Starting a 42 Harley UL

I've been riding old Harleys for over 30 years and have found that this method of starting works the best for me.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Harley
• 45
• flathead
• UL
• WR
• KR
• Indian
• motorcycle
• antique

[oOOpIIIqOOo]

hi, im currently getting my dads old wl 45 going. i think its 1948 but not sure. i only started replacing the fuel line and cleaning the carburetor and i was just wondering.. if the clutch is the pedal on the left side, then what does the left handle bar grip do? it turns that bell shaped thing on the right side of the engine, but i have no clue what it does. help very apreciated.

[mcflathead]

@oOOpIIIqOOo The bell shaped thing is an ignition timer (sort of like a distributor on a car). The left twist grip advances and retards that ignition timer. You want the ignition retarded some when you kick start the bike so it doesn't kick back on you and hurt your leg! When you are riding down the road you want the ignition fully advanced, or the engine will run too hot. I should have mentioned retarding the ignition in the video, but I forgot because I have an auto-advance timer installed.

[oOOpIIIqOOo]

@mcflathead thanks, you really helped me out here! just one more thing, turning the grip towards me (as in opening the throttle with the right grip) delays the ignition right?

[mcflathead]

@oOOpIIIqOOo I'm not absolutely sure. Take the cap off the timer. Kick the engine over to see which way the cam turns. I believe it turns clockwise? When the timer body rotates against the direction of cam rotation (counterclockwise?) ignition will occur earlier. When the timer body turns with the direction of cam rotation ignition will occur later. If I'm right (may not be) the cable pulls advanced and pushes retarded, so knuckles back should be advanced? Do you have spark? Clean the points.

[nortonaavs]

Thanks for the info. I also have a '53 Servicar that I ride daily. You can almost start it with one finger! Once you get those flatties set up, they just run, and run, and RUN!

Are you an AMCA member?

[mcflathead]

@nortonaavs Not currently an AMCA member. Used to go to the Davenport meet every fall but the WL Bonneville racing effort has conflicted with it for the last 7 years (see my other vids). A few years back my buddy Ted had a real nice 38 UL bobber. A young customer was in his shop admiring the bike and asked how hard it was to start. He turned the ignition on and just brushed the kicker with his heel. The bike started! He wryly told the kid "Apparently not that hard." Only ever happened one time.

[mcflathead]

@tootiredtocare1 In reality the neighbors actually pretty good about it. I guess because in the summer the smoke helps keep the mosquitos at bay for a while...

[63busfreak]

This made me laugh, not at you but at those old bikes. That is good advice on not locking your knee, I ended up on the other side by doing that. If you get a chance check out my vids I have a 42 an 80 and a 96 2 of them are kick starts.

[usabadone]

Wouldn't. Change.  A thing

[nortonaavs]

Yep, pretty amazing.

I picked mine up as a word of mouth basket case for 2 grand! Unchopped '38 frame and right hand case. The rest of it is from the early forties. About 80- 90% there!He said it came from Australia. Luckily, with the Big Twin Flatheads everything fits everything! Couldn't get the money out fast enough! Can't wait to ride it! Thanks for vids! Very professional production!