Magnum engine
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6th Gear
Joined: May 2008
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Magnum engine
Hey does anybody out there know what the value of a running 45 magnum is worth? I know someone that has one in a frame and is willing to sell it for the right price, but I need another source to know the value. It's a 45 magnum baised on design from Randy Smith. These are rare engines to find and rarer to find one that doesn't eat itself in a few miles. I may use it in the frame it's in or do a total rebuild, not sure til it's in my hands.
Stage I
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Magnum 45s
Hello,
It would be hard to say what a magnum motor is worth today. I would suppose that it depends on how it was done and what shape it was in.
I was looking at google results for harley davidson magnum 45 after a conversation with a friend about the one I built back in 1975.
I see various responses about Randy Smith coming up with the idea. While I have no reason to doubt thet he built magnum 45s, it is probable that multiple came up with this idea, and built them back in the 1960s.
I can only relate what I remember about them (and mine). In 1970, when I graduated from high school I went to work for Spitzes Motorcyle Shop in Colonie New York (they were/are the Harley Davidson dealer there). It was there I heard about Magnum 45s from my boss Erwin (Erve) Splittsgerber (in 1970). At that time he refered to Magnum 45s as what some folks used to build. I remember him telling me that they had a tendency to throw a rod when built with the Sportster P cams.
In 1975 I purchased a 1949 WL for $600. (sort of running) I fixed it up and made some changes and rode the crap out of it until the exhaust vales were to far gone to ride it. (previous owner had put the intake valves in the exhaust, exhaust valves in the intakes) I got the top end fixed up, and then remembered about magnums. I was also looking into maybe putting a WR motor in the bike, but found out they were made of unobtainium, so I pursued the magnum idea. I bought a complete early Sportster top end from a chopper shop in Fresno for $350. Took the cases and a cylinder to a machine shop in Merced and had the cases built up on the right side, and the cylinder holes bored to fit the cylinder. (that was the easy part).
I modified the cylinder to relocate three holes at the cylinder base, and relocated one stud (each cylinder) in the cases. I replaced the lifter adjusting bolts with sportster ones. Tapped the cam cover at the bottom for top end oil, cut about 1/4 inch off the bottom of the pistons. I modified the lifter block to take the Sportster push rod covers. I used a branch flow Mukini kit. I put the whole thing together, and it ran on the first try, although I had to change the timing. I set it by the mark but it was somwhat retarded, so I timed it by ear. I ran a 34 tooth motor sprocket. The best I can tell, it ran out of RPMs at about 115 mph, but I only tried that a couple times on back roads, as I still ran 45 brakes (if one could call them that). I had the frame modified by adding a few inches of stretch in the front down tube, replaced the lower tube under the tanks with a strap, and cut some of the forging out just in front of the seat post tube. This was required because the engine was too tall to fit in the frame. It was fun to ride, had good power (it pulled the Pacheco Pass at 85 MPH), but it was not the most reliable bike. I had problems with cylinder base studs breaking. It would probably cost about $5k to build one of these motors today, maybe this will help.
I just remembered something I saw in the chopper shop in Fresno, for those who ride 45s and would like something other than foot clutch. The shop had a 45 with the shifting ratchet from a Harley M65 mounted to the side of the engine, and supposedly this worked good.
I also converted the electrics to run the then current 12 volt generator. (drill the generator mounting holes out bigger, but not too deep or yo can cut through the cam cover).
I also ran the 45 cams. The motor still sounded more like a 45 than a Sportster.
It would be interesting to know it this bike survives today. The motor number was 49WL2100.
It would be hard to say what a magnum motor is worth today. I would suppose that it depends on how it was done and what shape it was in.
I was looking at google results for harley davidson magnum 45 after a conversation with a friend about the one I built back in 1975.
I see various responses about Randy Smith coming up with the idea. While I have no reason to doubt thet he built magnum 45s, it is probable that multiple came up with this idea, and built them back in the 1960s.
I can only relate what I remember about them (and mine). In 1970, when I graduated from high school I went to work for Spitzes Motorcyle Shop in Colonie New York (they were/are the Harley Davidson dealer there). It was there I heard about Magnum 45s from my boss Erwin (Erve) Splittsgerber (in 1970). At that time he refered to Magnum 45s as what some folks used to build. I remember him telling me that they had a tendency to throw a rod when built with the Sportster P cams.
In 1975 I purchased a 1949 WL for $600. (sort of running) I fixed it up and made some changes and rode the crap out of it until the exhaust vales were to far gone to ride it. (previous owner had put the intake valves in the exhaust, exhaust valves in the intakes) I got the top end fixed up, and then remembered about magnums. I was also looking into maybe putting a WR motor in the bike, but found out they were made of unobtainium, so I pursued the magnum idea. I bought a complete early Sportster top end from a chopper shop in Fresno for $350. Took the cases and a cylinder to a machine shop in Merced and had the cases built up on the right side, and the cylinder holes bored to fit the cylinder. (that was the easy part).
I modified the cylinder to relocate three holes at the cylinder base, and relocated one stud (each cylinder) in the cases. I replaced the lifter adjusting bolts with sportster ones. Tapped the cam cover at the bottom for top end oil, cut about 1/4 inch off the bottom of the pistons. I modified the lifter block to take the Sportster push rod covers. I used a branch flow Mukini kit. I put the whole thing together, and it ran on the first try, although I had to change the timing. I set it by the mark but it was somwhat retarded, so I timed it by ear. I ran a 34 tooth motor sprocket. The best I can tell, it ran out of RPMs at about 115 mph, but I only tried that a couple times on back roads, as I still ran 45 brakes (if one could call them that). I had the frame modified by adding a few inches of stretch in the front down tube, replaced the lower tube under the tanks with a strap, and cut some of the forging out just in front of the seat post tube. This was required because the engine was too tall to fit in the frame. It was fun to ride, had good power (it pulled the Pacheco Pass at 85 MPH), but it was not the most reliable bike. I had problems with cylinder base studs breaking. It would probably cost about $5k to build one of these motors today, maybe this will help.
I just remembered something I saw in the chopper shop in Fresno, for those who ride 45s and would like something other than foot clutch. The shop had a 45 with the shifting ratchet from a Harley M65 mounted to the side of the engine, and supposedly this worked good.
I also converted the electrics to run the then current 12 volt generator. (drill the generator mounting holes out bigger, but not too deep or yo can cut through the cam cover).
I also ran the 45 cams. The motor still sounded more like a 45 than a Sportster.
It would be interesting to know it this bike survives today. The motor number was 49WL2100.
1st Gear
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 5
Likes: 2
New generation of magnum engine
Hi
I just write from Poland, and I build Magnum engines since 15 years. My first magnum had cams from Ironhead p+, and flywheels too. I made oil pump with Iron 900 gears with two section ( feed and scavenger). It was placed instead of old scavenger pump. Feed section of this pump was pushed oil to flywheels and heads too. Old feed pump was only bypass valve block without scapulars in rotor. This engine was about 50 hp and top speed about 100 mph. I built 6 engines like this.
I just finished next generation of this engine. It has new oil pums with gerotors from new evo sportster, hydraulic tappet with oil line to rocker valves through tappets rods. I casted neew left half carnkcase to this engine, prepared to flywheels and bearings from ironhead sportster. This egine has p+ oryginal cams electronic igniction Crane Hi 4E and edelbrock carb. It works very silent and 600 rpm idlle. Bike with this engine has softail frame, 4 speed tranny and elctric start from shovel. It's all about it, I will put in YouTube film from working in this bike for two days. This Magnum bike called Green Diamond.
Best regards from Poland. YouTube adress http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHB2M...6c2de9957dd051
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0XN1anRMTs
I just write from Poland, and I build Magnum engines since 15 years. My first magnum had cams from Ironhead p+, and flywheels too. I made oil pump with Iron 900 gears with two section ( feed and scavenger). It was placed instead of old scavenger pump. Feed section of this pump was pushed oil to flywheels and heads too. Old feed pump was only bypass valve block without scapulars in rotor. This engine was about 50 hp and top speed about 100 mph. I built 6 engines like this.
I just finished next generation of this engine. It has new oil pums with gerotors from new evo sportster, hydraulic tappet with oil line to rocker valves through tappets rods. I casted neew left half carnkcase to this engine, prepared to flywheels and bearings from ironhead sportster. This egine has p+ oryginal cams electronic igniction Crane Hi 4E and edelbrock carb. It works very silent and 600 rpm idlle. Bike with this engine has softail frame, 4 speed tranny and elctric start from shovel. It's all about it, I will put in YouTube film from working in this bike for two days. This Magnum bike called Green Diamond.
Best regards from Poland. YouTube adress http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHB2M...6c2de9957dd051
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0XN1anRMTs
Last edited by Patafil65; Feb 18, 2010 at 04:58 AM.
1st Gear
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 5
Likes: 2
Hallo
News from Poland. I've just run old fasion Magnum engine. I've bilt it motor with crankshaft, cams and other parts from 45. It has point centrifugal ignition, and edelbrock 36 carb. This engine is mounted in myself made softail frame, work with 4 spt BT tranny and BDL primary.
Regards from Poland
My FaceBook adress:
https://www.facebook.com/CycloneMotorTomaszBartosinski
My site:
https://sites.google.com/site/cyclon...sinski/clients
Pat
News from Poland. I've just run old fasion Magnum engine. I've bilt it motor with crankshaft, cams and other parts from 45. It has point centrifugal ignition, and edelbrock 36 carb. This engine is mounted in myself made softail frame, work with 4 spt BT tranny and BDL primary.
My FaceBook adress:
https://www.facebook.com/CycloneMotorTomaszBartosinski
My site:
https://sites.google.com/site/cyclon...sinski/clients
Pat
Last edited by Patafil65; Jul 10, 2013 at 02:44 AM.
Stage II
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 2
Likes: 2
From: California
Magnum
Hello,
It would be hard to say what a magnum motor is worth today. I would suppose that it depends on how it was done and what shape it was in.
I was looking at google results for harley davidson magnum 45 after a conversation with a friend about the one I built back in 1975.
I see various responses about Randy Smith coming up with the idea. While I have no reason to doubt thet he built magnum 45s, it is probable that multiple came up with this idea, and built them back in the 1960s.
I can only relate what I remember about them (and mine). In 1970, when I graduated from high school I went to work for Spitzes Motorcyle Shop in Colonie New York (they were/are the Harley Davidson dealer there). It was there I heard about Magnum 45s from my boss Erwin (Erve) Splittsgerber (in 1970). At that time he refered to Magnum 45s as what some folks used to build. I remember him telling me that they had a tendency to throw a rod when built with the Sportster P cams.
In 1975 I purchased a 1949 WL for $600. (sort of running) I fixed it up and made some changes and rode the crap out of it until the exhaust vales were to far gone to ride it. (previous owner had put the intake valves in the exhaust, exhaust valves in the intakes) I got the top end fixed up, and then remembered about magnums. I was also looking into maybe putting a WR motor in the bike, but found out they were made of unobtainium, so I pursued the magnum idea. I bought a complete early Sportster top end from a chopper shop in Fresno for $350. Took the cases and a cylinder to a machine shop in Merced and had the cases built up on the right side, and the cylinder holes bored to fit the cylinder. (that was the easy part).
I modified the cylinder to relocate three holes at the cylinder base, and relocated one stud (each cylinder) in the cases. I replaced the lifter adjusting bolts with sportster ones. Tapped the cam cover at the bottom for top end oil, cut about 1/4 inch off the bottom of the pistons. I modified the lifter block to take the Sportster push rod covers. I used a branch flow Mukini kit. I put the whole thing together, and it ran on the first try, although I had to change the timing. I set it by the mark but it was somwhat retarded, so I timed it by ear. I ran a 34 tooth motor sprocket. The best I can tell, it ran out of RPMs at about 115 mph, but I only tried that a couple times on back roads, as I still ran 45 brakes (if one could call them that). I had the frame modified by adding a few inches of stretch in the front down tube, replaced the lower tube under the tanks with a strap, and cut some of the forging out just in front of the seat post tube. This was required because the engine was too tall to fit in the frame. It was fun to ride, had good power (it pulled the Pacheco Pass at 85 MPH), but it was not the most reliable bike. I had problems with cylinder base studs breaking. It would probably cost about $5k to build one of these motors today, maybe this will help.
I just remembered something I saw in the chopper shop in Fresno, for those who ride 45s and would like something other than foot clutch. The shop had a 45 with the shifting ratchet from a Harley M65 mounted to the side of the engine, and supposedly this worked good.
I also converted the electrics to run the then current 12 volt generator. (drill the generator mounting holes out bigger, but not too deep or yo can cut through the cam cover).
I also ran the 45 cams. The motor still sounded more like a 45 than a Sportster.
It would be interesting to know it this bike survives today. The motor number was 49WL2100.
It would be hard to say what a magnum motor is worth today. I would suppose that it depends on how it was done and what shape it was in.
I was looking at google results for harley davidson magnum 45 after a conversation with a friend about the one I built back in 1975.
I see various responses about Randy Smith coming up with the idea. While I have no reason to doubt thet he built magnum 45s, it is probable that multiple came up with this idea, and built them back in the 1960s.
I can only relate what I remember about them (and mine). In 1970, when I graduated from high school I went to work for Spitzes Motorcyle Shop in Colonie New York (they were/are the Harley Davidson dealer there). It was there I heard about Magnum 45s from my boss Erwin (Erve) Splittsgerber (in 1970). At that time he refered to Magnum 45s as what some folks used to build. I remember him telling me that they had a tendency to throw a rod when built with the Sportster P cams.
In 1975 I purchased a 1949 WL for $600. (sort of running) I fixed it up and made some changes and rode the crap out of it until the exhaust vales were to far gone to ride it. (previous owner had put the intake valves in the exhaust, exhaust valves in the intakes) I got the top end fixed up, and then remembered about magnums. I was also looking into maybe putting a WR motor in the bike, but found out they were made of unobtainium, so I pursued the magnum idea. I bought a complete early Sportster top end from a chopper shop in Fresno for $350. Took the cases and a cylinder to a machine shop in Merced and had the cases built up on the right side, and the cylinder holes bored to fit the cylinder. (that was the easy part).
I modified the cylinder to relocate three holes at the cylinder base, and relocated one stud (each cylinder) in the cases. I replaced the lifter adjusting bolts with sportster ones. Tapped the cam cover at the bottom for top end oil, cut about 1/4 inch off the bottom of the pistons. I modified the lifter block to take the Sportster push rod covers. I used a branch flow Mukini kit. I put the whole thing together, and it ran on the first try, although I had to change the timing. I set it by the mark but it was somwhat retarded, so I timed it by ear. I ran a 34 tooth motor sprocket. The best I can tell, it ran out of RPMs at about 115 mph, but I only tried that a couple times on back roads, as I still ran 45 brakes (if one could call them that). I had the frame modified by adding a few inches of stretch in the front down tube, replaced the lower tube under the tanks with a strap, and cut some of the forging out just in front of the seat post tube. This was required because the engine was too tall to fit in the frame. It was fun to ride, had good power (it pulled the Pacheco Pass at 85 MPH), but it was not the most reliable bike. I had problems with cylinder base studs breaking. It would probably cost about $5k to build one of these motors today, maybe this will help.
I just remembered something I saw in the chopper shop in Fresno, for those who ride 45s and would like something other than foot clutch. The shop had a 45 with the shifting ratchet from a Harley M65 mounted to the side of the engine, and supposedly this worked good.
I also converted the electrics to run the then current 12 volt generator. (drill the generator mounting holes out bigger, but not too deep or yo can cut through the cam cover).
I also ran the 45 cams. The motor still sounded more like a 45 than a Sportster.
It would be interesting to know it this bike survives today. The motor number was 49WL2100.
I have your bike in Merced CA 2096009247
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 5,315
Likes: 4,272
From: Granville New York
It is a cool thread revival...to bad the other guy hasn't been around in 12 years. I've never heard of a magnum motor till now...I thought at first he was asking about a Dodge lol.