Harley Davidson Knucklehead and Panhead FL FLH History

By Yale from Yales Motorcycle Parts ymphd.com

Harley has been around since 1903.  Over the years Harley Davidson has made many models.  The FL series is the longest running model beginning in 1941. It was originally equipped with a 74 cubic inch   "Knucklehead" OHV engine, (the EL series had a 61 inch version) Fatbob tanks, hand tank shift and foot clutch, rigid frame and springer front end. The nickname Knucklehead came from configuration of the rocker box covers that looked like knuckles.

The FL series had few changes between 1936 through to 1947.  In 1948 a major update happened the being the Panhead motor.  The Panhead included self-adjusting hydraulic lifters and aluminum heads to increase cooling on the motor.  The nickname Panhead again came from the rocker box covers that resembles upside down pans.   There were a few variations to the frames including the front down tubes going from a straight leg to a wishbone configuration.

Hydra-Glide 1949

In 1949, a year after receiving the "Panhead" engine, the FL was given a new front suspension the Hydra Glide featuring hydraulically damped telescopic forks, replacing the inefficient springer front end. 

These forks were standard on all big twin models for 1949, including the E, EL, F, and FL. 

During their debut model year of 1949, Harley referred to their new suspension systems as the "hydraulic front ends". Harley's marketing department promoted the new suspension systems by renaming the big twin models "Hydra Glide" for the 1950 model year. This was Harley-Davidson's first departure from its policy of using alphabetic lettering to identify its models.

This name would change twice in the history of the basic large-framed E and F series models, each time signaling an improvement in the bike's technology. In addition, the Glide ending would be used on other models, based on both and FL and FX formats.

In 1952, the Hydra-Glide's transmission standard hand-shift/foot-clutch was supplemented by the optional foot-shift/hand-clutch. The original format continued to be offered as an option until 1978

Although Harley Davison was founded in 1903, 1904 was the first production year and the 50th Golden Anniversary was celebrated in 1954.  1954 model Harley-Davidson had special paints and badges on the front fender. In 1954 Harley changed the left hand crank bearings from a roller set up to a Timken bearing set up that was used right up to the twin cam in 1999.

A more highly tuned engine with high-compression heads, higher-lift cams, and polished ports, was offered with the FLH version of 1955.

The Duo Glide

The next major change when Harley developed the swing arm frame in 1958 replacing the bone shattering rigid frame that had moved people around for so many back breaking years.  The swing arm was attached to a set of shocks that dampened the jarring affect from the roads of yesterday and today.  The Hydra Glide was renamed the Duo Glide in 1958.  The same Swingarm shock concept is still used today on Harleys 2015 models

The Electra Glide

The final change given to the Panhead FL model would occur in 1965, the last year of the "Panhead" motor in a factory Harley Davidson.  In 1965 Harley replaced the oil leaking tin primary covers with an inner and outer aluminum primary cover set that housed the first Harley Davidson electric start motor.  Believe me a welcome change.

I am sure that any of you who have kick started a Harley would agree.  My knee was destroyed many years ago from my stroker backfiring on a kick or worse the gears not meshing and coming down hard on nothing and hyper extending my leg.  F#@k it still hurts thinking about it.

This was the last year of the Panhead, 1966 the Shovelhead made its debut and the story goes on. 

At Yales Motorcycle Parts ymphd.com we offer reproductions Harley wishbone, straight leg and Swingarm frames, Springer forks, complete FL Knuckle and Panhead bike kits, reproduction and high performance Panhead and Knucklehead motors, transmissions and pretty well anything else you need to build or restore your FL.

Check out our:

Panhead motors

https://www.ymphd.com/Shovelhead-fws-Panhead-fws-Knucklehead/1954/Engine/Engines-Complete-and-Short-Blocks

Rigid Frames

https://www.ymphd.com/Shovelhead-fws-Panhead-fws-Knucklehead/1954/Frames-and-Chassis/Frames/Rigid

If you are restoring, repairing, rebuilding, customizing or adding high performance upgrades to your FL Knucklehead or Panhead and need parts check our site Knucklehead Panhead Shovelhead section   @ ymphd.com  or send me a MESSAGE

Ride Safe & Ride On

Yale

Building

Today building, customizing or adding high performance to your Harley Davidson motorcycle is so much easier than in the past, there was no websites like ymphd.com in the last century.   Funny I’m only talking 12-15 years ago.   Back in the old days there was no internet were you could search for all the parts you need, instructions how to do it and videos showing you exactly what you need to do.

I remember building my first big inch Shovelhead back in and 1977 or 78.  After many phone calls, letters and trips to Minneapolis and Daytona I was able to locate all the parts I needed to build a 98 plus inch shovelhead.  The stock Harley Shovel cases couldn’t take   S&S big bore cylinders so I had STD cast me up a set of cases, then I had to modify the cases for the S&S 5 inch stroke flywheels.  A buddy of mine Hunky John did an amazing set of heads and I toped things off with an S&S L carburetor and an Andrews Z grind cam.  The bike was fast as F#@k but so hard to start.  If I didn’t get it started by the third kick I was in trouble.  I still have that motor (with new cases) and am building a new bike using a Paugcho rubber mount frame with a 6 speed transmission.  You think I would have learned by now a Shovelhead is a Troublehead LOL, but I still love them.  I will keep you posted with update pictures.

We are so fortunate today if we want to customize, repair or add Performance to our Harley motorcycles, there are so many more resources. 

If you have a desire or need for your bike check out my website ymphd.com and let us know how we can help you achieve your 2 wheel goals.   CONTACT ME and I will get back ASAP.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Yale

and let us know how we can help you achieve your 2 wheel goals.  You can send me a question through our contact page https://www.ymphd.com/contactus and I will get back ASAP.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Yale

Times have changed

How the Harley world has changed over the last 45 years.  It is ironic that some of the people that one time wanted to call the cops on me now are my customers and some even ride with me.

I was never much of camper so when I traveled I preferred to stay in a hotel.  Usually my Brother Dan and I would ride pretty hard until we got to our destination, the last thing we wanted to do was pitch a tent when our day was done.   We would park about a block away from a hotel and one of us would take our leathers off, change, walk over to the hotel and get us a room, then go back get our bikes and ride up.  It was great to see the Hotel staffs faces when we pulled up on our old Harleys.  Today we pull up in front on our Custom Harley Davidsons and are told that we should park our bikes there so the staff can keep an eye on them.

What may seem very odd too some of you is that up until the 1980s very few Harley Davidson dealerships sold Harley T-Shirts, you had to go to an aftermarket custom shop to by one.  A fellow by the name of Gary Bang was one of the main Harley T-shirt printers until one day Harley decided to start protecting their logos.   Some of the Harley logos they use weren’t even designed by Harley themselves.

Another thing was in the old days Harley Davidson offered very few custom parts and accessories.  Back when I started the only place that you could buy a custom aftermarket or high performance part was from a custom shop.  Companies like Custom Chrome and Drag Specialties didn’t start until the early 70s.  I remember seeing the first Harley accessories catalog, it was about 20 pages.  One of the best sources in the 70s was Easy Rider Magazine who used to have about 10 catalog pages from a company called Jammer at the back of their magazine and biker information from the great editor Keith Ball bikernet.com .  Then came out books like Hot Bike and Street Chopper that featured some of the custom pioneers like Donnie Smith, Dave Perewitz, Arlen Ness, Little John, Don Hotop and many more.  Those weren’t the days where you customized a bike by catalog.

Today we have so many choices of how to personalize our Harleys.  Harley Davidson has an amazing accessories and performance catalogs.  Distributor with huge catalogs like Bikers Choice and Drag Specialties, thousands of online stores, small manufacturer’s big manufacturers and the list goes on.

Myself and my team have built Yales Motorcycle Parts online store ymphd.com  an easy to use biker friendly website where you get to custom, aftermarket, restoration and high performance parts for your Harley Davidson.   Our simple 2 click navigation gets you to parts that fit your year and model in only 2 clicks.

Check us out and let me know what you think ymphd.com

Thanks

Yale

45 years working in the Harley Davidson Custom World

Dear Fellow Riders,

I would like to introduce you to myself and Yales Motorcycles Parts, you can find us at ymphd.com.

I started riding 48 years ago and opened my first shop in 1970 in Winnipeg Canada, the same year I purchased my first Harley a 1954 Panhead chopper. I was going to buy a Norton Commando but when I walked into Chariot Cycle on Selkirk Ave with a pocket full of cash was told to get lost because they didn’t have time for me.  So I walked 3 blocks to Canadian motorcycle Sales and talked to Right-on Joe who gladly sold me a badass 1954 Panhead chopper and the best part was it was $350 less than the Norton.  This will be a day I will never forget. Shorty Hoffman should me how to start the Pan by retarding the distributor, give it 3 prime kicks, turn the ignition on kick it and hope it starts.  My new chopper had a 14 over Harley Springer with 40 Ford radius rods used to extend it, suicide clutch with an early jockey shift that did not have a ratchet top so finding neutral before stopping was a challenge.  I remember coming to a red light more than one time having one foot on the clutch and the other on the brake and no neutral, which lead to me falling over or stalling the bike.

I have built many custom and high performance motorcycles.   Ran a gas drag race Shovelhead, was on a Top Fuel Nitro burning drag race team.   I have attended many meets long before they were the in thing to do my first year of Sturgis was 1978, Daytona bike, week in 1980, Vtwin Expo and many more. 

Over the years I have been active in the motorcycle world in many different areas.  I have had the pleasure of meeting   and working with many of the great people in our industry like Donnie Smith, Arlen Ness and his family, Dave Perewitz and his family, Marilyn Stemp, Keith Ball, Dave Withrow, Mike Corbin, Gerald Rinehart, Nace Panzica, Tom Rudd, my Hamster USA brothers and so many other amazing people.  This has been an amazing ride working and playing with motorcycles for 48 years.

In 1999 I began chopperscycle.com one of the leading online stores for six years and then I decided to sell the company in 2006,

After getting frustrated of trying to search for Harley parts on the internet I decided it was time to build a new online harley aftermarket, custom and performance store, Yales Motorcycle Parts.com  (Ymphd.com) that offered a great selection but was at the same time very simple to use.  A site were todays Harley rider could not only easily find the parts that they are looking for but also get the advice and  find the answer to any questions regarding their Harley whether repairing, restoring, customizing, building or adding a performance package.

It is my goal to have ymphd.com the source for today’s Harley rider.  Not only will we offer one of the best selections of parts and accessories, but the newest and most currents for your Harley.   We will be there for your questions, tech tips, offer great contests and our own online magazine.

Please check out my site and let me know how you like it!

I am offering a grand opening special of 10% off all products on the ymphd.com site.

Ride Safe

Yale

YMPHD is your source for repairing, restoring, customizing, building or hi performance upgrades for your Harley Davidson

www.ymphd.com

YMPHD offers aftermarket, replacement and hi performance parts and accessories from Bikers Choice, Drag Specialties, V-Twin Supply, Kuryakyn, Vance and Hines, Drag, Rinehart, S&S, Cobra and many others! We’re always ready to help you in customizing your  Harley with whatever you want to personalize your ride.

   We specialize in high performance aftermarket custom & replacement parts, tools,     & accessories for Dyna, Softail, Sportster, Touring Bagger, Classic and Bobber  Chopper motorcycles.

10% off, grand opening sales on all aftermarket harley davidson parts