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A Neglected 1924 Harley Gets a Facelift - Part III
Written by: Neale Bayly   
11/25/2008 - 10:04 AM
Charlotte, North Carolina
 
Dale makes some last minute adjustments before trying to fire up the bike. (Photo: Neale Bayly) ยป More Photos

Editors Note: This is the third in a four part series highlighting the restoration of a 1924 Harley-Davidson by the Wheels Through Time owner Dale Walksler.


Part III...

A few weeks have passed since I left Dale and the 1924 JD Harley Davidson at the Wheels Through Time museum in Maggie Valley. Riding through the surrounding mountains at sundown, with a bright, full moon just visible above their peaks, I got my mind back onto the project. When I left, the bike was cleaned up, and turning over smoothly with a functioning electrical system. The oils had all been changed and the oil pump was functioning.

Stepping out of the cold air, the bike is sitting in the exact same position we left it, but the rest of the workshop is covered in piles of rusty 1920’s bike parts. Coming from an undisclosed location, they have been rescued from inside a 1959 Chevy panel delivery truck, where they have spent the last 35 years gathering dust. The prize of the find is a 1924 FH Harley racing engine and a set of 1916 Excelsior big valve cylinders.

Heading over to the bike, Dale gets me up to speed. The gas tank has been cleaned and doesn’t leak. The valve pocket has arrived but he is having no luck color matching the battery box.
A new oil sight glass has arrived, along with some leather seals for the oil hand pump. It all sounds good, so without further ado, Dale sets about installing the new intake valve and valve pocket. He is of course thrilled that the valve came in an original cardboard box dated from 1922. No valve spring compressor is needed, as Dale inserts the valve spring into place and screws the pocket down into the cylinder. The valve actuator is put in place and the pushrod adjusted by feel to the correct clearance.
See the Photo Album

See the Photo Album

Read Part I

Read Part II

Read Part IV
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