Harley Davidson WL Flathead Help
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2nd Gear
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Orange County
Harley Davidson WL Flathead Help
Hello Everyone!
brand new Flathead Owner, i inherited an old 1939 WL flathead from a good friend of mine. i have been studying manuals and trying to learn as much as i can on these old harleys to get myself familia with them.
The bike kicks over and turns on easily, usually on the 2nd kick and it idles perfect with the original linkert carb. no issues with the bike turning on or staying idle.
the issue that i am having and stumped on is that once i am riding it it is very VERY hard to hand shift from 1st gear to 2nd gear. it is almost as it gets stuck. it is so hard that i broke the lever already which i have replaced from 45restorations.com. Shifting from 2nd gear to 3rd gear is no problem at all, very smooth and also downshifting. it is just from 1st gear to 2nd gear that it is crazy stiff and hard to shift. when the bike is off i can shift with no issues very smoothly. the only way that i am able to shift from 1st to 2nd is if i lower my speed low and then it shifts to 2nd but since i am going at a very low speed which is the opposite of what i should be doing.
another issue i noticed today is that after a few minutes of riding it, with the clutch engaged going from neutral to 1st from a stopped position the bike shuts off because once i jump to 1st the bike wants to take off even though i have the rocker clutch engaged all the way back which it shouldn't move the bike. this only happens after the bike has been riden for a few minutes. when the bike is cold it doesnt do that. going from neutral to 1st with the clutch in the bike does not start moving.
Again, brand new to the game and never owned or built an old Harley like this. any help is greatly appreciated.
brand new Flathead Owner, i inherited an old 1939 WL flathead from a good friend of mine. i have been studying manuals and trying to learn as much as i can on these old harleys to get myself familia with them.
The bike kicks over and turns on easily, usually on the 2nd kick and it idles perfect with the original linkert carb. no issues with the bike turning on or staying idle.
the issue that i am having and stumped on is that once i am riding it it is very VERY hard to hand shift from 1st gear to 2nd gear. it is almost as it gets stuck. it is so hard that i broke the lever already which i have replaced from 45restorations.com. Shifting from 2nd gear to 3rd gear is no problem at all, very smooth and also downshifting. it is just from 1st gear to 2nd gear that it is crazy stiff and hard to shift. when the bike is off i can shift with no issues very smoothly. the only way that i am able to shift from 1st to 2nd is if i lower my speed low and then it shifts to 2nd but since i am going at a very low speed which is the opposite of what i should be doing.
another issue i noticed today is that after a few minutes of riding it, with the clutch engaged going from neutral to 1st from a stopped position the bike shuts off because once i jump to 1st the bike wants to take off even though i have the rocker clutch engaged all the way back which it shouldn't move the bike. this only happens after the bike has been riden for a few minutes. when the bike is cold it doesnt do that. going from neutral to 1st with the clutch in the bike does not start moving.
Again, brand new to the game and never owned or built an old Harley like this. any help is greatly appreciated.
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 322
Likes: 92
From: Cumming, GA
Just seeing this post.
- Check the clutch adjustment before you send the tranny out for repair.
This youtube channel will help:
When I rebuilt my trans, I found a broken shift fork and other worn parts. If you dare to rebuild it your self, check this site in Germany.
I have found their parts to be superior to anything on ebay,
http://www.45store.de/index_eng.htm
terry
- Check the clutch adjustment before you send the tranny out for repair.
This youtube channel will help:
When I rebuilt my trans, I found a broken shift fork and other worn parts. If you dare to rebuild it your self, check this site in Germany.
I have found their parts to be superior to anything on ebay,
http://www.45store.de/index_eng.htm
terry
Last edited by tasturbo86; Jul 25, 2021 at 07:38 AM. Reason: spelling
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