This is a tough one. I've know Fatbob, a Vintage motorcycle dealer, mechanic, and H-D restoration expert for several years. He's helped me and several friends with rare-to-find parts. Fatbob has been in the business of Harleys since I worked at Easyriders in the early '70s. He's what Lou Kimzey, my boss, would call a straight shooter.
He recently bought a wrecked '47 Knucklehead from a friend, a disabled Vietnam Vet. Upon starting the restoration process, Fatbob discovered that someone stole the original transmission and installed a cobbled together later model (Panhead) transmission, and clutch to give the appearance of a complete working transmission.
A 1947 Knucklehead is a somewhat of rare model, since it was the last year of the Knucklehead. Obviously someone needed that specific year to complete another project. During 1947 only about 10,000 big twin ELs and FLs were built. Here's Fatbob's sad tale:
The wrong tranny was hollow. The countershaft missing, no shift drum, shitty used clutches. The bike was assembled, I took it apart and this is what I found.
My bro, got run over at a gas station, and took the bike to a shop in Joplin Missouri, on Rangeline Road for a damage estimate. I saw him ride the bike before the wreck, so when I bought it assembled, I figured it was cool. The shop stole the original '47 Knuckle tranny, after he got his back broken in the wreck. He is a Nam Vet, and has disabilities from his service. I talked to him, and he returned to the shop and found no help.
They were only supposed to give him an estimate, because supposedly they worked on vintage bikes. I guess even us old dogs can get fucked.
I trusted my friend, who was taken advantage of in his state of injury. I am too old of a cat to get fucked by a kitten, I will be vindicated. The Chinese say, “if it takes a thousand years to get even it OK.” The knuckle in the pic is the original engine only, with trock cyinders, T&O flywheels and a total of 93 inches. The only thing I'm using is the engine. I had another frame and tranny. I am using one of my inline springers, though it calls for an offset.
It's too bad, shit like this happens, but it's a warning to riders, collectors, and young builders to be careful who you are dealing with. There are many excellent shops, mechanics and restoration experts, who put their reputation on the line daily to ensure all customers are treated with respect. We live and breathe in a tight little market. Word gets around fast. Besides, now Baker manufacturers complete classic 4-speed transmissions, built with state-of-the-art components. I know, it had to be a '47.
