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I really should be working but I had to check out the headlight lens.
It's either an amazing reproduction or its the real deal. It has the markings Palmer points out like the number on the rear outer edge but a 16 mould number not 29 like the example in the book but Im guessing like die numbers they increase over the run.
I would guess that lens is real. The better repops with all of the markings seem to be a new thing. I believe the older repop are very easy to spot by not having the numbers, center dot, etc. Considering your source, I would be comfortable assuming that thing is real.
I WILL LOOK BUT MY SPECIAL TAP I HAD MADE I BELIEVE IS 7 1/6 - 16
but i will look its easy to cross thread the heads as they look 14 but are not - i also have heli coils in the correct thread the kit is just a bit cheaper then a gold casket
have to look but i seen to remember the head bolts being 1038 not 1041 stamped to the tops
Last edited by johnjzjz; Oct 26, 2021 at 07:42 AM.
I WILL LOOK BUT MY SPECIAL TAP I HAD MADE I BELIEVE IS 7 1/6 - 16
but i will look its easy to cross thread the heads as they look 14 but are not - i also have heli coils in the correct thread the kit is just a bit cheaper then a gold casket
have to look but i seen to remember the head bolts being 1038 not 1041 stamped to the tops
You had me wondering so I just looked it up. Got this from Palmers book. Maybe I can borrow that tap sometime
On another note. Whats the correct black for the exhaust? The prototype bikes in the book look glossy so I wonder if thats just a prototype thing and production was dulled down a bit.
Very nice score Paul. This will be a great build to watch. Got my repop exhaust from Carls Cycle Supply in South Dakota. About as close to an original as I could find. Have it hiding behing an original stainless cover.
Good project. I cant see anything wrong with the SN and all characters appear consistent with factory stamping for a 46 Knuckle. Notice the 2 looks flat across its top. I cant explain it and I dont know when it started but I have other examples of it for 46 and it continued thru most of 47. But extremely late in the 47 model year it seems to have been replaced by another stamp which is fully curved across the top like a 2 would normally be.
There appears to be a diagonal line to the right of the L? But even if there is, Im not sure if its a result of the stamp being struck too hard or if its just an unrelated mark?
Eric
My understanding is they used a semi-gloss heat resistant black paint on the exhaust, so not glossy, but not satin either. Working on a muffler for my Flathead right now, thought it was an original for years, it came with the bike. Ran it for about a month after getting her running in 2014 and then it sat on a shelf, me always thinking it was original. This weekend I decided to strip off the awful silver paint so I could prep for some black paint, well she is way TOO nice to be original, repop for sure. Oh well, just putting it on as an experiment, I may hate the bike being quiet. I have not found a source yet for semi gloss high heat paint. The current WR exhaust pipe on the bike has a Jet Coat which is a high heat application similar to powder coating. Flat black, but looked the part and then the transmission leaked all over it to give it patina!?!?!? If I like the muffler sound, I may go that route later, but no reason to spend the $$$ right now. OK, back to your '46.
Good project. I cant see anything wrong with the SN and all characters appear consistent with factory stamping for a 46 Knuckle. Notice the 2 looks flat across its top. I cant explain it and I dont know when it started but I have other examples of it for 46 and it continued thru most of 47. But extremely late in the 47 model year it seems to have been replaced by another stamp which is fully curved across the top like a 2 would normally be.
There appears to be a diagonal line to the right of the L? But even if there is, Im not sure if its a result of the stamp being struck too hard or if its just an unrelated mark?
Eric
Thanks Eric, I was worried you might chime in with bad news!
My understanding is they used a semi-gloss heat resistant black paint on the exhaust, so not glossy, but not satin either. Working on a muffler for my Flathead right now, thought it was an original for years, it came with the bike. Ran it for about a month after getting her running in 2014 and then it sat on a shelf, me always thinking it was original. This weekend I decided to strip off the awful silver paint so I could prep for some black paint, well she is way TOO nice to be original, repop for sure. Oh well, just putting it on as an experiment, I may hate the bike being quiet. I have not found a source yet for semi gloss high heat paint. The current WR exhaust pipe on the bike has a Jet Coat which is a high heat application similar to powder coating. Flat black, but looked the part and then the transmission leaked all over it to give it patina!?!?!? If I like the muffler sound, I may go that route later, but no reason to spend the $$$ right now. OK, back to your '46.
Thank you. I'm going to see what my options are for ceramic coating to get the right sheen, its not permanent so Im not ruining anything.
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