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You have valid observances, but I've seen so many frankenbikes over the years I wouldn't say for sure now unless I see the motor number stamped on the cases LOL. Even then we might be looking at a parts bike or a re-built wreck. Yep, the decal seems catty-cornered, but it might just be the shadows in the photo. If it is indeed just decal change, I wonder why he chose that one instead of the pre-'34 art deco eagle decal, which is really the cooler of the 2:
But I think we can all agree that it's a mid-'30's VLD, for sure!
I've always wanted a VLD. During the art deco years, HD produced, in my mind, some of prettiest 2-wheelers ever made. Nice clean unmolested survivors are HARD to come by. Most were used hard on the unpaved roads that were prevalent then and show lots of surface corrosion now on the frames and cylinders and heads. If you can poke an ice pick through a rusty spot on frame tube it is too far gone and unsafe.
ETA: I was just told that HD swapped the speedometer drive cable and gear drive to the left side on the '34's. Sure enough the OP's pic shows it on the left, down near where a police siren would normally be. The black '33 above shows it on the right side! But, the burnt orange '34 shows it on the right like an earlier year! Mind bender - we'll never pinpoint it. Fun to discuss, tho.
friend has 30 v w/small case, etc
any way to tell by #'s if its been "fixed"?
he mentioned all that when i showed some interest in it
he met dale b4 he died, and matt
friend has 30 v w/small case, etc
any way to tell by #'s if its been "fixed"?
he mentioned all that when i showed some interest in it
he met dale b4 he died, and matt
Yes, you can generally tell. Number scheme, location, font, boss alteration, etc. Chapter 1 of Palmer's "bible" summarizes it. Send me a Private Message with a snapshot of the number boss. I will look at it.
Hi. Please forgive me if this isnt the correct section to ask. I have this old photograph and was wondering if someone could identify the year and model? The photo itself dates to roughly 1938-1940, I believe. Thanks very much.
Welcome to the forum. I think it may be a 1931 model. The transfer on the tank is from a later year as already mentioned by badger34. And I also agree it is a V-series machine.
The V-series was made for 193036 but there were several changes along the way. I dont think its 1934, 35 or 36, partly because those years did not have the types of mudguards in your photo. H-D made a big deal about the changes to both mudguards as of 1934 models and they called it Air-flo design.
Also helping eliminate 35 and 36 is the toolbox. Notice its below the headlight but for 3536 it was mounted on the R-H side near the rear wheel and it (the toolbox) was rectangular. For 193034 the toolbox was below the headlight(s) but Ill eliminate 1930 because the toolbox for that year was cylindrical and also because 1930 had small dual headlights which is another thing already mentioned by badger34.
For 193134 the toolbox was the type in your picture but 34 has already been eliminated because of the mudguards. That leaves 193133 but badger34 mentioned the headlight appears to have a flat glass lens and I agree so that helps narrow it down to 1931 or 32.
There appears to be a speedo cable on the left side near the rear wheel and there may also be a gear section bracket around the lower left rear frame tube. For the V-series that left-side set-up indicates 193031 but 1930 has already been eliminated for the reasons given above. Therefore I think the bike may be a 1931 model.
But what model exactly? Its impossible to tell without knowing the engine serial number. I have a Harley model layout sheet for 1931 and I also have a copy of Steve Slocombes 2007 edition on the V-series machines. For 1931 there were several models available. Some were civilian models and others were commercial, special use, etc.
Eric
friend has 30 v w/small case, etc
any way to tell by #'s if its been "fixed"?
he mentioned all that when i showed some interest in it
he met dale b4 he died, and matt
If it had been fixed it wouldnt still have small cases. For 1930 about the first 2000 V-series machines were affected. The fix included new (bigger) cases and their casting numbers were different to the casting numbers on the small cases. What casting numbers are on the cases? Photos?
Also what is the serial number? Can you post a partial photo of it please.
And what are the belly numbers? Photos? Thanks.
Eric
rocketnorton said his ‘friend has 30 v w/small case, etc’ and he asked if there was ‘any way to tell by #'s if its been "fixed"?’ You say Chapter 1 of Palmer summarises it? Where does Palmer summarise number font for 1930 models?
Eric
Agree Palmer's intent was to cover post '37. I thought the gent was asking how to tell if a number boss had been "fixed" or altered in a general sense. In that regard you can apply Palmer's info to most years.
For instance, on page 6 (ignore the yellow highlighting, I was just searching):
As for becoming knowledgeable about number alterations, Palmer's discussion on pages 7 & 8 are good places to start, regardless of year:
Last edited by panheadache; Sep 6, 2023 at 07:39 AM.
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