1942(?) wlc 45
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Stage I
Joined: Mar 2017
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From: Waddington, Lancashire, United Kingdom
1942(?) wlc 45
I'm very exicted as I've just acquired a 1942 WLC 45 (750) and have a question about numbers. The engine number is 41 WLC 23107, and the bike has a very high-mounted passenger/buddy seat. I've also just seen a YouTube video that tells me that the numbers stamped on the rear frame cross-member, adjacent to the seat post, is an indication of a factory frame repair - 41 WLC 3113. Does anyone have any information on these numbers, or can point me in the right direction? I just want to know what I've purchased, so I can brag with confidence!! Pictures can be supplied if need be. Many thanks for your help. Phil Morris (philipmorris99@hotmail.com).
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From: SW Washington State
Go here, and post pics of your numbers. You will get your answer and all the info you could ever need. http://www.hydra-glide.net/
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Western Australia
Phil, welcome to the forum. WLCs were made for the Canadian Department of National Defence (CND), hence the C in the engine serial number. But AFAIK the WLC was only made as a 42 model and a 43 model. I have never heard of an authentic 41 model WLC. Also, sequence number 23107 is too high for any 1941 45ci engine regardless of W-series or G-series.
It is true that some WLCs had a factory frame repair number near the seat post. But your frame repair number begins with 41WLC and again I have never heard of an authentic 41 model WLC.
In the title of the thread you said it is a 1942(?) WLC. Why do you say 1942 if the serial number and the frame repair number both begin with 41? Can you post photos please of both numbers.
Also look underneath each crankcase half. Stamped near the outer edges and somewhat toward the front you may find belly numbers, aka crankcase production numbers, aka line-bore numbers, aka confidential numbers. These may be formatted similar to the following examples: 41-1234 or 42-1234. Can you post pictures of both belly numbers please.
Eric
It is true that some WLCs had a factory frame repair number near the seat post. But your frame repair number begins with 41WLC and again I have never heard of an authentic 41 model WLC.
In the title of the thread you said it is a 1942(?) WLC. Why do you say 1942 if the serial number and the frame repair number both begin with 41? Can you post photos please of both numbers.
Also look underneath each crankcase half. Stamped near the outer edges and somewhat toward the front you may find belly numbers, aka crankcase production numbers, aka line-bore numbers, aka confidential numbers. These may be formatted similar to the following examples: 41-1234 or 42-1234. Can you post pictures of both belly numbers please.
Eric
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Joined: Jul 2014
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From: Windwardside, Saba N.A.
This is interesting as my first motor, all these years ago, was a rare 1937 WL 45 that, by the time I got it, had no matching numbers anywhere. Went well with the paintbrush red paint.
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From: Long Island, New York
Buy "How to Restore my Harley" by Bruce Palmer III, second edition. More information then you can imagine.
Pics or it never happened!!!
PS we have a Flathead section within the Classic section, might be a better place to post future questions.
Pics or it never happened!!!
PS we have a Flathead section within the Classic section, might be a better place to post future questions.
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Joined: May 2010
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From: Puget Sound, WA.
I built a '42 WLA in my living room and 30% of the work was research because my only title was the US government shipping manifest.
What I remember is "'42" was a standard declaration throughout the war years and lend-lease duration production models.
"Bragging rights" is you have a piece of world history- that should be pleasing enough!
Here's something I found on WLAs- should apply to WLC also-
For the 42WLAs, these were built until 1944, so you can find them with 1942, 1943 and 1944 belly numbers but still with 42WLA engine numbers going up over 70,000. Not all will have five digit belly numbers, as the first 9000 each year presumably have belly numbers in the 1000-9999 range.
WLCs were made from late 1941 through 1944 and were known as the Model 42WLC and Model 43WLC. The 43WLC was made in a 'Domestic' model for use in Canada and an 'Export' version for use overseas.
Type 42WLC August 1941-November 1941
January-May 1942 & August 1942 42WLC1000-42WLC4800
42WLC10000-42WLC2500041-1-2200 - 41-1-6200
42-1-100 - 42-1-8000 *
Type 42WLC August 1941-November 1941
January-May 1942 & August 1942 42WLC1000-42WLC4800
42WLC10000-42WLC2500041-1-2200 - 41-1-6200
42-1-100 - 42-1-8000 *
Last edited by Sling Blade 14; Mar 13, 2017 at 01:25 PM.
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 695
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From: Western Australia
Phil, re my above comment about the number on the frame, a factory repair number on the frame wouldnt normally begin with the year and model; instead it would usually just be something like 12345 and we have several examples of this on BT frames.
For WLCs, some frames did have a number beginning with year and model but it wasn't a repair number. When a WLC engine was removed for repair or replacement the number from that original engine was stamped on the frame so the bike could still be identified by that number. Even when a replacement engine was installed, the number on the frame was the ID number for the machine. This procedure is covered by Modification Instruction No 1 from Canadian Army Local EME Instructions as shown in the attachment below.
If your frame is stamped 41WLC3113 then it suggests the original engine in the frame was stamped the same: 41WLC3113. However, as I mentioned earlier, AFAIK the WLC was only made as a 42 model and a 43 model and I have never heard of an authentic 41 model WLC. So why does the frame bear a 41 number? And why does the engine also bear a 41 number?
Photos of your numbers may help us figure out what happened.
Eric
For WLCs, some frames did have a number beginning with year and model but it wasn't a repair number. When a WLC engine was removed for repair or replacement the number from that original engine was stamped on the frame so the bike could still be identified by that number. Even when a replacement engine was installed, the number on the frame was the ID number for the machine. This procedure is covered by Modification Instruction No 1 from Canadian Army Local EME Instructions as shown in the attachment below.
If your frame is stamped 41WLC3113 then it suggests the original engine in the frame was stamped the same: 41WLC3113. However, as I mentioned earlier, AFAIK the WLC was only made as a 42 model and a 43 model and I have never heard of an authentic 41 model WLC. So why does the frame bear a 41 number? And why does the engine also bear a 41 number?
Photos of your numbers may help us figure out what happened.
Eric
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