Just bought a 1966 Ironhead bobber with a Harley WL front fork. I was told it came off of a 1942 WL or WLA. Recently i've been seeing them for sale in catalogs such as V-Twin and they look to be exact replicas. My springer fork looks to be old and the real deal. However i do know there are some creative people out there with torch and the ability to make something look old. Is there any way to be certain that this fork is original? I've looked it over pretty good, although not recently (its been in storage while i ride my '76), are there any stamps or markings on an original Harley WL springer fork that would tell me what year this fork came from and or it is fact old and an OE fork?

 

I have owned several old springers of this type .mine were all for Big Twins F FL U UL ULH etc.You can tell by looking in that some things in our modern world cannot duplicate the way things were done back then. One thing to look for in the lower 'tree' would be a rough surface under the paint. Most parts assemblies were hand built by the same few employees. Sweating parts together is one way these craftsman of their day brazed parts together ,it leaves behind melted brass that shows under the paint, also the paint on the forks will be old enamel paint,today's acrylic paints don't look the same. I have a stock '42 FL springer up in my attic, if I get crazy enough to face a trip to the attic I'll look for casting numbers etc. The aftermarket springers are almost perfect renditions of original springers but one look at old and new and you will be able to see the difference.

 

This is the best photo i could upload... by the looks of the fork up close i can see imperfections leading me to believe this was hand made a long time ago

 

That is an original springer "37 thru '48 style.

 

It probably is from a WL. They had 3/4 inch neck , FL's,etc had 1 inch necks.

 

I would love to have one, to put on my bike............

 

Springers look nice but don't perform so well. The originals had a problem with " POGO'ing". As you ride down a freeway oscillation builds up in the springs and the bike heaves up and down. Harley tried "ride control", a device to add friction to the action and in '47 -'48 finally added a rudimentary shock absorber. New Harley';s come with a modern shock to remedy the problem. However springers still don't handle as well as a hydraulic fork.