Mousetrap

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heath49036
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Mousetrap

#1

Post by heath49036 »

Did the 1940's panheads have a mousetrap on them? In particular 1948 FLH?
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Re: Mousetrap

#2

Post by Bigincher »

The 'mousetrap' --- hand clutch booster--- first appeared in 1952 with the introduction of the 'new' foot-shift models. Not a factory production item in 1948.
However, the '48 could have been retrofitted with a foot-shift conversion kit. There's quite a bit involved with the conversion--- new left side gas tank, new transmission top (ratchet shift) and new left side foot controls. Although the gas tank was not a part of the 'conversion kit', I believe....
Also moving the front brake hand control to the right side of the handlebar.
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Re: Mousetrap

#3

Post by RUBONE »

Be aware that aftermarket companies were selling their own versions of foot shift conversions, including hand clutch boosters, well before H-D ever released such an item. B&H and Thoro both offered conversion kits in the late '40s, and the H-D version was basically a revised copy of the aftermarket parts. What does the stuff on the '48 look like?
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Re: Mousetrap

#4

Post by Bosheff »

Don't forget the Speed-E-Shift....bosheff
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Re: Mousetrap

#5

Post by RUBONE »

Don't forget the Speed-E-Shift....bosheff
It didn't use a clutch booster so it wasn't considered as relevant to this thread.
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Re: Mousetrap

#6

Post by heath49036 »

Bosheff wrote:Don't forget the Speed-E-Shift....bosheff
What is that? Link?
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Re: Mousetrap

#7

Post by beets »

Was the SPEED-E-SHIFT made by B&H? I think the side plate on the shifter looks very much alike. The iconic Hollister(Life Magazine)bike has a foot shift.
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Re: Mousetrap

#8

Post by RUBONE »

Was the SPEED-E-SHIFT made by B&H? I think the side plate on the shifter looks very much alike. The iconic Hollister(Life Magazine)bike has a foot shift.
No, it was not. It was a totally different company. I'll dig out some ads to help identify some of the stuff.
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Re: Mousetrap

#9

Post by Bosheff »

Well, E-X-C-U-S-E M-E....bosheff
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Re: Mousetrap

#10

Post by RUBONE »

Here is the Thoro unit, a ratchet assembly that replaced the foot clutch, along with a clutch booster (mousetrap). Note the date, a couple years before H-D introduced their system.
And No , this is also not a Speedy-Shifter, that is still a different product.
The basic thinking at the time is that H-D stole the Thorlo design for their ratchet and B&Hs design for their mousetrap.
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Re: Mousetrap

#11

Post by RUBONE »

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