Harley knucklehead 1936

Willie G.

The motorcycle industry was hit hard by the Great Depression. By , overall motorcycle sales in the US had reached an historic low, still unmatched to present day. Some motorcycle manufacturers closed their doors. Others were able to stay afloat, but any profits made had to be invested wisely. Co-founder and Chief Engineer William Harley headed new product development. As part of the Board of Directors, he led conversations about innovative product ideas.

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. In , the fork was a Hydra-Glide. The Duo-Glide came out in , along with the rear suspension.

Interestingly, Knucklehead experts speak of three different engine versions in the model year. But mere months before its launch, they still debated whether the motorcycle should even be built.

.

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.

Ups store river road bethesda

Harley-Davidson pulled ahead of Indian in with the introduction of its first overhead valve V-Twin. Highly prized by collectors, the 61 and 74 cubic inch OHV twins were made for 12 model years, through The Fabulous Fours The story of the four cylinder motorcycle in America lasted a short 33 years Dale built this EL for his sweetie Trish. Featured Bikes. It was given the model designation EL. They succeeded, with Joe achieving a blistering miles per hour. Serial number 36EL It is one of about a dozen Knuckleheads on display including those belonging to musician and music producer Dan Auerbach. This was the first Harley that recirculated the engine oil to and from the oil tank. Everybody had big, happy grins and well they might—hadn't they just seen an afternoon of record breaking performances? The Duo-Glide came out in , along with the rear suspension. Redesigned crankcases allowed the side valve to fit the same chassis as the OHV machine streamlining cost and production time. The distinctive streamliner was piloted by Joe Petrali, one of the best motorcycle racers of the day.

.

Translate with Google. It did not take long for individuals to often modify their machines to a new level The Wheels Through Time Museum will sweep you back in time with its magnificent presentation of vintage all-American motorcycles and automobiles. With its overhead valves, it offered more power. From the photos it looks like his was solid white. Feel free to contribute! They retained elements of the engine design and frame geometry, while also adding adaptability to future models. This was the first Harley that recirculated the engine oil to and from the oil tank. So glad we stopped at this great Museum last year! It was eventually nicknamed the "Knucklehead" due to its resemblance to a clenched fist.