1940U frame question

[Jack Garman]

1940 was the first yr HD offered 16" wheels as an option but to their horror it caused a high speed wobble over 50 mph with the 28 degree neck.According to The PALMER restoration book all earley 41 frames and possibly some late 40 frames were bent to 29 degrees at the factory until new forgings could be made to correct the problem.How did the factory do this and what did all the riders with 28 degree frames who ordered 16" wheels do?

[Sargehere]

How the factory did this was reportedly with a nine-pound sledgehammer (some say twelve-pounds) applied straight down to the frame right behind the speedometer boss, Looking at the results, I can believe that. I've never heard of it confirmed, but this was the result, whether done in a press or by blunt force trauma:

1940 Big Twin Frame, as modified.

[Jerry Wieland]

These frames were absolutely NOT bent by hitting them with a maul. I think that was somebody's crude idea of a joke. The style as pictured were assembled and brazed using pre-bent components. Now maybe some frames were modified using a different approach but I have never seen one of these and I still doubt the maul story. I own 2 frames like the one above and have photos of at least 3 more.

I personally do not believe that any of these frames came out in 1940. I think it is early 1941 only - after they took the forward bent out of the springer that they realized that they had created a problem.

Most damage I see to these frames is some uninformed person trying to 'straighten' them or some chopper nut with his torch.

Jerry

[Robert Luland]

Jerry, you can beat that tube till you drop dead and you will not get that detail. That tube was die pressed. What did they do. Most likley the dealer was told to send the frame back to the factory and in turn was sent a new frame. I'm sure the factory also provided a labor allowance to the dealer for doing this since it was there fault. This is a common sence item. Bob L
Sorry Jerry, I was typing at the same time.

[knuckleheadtim]

Just the way the top section is triangulated would make it virtually impossble to make those bends in an assembled frame.

[Jack Garman]

Thank you for the picture and the information.

[Jack Garman]

Thanks for your reply I appreciate it.