Help need with these bikes

[glaser 31]

Hi,
I am new here,I have some old harleys that I would like to get some info on.
They are taken appart now ,but soon will I start on them.
one has the number 17T on the engine and another has 20T on the engine.
And then I have a 1935 wiht the engine number VLE.
can anyone help me....
regards Michael

[23JDCA 808]

Welcome to the group. Here is a link to the case numbers.
http://www.techsweb.us/hdvin1019.html
Keep us posted on your progress, and keep asking questions.
...bill in usa

[glaser 31]

thanks fore the help,but I could only find my 17T.
Stripped stock racer,is this just a normal bike with fenders cut down.?
There was notthing fore my 20T and my 1935 VLE.
can any help about these...
regards michael

[23JDCA 808]

For each grouping of years, you pick a different group near the top of the web site.

20T . . . Model 20F - Solo, 61ci F-head V-twin, chain drive, magneto ignition, 8.68 HP, 60.34 c.i.
If VIN number preceded by 20T it is a three-speed.


1935 VLE . . . web site shows a 35 VL, VLD and VLH. I looked in five of my books and see no 35 VLE. No E’s in 1934. Some E’s in 1936 but I believe that was a different series.
...bill

[vride5]

the E means it left the factort with Dow metal pistons

[glaser 31]

hi,
I was not awake about the 20T when I looked on the others models.
okay now I know that there is notthing special about my 1935 VLE thanks.
But does any have a factory photo ore a copy off a add the 1917T
stripped stock raceer.Sow I know how I should look orginal.
regards michael

[23JDCA 808]

There is a picture in The Complete Harley-Davidson by Tod Rafferty.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0760303266/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&qid=1263755416

I’ve copied 1/3rd of that page and posted it. Is this what you’re looking for? …bill in Oregon

http://www.97330.com/1917J_01_h1163.jpg

[glaser 31]

hi Bill,
I was looking fore photos from both sides,sow
i can see how it looked like new,in the stripped stock racer.beacuse I want it to be orginal now when I start to pu it togther.
regards michael

[23JDCA 808]

The book only shows the one side. I could post the other two pieces of the large pages I scanned, if you want. You could print them out and paste them together. ...bill in usa

[Tommo]

I don't have a factory sales brochure for 1917 but I do have a 1916 one and the attached scan should give you some idea as to what your 1917 Stripped Stock Racer should look like.
You'll definately know if you've got one and not just a engine out of one because the frame has no provision for a gearbox only a mount for a countershaft.

[Chris Haynes]

I am no expert on these early models. This looks like the bike in Tommo's picture.
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/pp209/hd36knuck/8236.jpg

[glaser 31]

hi Bill,
it would be great if you could post the two pieces.
I dont only have the engine,but the bike its setting in has a 3 speed gearbox,well
I thought this was right fore this bike..?
regards michael

[Tommo]

Chris,
That's a totally different animal.
I'd guess at 1917-18 but it's a factory racer not a stripped stock racer. Note the open bottom to the main frame loop,the kick in the frame tube below the seat and how close the front wheel is to the frame downtube. These features are not found on a stripped stock racer.
Although the rear brake was an option most photos of the time don't show one fitted. Interesting
Michael,
If you could post a picture or two of what you have it should be a lot easier to help you identify your machines.

[glaser 31]

okay,I will take some photos off my bike,how big can the photos be.
I also have something to ask about the cases fore the 1923FD.
This is really fine club with many fine posts.
regards michael

[Chris Haynes]

okay,I will take some photos off my bike,how big can the photos be.
I also have something to ask about the cases fore the 1923FD.
This is really fine club with many fine posts.
regards michael

Simply upload your photos to photobucket.co m then put the photobucket link in your post.

[23JDCA 808]

hi Bill,
it would be great if you could post the two pieces.
I dont only have the engine,but the bike its setting in has a 3 speed gearbox,well
I thought this was right fore this bike..?
regards michael
http://www.97330.com/1917J_02_h1163.jpg

http://www.97330.com/1917J_03_h1163.jpg

[glaser 31]

thanks Bill,fore the photos.
I try to post the link fore the photos.
I have taken my 17T engine appart fore restoring and welding.
I rember that 30 years ago that I was told racing bikes you could odre them as you wanted them to be,here in Denmark.And the man that told me that,was racing harleys in the twenteys
I found this 17T on the net
http://www.webbs.co.nz/auction_item/1917

.<a href="http://s814.photobucket.com/albums/zz69/glaser31/?action=view&current=BILD0015.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz69/glaser31/BILD0015.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[glaser 31]

this should be right

http://www.webbs.co.nz/auction-item/1917

[glaser 31]

http://s814.photobucket.com/albums/zz69/glaser31/?action=view&current=BILD0018.jpg
http://s814.photobucket.com/albums/zz69/glaser31/?action=view&current=BILD0023.jpg
http://s814.photobucket.com/albums/zz69/glaser31/?action=view&current=BILD0025.jpg

[glaser 31]

http://s814.photobucket.com/albums/zz69/glaser31/?action=view&current=BILD0019.jpg

[Tommo]

Michael,
There's no easy way to say this. It's a fake.
I know the history of that machine, the owner built it up using all the left over reject parts he still had from previous restorations. It's a mish mash of many different years of parts and models.
Webbs Auctions have had 3 motorcycle sales so far and their catalogue discriptions are at the best suspect and leave a lot to be desired.
If you want further information contact me off line as this is all I'm prepared to say on the matter in public.

[glaser 31]

okay I will do that.
I also posted a photo off my 1919 harley I thought sow,until the other day.
When I looked on the crankcase and I read the casting number 2-21. under the rear cyl.
then I knew the engine coudl not be from 1919,sow at some point i life have they change the engine,and put a new number in.
Is this crancase a FD,besauce when I look on 1923 crankcase this have the same curved casting under the rear cyl.
michael

[Steve Slocombe]

1933 was the only year for the VLE with magnesium alloy pistons, so on your 35VLE you might have misread the numbers or you're looking at a number job. Check the belly numbers on the cases to see what year they are from. Often the case numbers are left alone when the engine numbers are altered. Typically the belly numbers will be within two or three hundred of the engine number, except for 1930 when they are a couple of thousand out after the first two thousand bikes were recalled for replacement engine cases.

[glaser 31]

hi Steve,
it seems that you have right about the number.when I looked it reads
33VLE. and the crakcases have the same number 33-3485.

http://s814.photobucket.com/albums/zz69/glaser31/?action=view&current=vle.jpg