage NOS Harley Davidson Chain Breaker Tool for Toolkit

Hi

I have been very fortunate to win an eBay auction for a NOS H-D chain breaker.  This is part of the items required for the toolkit.  Here are some photo's.

Vintage Tyre Levers for the Toolkit

Hi

I have managed to procure a set of vintage tyre levers for the Harley WL's toolkit.  Here are some photo's:

Vintage 'JP Danielson Co' Pliers for the Toolkit

Hi

I have also managed to acquire a set of two vintage pliers for the Toolkit.

Vintage 'A Schrader's Son' Tyre Gauge for Toolkit

Hi!

I have managed to acquire a vintage 'A Schrader's & Son' Tyre Gauge for the Toolkit.

Tyre Gauge

Rear Rim Ready for Paint

Hi

I have finished sanding the rear rim -  manufactured in January of 1941.

An All Original Guide Headlight, Reflector and Socket

Hi. 

The headlight of my Harley - Davidson WL  has Guide stamped on the shell. When I sandblasted the headlight it was clearly visible. The paint has partly hidden the logo.  Here is a photo. It looks like the shell was repaired at some stage and some of the stamping has been removed. But the motorcycle went through the 2nd World War for Pete's sake! She is entitled to have some scars! 

Palmer says that the original reflector has a full groove around it's edge for the seal to fit into. 

Here is a photo of the reflector that clearly shows the edge for the seal. 

In this photo I have fitted the seal - to show that the edge actually does accommodate the seal. 

Lastly the headlight socket. Palmer states that the factory used either a two or a three wire system. 

This photo shows that my WL has a 3 wire system. I have not refurbished the socket, as it was still in a reasonable condition.  The wires are clearly old.  Also visible is the ground wire riveted to the socket. 

Lastly, note that I have replaced the screws with the correct screws - the screws that were used when I dismantled the headlight were not the correct screws. 

The motorcycle did not have a lense when I bought it. I have managed to get a Guide lense on eBay.  

Both Front Fork Acorn Nuts are Original.

Hi

Both front fork nuts are original.  Palmer states that the original front fork acorn nuts comprised of a nut that were wrapped with an acorn shell.  But I can't find the photo - the book is 1020 pages and the index does not point me to the acorn nuts.  When I do come across the reference in the book, I will add it to this post.

I Bought Some Vintage Tools

Hi

I should be finished with the restoration by early September and I have started to look at acquiring the necessary equipment for the H-D, such as, tools, a gun scabbard and gun,etc.

I have managed to buy a couple of vintage tools for the Harley.  Here are some photo's.

The 1941-only Toolbox Mounting Bracket for a 1941 WL / WLA

Hi

A 1941-only toolbox mounting bracket for a Harley 45 came up for sale on eBay today.  This is the first time that I have seen such a toolbox mounting bracket come up for sale in the 2 years that I have been watching eBay for WL and WLA parts.  And it confirms that the one on my bike is period-correct.

Here are some of the photo's of the Item on eBay.

1941-Only Toolbox Mounting Bracket from eBay

1941-Only Toolbox Mounting Bracket from eBay

1941-Only Toolbox Mounting Bracket from eBay

1941-Only Toolbox Mounting Bracket from eBay