Engine and transmission mount location, straight leg frame

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whenpancomestoshovel
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Engine and transmission mount location, straight leg frame

#1

Post by whenpancomestoshovel »

Hi,

I recently bought a straight leg frame which, unfortunetly, had been thoroughly butchered in the rear to fit a car tire. I'm trying to restore it best I can, and figured I need a jig for the engine mount to make something proper out of it.

I've tried googling for drawings or such. I've found some simple ones, but I'm uncertain about their integrity. I tried reading the original Harley blueprints, but the numbers are just way too blurry for me to read, thus becoming more of a guessing game.

Does anyone have the locations for these mounts? With respect to the top tube (centerline) would be more than sufficient. Best would ofcourse be if someone had an original, readable blueprint, for these frames.

Thanks in advance.
Bigincher
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Re: Engine and transmission mount location, straight leg frame

#2

Post by Bigincher »

In restoring the rear of your frame, I would think the biggest challenge will be in establishing the offset on the left side, which has a little 'wiggle in the frame bottom tube to accommodate the drive chain. It's a tough one. I've actually seen a frame where someone thought that 'double-bend offset' was an accident, and they straightened it...! Whoo, what a mess...!!

Here, this drawing is what you need. It's for 4-speed panhead configuration, and is absolutely accurate.
If you need more, let me know.

Image
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Re: Engine and transmission mount location, straight leg frame

#3

Post by PanPal »

Sweet drawing Bigincher!
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Re: Engine and transmission mount location, straight leg frame

#4

Post by Bigincher »

PanPal wrote:Sweet drawing Bigincher!
Knucklehead will use the same drawing, with the exception of the height different between front and rear motor mounts. Panhead is 2", knuckle is 1-5/8". It's the front motor mount dimension that changes, rear mount is the same.

You can easily mount a knuckle motor in a panhead frame by using 3/8" spacers under the front of the motor. (There is a Harley part number for the spacers.)
But when guys wanted to stuff a panhead motor into a knuckle frame, they had to get crazy and bash in the seat post tube and the underside of the backbone tube. We are finishing up restoration to a frame right now that had that done, and it was really ugly before we started on it...! It's a thing of beauty now, but it was a major hard job.
whenpancomestoshovel
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Re: Engine and transmission mount location, straight leg frame

#5

Post by whenpancomestoshovel »

Bigincher wrote:In restoring the rear of your frame, I would think the biggest challenge will be in establishing the offset on the left side, which has a little 'wiggle in the frame bottom tube to accommodate the drive chain. It's a tough one. I've actually seen a frame where someone thought that 'double-bend offset' was an accident, and they straightened it...! Whoo, what a mess...!!

Here, this drawing is what you need. It's for 4-speed panhead configuration, and is absolutely accurate.
If you need more, let me know.

Wow, thank you so much for this. This is more than I could wish for. I'm aware of the bend on the left side frame, but thanks for point that out. Luckily, it seems the left side is more or less intact. Think it has been widened just slightly but I can probably bend it back without cutting anything off. The other side, that is another story :).
ultrapan
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Re: Engine and transmission mount location, straight leg frame

#6

Post by ultrapan »

Thanks for posting the dimensions Bigincher!
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Re: Engine and transmission mount location, straight leg frame

#7

Post by Bigincher »

You're very welcome.
Perhaps the Admins will store the diagram here in the KB for others to use in the future.
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Re: Engine and transmission mount location, straight leg frame

#8

Post by panhead »

Yes, I will.
whenpancomestoshovel
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Re: Engine and transmission mount location, straight leg frame

#9

Post by whenpancomestoshovel »

Bigincher wrote:You're very welcome.
Perhaps the Admins will store the diagram here in the KB for others to use in the future.
Bigincher, any chance you have similar drawings for the rear section of the frame? Sorry for asking, but it would be very helpful :).
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Re: Engine and transmission mount location, straight leg frame

#10

Post by Bigincher »

whenpancomestoshovel wrote:Bigincher, any chance you have similar drawings for the rear section of the frame? Sorry for asking, but it would be very helpful :).
I have the same old blurry copy of the 1948 frame blueprint that everyone else has, but I also have a simplified cleaned-up version that might help you locate the rear axle properly, if that's what you need. It's a pdf file, and I can't upload it here. Shoot me a Private Message with your email address and I'll send it to you. If it works for you, great. If not, just add it to your collection. :wink:
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Re: Engine and transmission mount location, straight leg frame

#11

Post by ultrapan »

Bigincher, I used your diagram to make an engine stand today
IMG_0242_zpspbptnc5n.jpg
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Re: Engine and transmission mount location, straight leg frame

#12

Post by Bigincher »

ultrapan wrote:Bigincher, I used your diagram to make an engine stand today
Well, I'm sure glad to see the motor fits...! ;)
(Nice work, too.)
whenpancomestoshovel
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Re: Engine and transmission mount location, straight leg frame

#13

Post by whenpancomestoshovel »

Bigincher wrote:
whenpancomestoshovel wrote:Bigincher, any chance you have similar drawings for the rear section of the frame? Sorry for asking, but it would be very helpful :).
I have the same old blurry copy of the 1948 frame blueprint that everyone else has, but I also have a simplified cleaned-up version that might help you locate the rear axle properly, if that's what you need. It's a pdf file, and I can't upload it here. Shoot me a Private Message with your email address and I'll send it to you. If it works for you, great. If not, just add it to your collection. :wink:
Cool, sent you a PM :)
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Re: Engine and transmission mount location, straight leg frame

#14

Post by panhead »

It's a pdf file, and I can't upload it here
.pdf's can be uploaded here like almost any file type.
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Re: Engine and transmission mount location, straight leg frame

#15

Post by Bigincher »

whenpancomestoshovel wrote: Cool, sent you a PM :)
PM sent...!
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