General Harley Davidson Chat Forum to discuss general Harley Davidson issues, topics, and experiences.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

can anyone help identify this?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 3, 2015 | 12:41 PM
  #1  
jamesc2008's Avatar
jamesc2008
Thread Starter
|
3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Fort Benning
Default can anyone help identify this?

Oldest story in the book I'm sure, you find yourself in a sketchy garage with old parts and start throwing money around. I can't help myself. Anyway, I picked up an old split tank that was rattle canned red and have since started stripping it down. I'm not sure what I have exactly so if this looks familiar yo anyone I would appreciate some input.
 
Reply
Old Dec 3, 2015 | 01:00 PM
  #2  
RHPAW's Avatar
RHPAW
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 21,735
Likes: 17,572
From: Driftless Area
Default

It's a gas tank. Not mine. Hope this helps.
 
Reply
Old Dec 3, 2015 | 01:04 PM
  #3  
baka1969's Avatar
baka1969
Extreme HDF Member
Veteran: Navy
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 12,986
Likes: 715
From: NE Philly
Default

It could be from a Shovelhead FLH.
 
Reply
Old Dec 3, 2015 | 01:30 PM
  #4  
RHPAW's Avatar
RHPAW
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 21,735
Likes: 17,572
From: Driftless Area
Default

That decal was originally used around 1936, and then again in '78-'79. I think Baka is right.
Is the tank really that short, or is it the angle in the pic?
 
Reply
Old Dec 3, 2015 | 01:46 PM
  #5  
Hippie49's Avatar
Hippie49
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 4,018
Likes: 231
From: Kentucky, USA
Default

1936 El Knucklehead.

http://www.mountainviewrestoration.c...l-close-up-36/
 
Reply
Old Dec 3, 2015 | 01:59 PM
  #6  
Super Glidester's Avatar
Super Glidester
Seasoned HDF Member
Veteran: Air Force
10 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 35,239
Likes: 19,070
From: 40.2444° N, 75.6419° W
Default

Yeah I got an old Spurtster tank I am going to practice my paint skills on and set it in the garage as art. Its rusty as hell inside and not much I can do with that.
 
Reply
Old Dec 3, 2015 | 02:24 PM
  #7  
jamesc2008's Avatar
jamesc2008
Thread Starter
|
3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Fort Benning
Default

Thanks for the input guys. It looks like a knucklehead tank to me, I'm just not sure how to verify that. The next question is do I have the ***** to cut it up to make a tank for my dyna project if it is indeed a knuck tank. Anyway here's some more/better pics. Thanks again guys, I appreciate it.









 
Reply
Old Dec 3, 2015 | 06:12 PM
  #8  
brimic's Avatar
brimic
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 529
Likes: 13
From: wi
Default

Definitely a '36, those are pretty hard to miss.
The indie that used to do my tires had two of them.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Dec 3, 2015 | 08:38 PM
  #9  
Huskers's Avatar
Huskers
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 939
Likes: 187
From: Black Hills of South Dakota
Default

Sell it to a restorer or collector and buy another tank that can be cut up without a loss.
 
Reply
Old Dec 3, 2015 | 09:28 PM
  #10  
h-d wrencher's Avatar
h-d wrencher
Stellar HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,446
Likes: 1,553
From: Central Wisconsin
Default

I would hang that on the wall in the shop before I would cut it up. That looks cool no matter what it came off of.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:48 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE