Harley knucklehead 1936

The motorcycle industry was hit hard by the Great Depression. Byoverall motorcycle sales in the US had reached an historic low, still unmatched to present day.

Willie G. In this space, Style and Function are intertwined with a design template that would carry the motor company into the next century. Not only was the chassis redesigned with streamline fuel tanks and an integrated dashboard, but the new heavyweight V-Twin also offered a standard 4 speed constant mesh transmission. The big news was the new 61 cubic inch over head valve engine that utilized a newly developed dry sump oil system. This was the first Harley that recirculated the engine oil to and from the oil tank. It was given the model designation EL. It has been affectionately called the Knucklehead since its inception in

Harley knucklehead 1936

Harley-Davidson pulled ahead of Indian in with the introduction of its first overhead valve V-Twin. The frame, forks, engine and much of the styling were all new. Interestingly, Knucklehead experts speak of three different engine versions in the model year. Minor problems were attended to as running changes and production continued. The first engines built had problems with valve spring breakage, poor rocker arm lubrication and leakage of oil from the top end. Spring metallurgy was improved, rockers redesigned, and repair kits were sent out to dealers to fix the over affected new bikes already on the road. Styling at Indian and Harley-Davidson reached a new height in this era. With new oval section springer fork tubes, a more graceful muffler and the tank mounted speedometer, the new Harley was probably the most stylish American motorcycle to date. A few technical problems plagued first year machines, but America was coming back economically and timing was perfect with over first year sales. Highly prized by collectors, the 61 and 74 cubic inch OHV twins were made for 12 model years, through In the hydraulic fork Duo-Glide was released and Harley-Davidson Big Twin styling was set for over half a century to come. It is one of about a dozen Knuckleheads on display including those belonging to musician and music producer Dan Auerbach.

Previous Next. It was eventually nicknamed the "Knucklehead" due to its resemblance to a clenched fist.

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Yet up until the last minute, it was uncertain whether Harley would release the bike for sale. The experimental models were unmarked, and testers were instructed to stay away from towns and dealerships. The point of all this secrecy was to keep the rumor mill down. The motorcycle world was very small, and even without the Internet or cheap, long-distance telephones, rumors would spread from one end of the country to another faster than a Twentieth Century Limited locomotive. For , Harley-Davidson introduced an inlet-over-exhaust big twin to replace its aging sidevalve setup. Unfortunately, the new VL twins had multiple problems, resulting in a general recall and warranty replacement of expensive parts. Even with the repairs, the sidevalve engines were not as fast or reliable as desired, so Harley started looking for a replacement.

Harley knucklehead 1936

Harley-Davidson pulled ahead of Indian in with the introduction of its first overhead valve V-Twin. The frame, forks, engine and much of the styling were all new. Interestingly, Knucklehead experts speak of three different engine versions in the model year. Minor problems were attended to as running changes and production continued. The first engines built had problems with valve spring breakage, poor rocker arm lubrication and leakage of oil from the top end. Spring metallurgy was improved, rockers redesigned, and repair kits were sent out to dealers to fix the over affected new bikes already on the road. Styling at Indian and Harley-Davidson reached a new height in this era. With new oval section springer fork tubes, a more graceful muffler and the tank mounted speedometer, the new Harley was probably the most stylish American motorcycle to date. A few technical problems plagued first year machines, but America was coming back economically and timing was perfect with over first year sales. Highly prized by collectors, the 61 and 74 cubic inch OHV twins were made for 12 model years, through

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It was given the model designation EL. Each machine has a great story that could make a best selling book! Throughout the 20th Century, various home-made machines were invented within the The first board track built for motorcycle racing opened in in Los Angeles The new OHV was also successful in both enduro races and hillclimbing. The man who led the design of both the Knucklehead and the improved Side Valve engine Some motorcycle manufacturers closed their doors. The Milwaukee assembly line never produced quality detail like this. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. The story of the four cylinder motorcycle in America lasted a short 33 years With new oval section springer fork tubes, a more graceful muffler and the tank mounted speedometer, the new Harley was probably the most stylish American motorcycle to date. This was the first Harley that recirculated the engine oil to and from the oil tank. As part of the Board of Directors, he led conversations about innovative product ideas.

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They knew it was a risk but were also excited about its possibilities. This area is Dales cornucopia of rare, unusual, exquisite, bizarre but always William was one of the 4 founding fathers of the Company. The man who led the design of both the Knucklehead and the improved Side Valve engine Prior to the "61", a side-valve engine called a "flathead" had been powering riders through thick and thin. Redesigned crankcases allowed the side valve to fit the same chassis as the OHV machine streamlining cost and production time. The man who led the design of both the Knucklehead and the improved Side Valve engine was chief engineer William S Harley. From the photos it looks like his was solid white. I have pictures of my parents he met my Mother when he had it from early American Racer Class-C was intended to foster amateur racing and to discourage factory In this space, Style and Function are intertwined with a design template that would carry the motor company into the next century.