Good news from the military motorcycle book front.
There's a book about to be published titled:
"How to restore your.... MILITARY Harley-Davidson", by Bruce Palmer III.
That's the same author who wrote the bible on HD restauration "How to
restore your Harley-Davidson". It was promised for september but other
sources speak of november. I ordered it from www.amazon.com and
can't wait for it! I'll give a little review as soon as I've read it.
A few weeks ago I bought a '44 crank case for my WLA engine. One of
the club members found it in Russia as a complete engine. He took it
apart after he promised me the case. It proved to be hardly used, little
traces of use and never been apart (no marks on the nuts and bolts, no
oversize pistons, etc.). It soon became clear why: The crank case
breather opening was still sealed with a metal plate.
It seems somebody did not follow the assembly instructions to the letter
and failed to remove one of the waterproofing items. That must have
been one unhappy Russian soldier who got that underpowered smoking
bike and saw all his mates disappear in the distance.
At least it gave me a brand new case and a very rare unlisted HD part
(the crank case breather water proofing plate, you were supposed to throw
it away).
Does anybody know how Russian army WLA's were marked? Maybe red stars
instead of white ones?
Bye,
Piet Jan Baarda
1943 42WLA (to be changed into 1944 42WLA)
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