Harley Davidson doesn't know what this is ?

[Bruce Reader]

[yogidozer]

Did you find it in area 51? 

[earemike]

If it’s legit 1909 model 5 single

[JJ]

If it’s legit 1909 model 5 single

Man, that's a FIND!!    Maybe one of these!!

[twowheeladdict]

Why the title worded the way it is?

[cliffrod]

Why the title worded the way it is?

Yup, title makes no sense, unless "HD" means the local tshirt dealer who think a shovelhead is ancient...

Looks like a 21ci model BA engine made for about 10 yrs around the late 20's-early 30's  the early singles like this were not as popular at the twins, so are less likely to be quickly identified nowadays.

[Lannis]

Yup, title makes no sense, unless "HD" means the local tshirt dealer who think a shovelhead is ancient...

This.   Harley Davidson corporate probably still has the dispatch sheet that tells what dealer sold it, what day it was manufactured, and whether it came with the optional klaxon horn and special tires .... !

Lannis

[cliffrod]

To be fair- If every HD dealer maintained a staff that entertained every out of warranty & parts inventory (especially by decades, of not a century) related inquiry, that would not be a viable business model.  Certain people may know or be able to help, but bills need to be paid.

[indian]

Dale Walshop at Wheels Thru Time in NC coud probably identify that piece for you.

[Madtownguzzi]

Try the Harley museum in Milwaukee. Looks like the 1910 model in this timeline from the museum website.

https://www.harley-davidson.com/us/en/museum/explore/hd-timeline.html
https://www.harley-davidson.com/us/en/museum.html

[cliffrod]

1927 Model B, suffix as needed.  Two camshafts, two pushrods....

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Dale Walshop Walksler at Wheels Thru Time in NC coud probably identify that piece for you.

Fixed it for you. 

[Bruce Reader]

Sorry for the lack text.  i was in a hurry to post it last night.

It was found in a shed in Australia while moving house.
It was probably from a bike my friends grandfather may have raced.  Little is known of it.

the local Harley dealer wasn't much help so i thought the brains trust here could help.

thanks for the replies.

Cheers

Bruce

[cliffrod]

For comparison, the HD Factory 500 cc racing singles of this same era had a somewhat similar two camshaft timing chest as the plain B singles.  But the racing engines had overhead valves with exposed rocker gear and a single or dual exhaust port- much different than the typical flathead valve and normal exhaust port of the regular production B singles.  HD built few true CAC engines.  The three dual port CAC engines I've personally seen are very cool, to say the least.

Despite the success of these engines, HD decided to drop their single cylinder racing efforts to to focus on VTwin race engines.  That was supposedly the reason that Joe Petrali, pictured here in one of those very cool dual port singles, parted ways with the factory race program.





Article with same pic plus two more showing a single port version-
https://www.aimag.com/joe-petrali-cac-500-harley-motorcycle-racer/

Your B engine may have been raced as a privateer effort.  They weren't known to be performance-oriented.  No matter, it's still something I would enjoy to have in my shop whether it's on a bike or not.  Great find- thanks for posting.

[rdbandkab]

This thread had me going thru my Maggie Valley trip photos.  Found the original HD Livewire.

[twowheeladdict]

This thread had me going thru my Maggie Valley trip photos.  Found the original HD Livewire.

Did you take a photo of the paperwork?  I didn't see that bike when I was there summer '17. 

[BrotherJim]

+1 Dale Walksler.  He or even his son, Matt will know what it is.  You can email them through the Wheels Through Time website.

[rdbandkab]

No paperwork photo... 

[Sasquatch Jim]

 The electric starter must be a bitch on that model.