The Genius Engineering Of Harley-Davidson's Knucklehead

Поделиться
HTML-код
  • Опубликовано: 29 сен 2024
  • Dale's Wheels Through Time Museum, located in Maggie Valley, NC, features over 375 American motorcycles, unique cars, and transportation history.
    For more information about the museum, visit www.wheelsthrou...
    To learn more about "The Drive for History," visit www.wheelsthrou...
    To purchase tickets for your chance to win our Annual Raffle Bike, visit www.wheelsthrou...
    Like these videos and want more exclusive content? Become a member of "Dale's Channel" at www.daleschanne...
    Facebook.com/wheelsthroughtime
    wheels through time

Комментарии • 137

  • @browngreen933
    @browngreen933 2 года назад +3

    So true about old Bill Harley's genius in the Knucklehead. They carried the Knucklehead genius though the Evolution motor. Only with the TC-88 did they become deviant and off-the-wall.

  • @BennyTygohome
    @BennyTygohome 2 года назад +19

    I really like your shop and especially the museum. It's incredible what your family has in motorcycle history.

  • @dannydiekman9833
    @dannydiekman9833 2 года назад

    Would you rebuild my 48 Indian

  • @darrenlingerfelt5879
    @darrenlingerfelt5879 2 года назад

    👍👍

  • @jbradkilpatrick
    @jbradkilpatrick 2 года назад +16

    One of the best channels on RUclips. Keep them coming.

  • @t.s.racing
    @t.s.racing 2 года назад +14

    Great job Matt. That Toyota sealant is excellent and I've used the Honda Bond for Harley bottom end cases for decades, never ever a leak. Suzuki, Kawasaki, and Yamaha bond are all the same. Cheaper and way easier to find than Three Bond, and gives the EXACT same result. I do lap my case halves together as well.

    • @johnmcclain3887
      @johnmcclain3887 2 года назад +2

      I retired a few years ago, and used "hondabond" since about 95, as you say, don't leak a bit, and stay together for tens of thousands.

  • @easycrider7453
    @easycrider7453 2 года назад +6

    Love all the knowledge you share and I gain, thankyou. As I watch this I imagine my dad working on his knuckle heads after he returned from WWII as an aircraft mechanic.

  • @Fezzler61
    @Fezzler61 2 года назад +9

    Such a joy to watch the careful attention to detail.

  • @calysagora3615
    @calysagora3615 2 года назад +11

    This is the most beautiful engine ever designed, full stop.
    Been dreaming of a Knucklehead bobber ever since I had to sell my WLA.

  • @pameladunn7346
    @pameladunn7346 2 года назад +4

    a wealth of information ... and a gift of sharing that knowledge "awesome"

  • @thumpershd
    @thumpershd 2 года назад +10

    Fantastic! Love the care and precision you put into every rebuild. Thanks for showing the step by step Matt!

  • @PotatoeJoe69
    @PotatoeJoe69 2 года назад +9

    What are the odds I'd specifically search for this channel, and you just uploaded your first video on days, mere seconds ago lol

    • @wheelsthroughtime
      @wheelsthroughtime  2 года назад +3

      Thanks for watching! Subscribe and turn the bell on, and you'll be the first to see every video.

  • @sicfifty3401
    @sicfifty3401 2 года назад +5

    I'm drooling over that beautiful work

  • @actung4307
    @actung4307 2 года назад +4

    I love these videos. You are so knowledgeable and present information in such an easy way. Keep up the great work!

  • @2000tc88
    @2000tc88 2 года назад +5

    This is just GOLD. I cant wait to see more of this build. I have just bought a 46 so I am trying to find all I can about the Knuckleheads. Many thanks for sharing.

    • @tomb.8485
      @tomb.8485 2 года назад +3

      Lucky you!

    • @2000tc88
      @2000tc88 2 года назад

      @@tomb.8485 yeah I'm pretty happy. 👍

  • @lewismocaby3646
    @lewismocaby3646 2 года назад +4

    One of my favorite videos so far. Still have a little bit of tig welding to finish on my front exhaust side but almost to this same point myself. Totally agree with the number of hours it takes to assemble one of these correctly. Spent way too long straightening spring cups and repairing and replacing the oil lines on them. Keep up the great work.

  • @wheelsthroughtime
    @wheelsthroughtime  2 года назад

    Get your tickets to win this 1937 Harley-Davidson Knucklehead here >> wheelsthroughtime.com/win-this-bike/ Thanks for watching along!

  • @Nowherenotime
    @Nowherenotime 2 года назад +1

    FYI
    The gasket sealer by Toyota is made by LocTite /Permatex as Ultra Black , Honda and Nissan is Ultra Grey and for everyone else Ultra Blue .

  • @paulmartin8212
    @paulmartin8212 2 года назад +2

    How cool your teaching us about the evolution of horsepower. Weather it's a bike, a car, truck or airplane as the engineers figured out how to make a better "air pump" the horsepower rose. I enjoy your channel and hope to visit sometime.

  • @tenlittleindians
    @tenlittleindians 2 года назад +2

    You mentioned it's a oil pump that pumps the oil to the rocker boxes and that I understand; it's the vacuum part I find never got explained. I always thought most Harley Heads had return oil passages that worked by gravity.
    And that Toyota schmoo sounds nice in theory but am I going to miss that smell of "Indian Head" brand gasket sealer lingering around even longer than the stains it leaves on my fingers?

    • @NBSV1
      @NBSV1 2 года назад +2

      It has a second stage to the pump that pulls the oil back out and pumps it back to the tank. If it doesn’t seal right it can’t suck the oil back out as well. As I understand it the vacuum box is where the oil collects to get sucked back up.

    • @mattwalksler
      @mattwalksler 2 года назад +1

      A mechanical breather valve uses crankcase pressure to pull oil out of the valve spring cups, through the rocker box, then it gravity feeds back town the pushrod tubes, through the tapper blocks and cam cover, into the sip cavity then back through the oil pump and back to the tank.
      Thanks for watching the channel! We appreciate your support!!

  • @rustyshackleford309
    @rustyshackleford309 2 года назад +1

    The second you pulled out the Toyota seal packing, I knew you were truly one of the special techs haha. I love that stuff.

    • @tomb.8485
      @tomb.8485 2 года назад +1

      That will be something I never forget. Along with my Harley, I have two Toyotas. Had more Toyotas in the past and never had an oil leak with hundreds of thousands of miles on them.

  • @chuckduzzie8529
    @chuckduzzie8529 2 года назад +1

    Some of the greatest inventors of our country … were bicycle mechanics. Harley & Davidson,
    The Wright Brothers, Henry Ford.

    • @redtobertshateshandles
      @redtobertshateshandles 2 года назад

      Like me you probably worked on your bicycle when you were a kid. I can remember some exasperating moments. What I love about these early bikes is that they're motor cycles. Lightweight, not some 2 litre engined overweight monstrosity.

  • @av8rshane491
    @av8rshane491 2 года назад +1

    Why do I love the Knucklehead so much, maybe because I might have a little a little knucklehead in me! Always had motorcycles throughout my life but airplanes were my main passion and got to fly golden era of aviation aircraft which remind me of the old Harleys, big bore, lopping idle, smoke belching on start, low rev radial engines. My definition of a great day would be to jump on a Knucklehead, ride to the airport and go fly a 1928 Curtiss Robin or Stearman. Fell in love with the knucklehead the first time I saw one and what a great example Matt’s putting together. Love this channel Matt’s passion is obvious and he learned from the best!

  • @Chuck-vv3wu
    @Chuck-vv3wu 2 года назад +1

    What precision and meticulous work done on the knuckle,great job! It’s a shame I live down under, I would have bought a few tickets, Great job Matt.

  • @mconfluence
    @mconfluence 2 года назад +1

    I think those are the best looking heads for a older Harley Davidson engine. Great detailed video. Keep up the great work and video's.

  • @steveschneider3872
    @steveschneider3872 2 года назад +1

    Love these vids.

  • @hemigod2
    @hemigod2 9 месяцев назад

    I’ve got a question for you, sir, there was no problem in bringing back Marshall tube amps. Why can’t the Harley knucklehead be put back into production?

  • @JohnMcClain-p9t
    @JohnMcClain-p9t 7 месяцев назад

    Back in the mid seventies, Arlen Ness built a 93 inch knuckle with a sportster tranny and a Kieth Magnuson blower on a Northern California style chassis. It was at a shop I part-timed as a Marine in Kaneohe, Hawaii. It was wicked fast and stuck a valve just about every time it ran. A lot of fun to work on and ride.

  • @kingsoutdoors4379
    @kingsoutdoors4379 Год назад

    Words can't describe how much satisfaction and knowledge I get out of your videos, in hopes of building myself a bike named after My Late Wife Harriet who passed a year ago. a R.N of 22 years.... I'm 52 and I just want to be able to Ride for a couple years while I'm still able. Lost everything, became homeless than lost Her..... Me riding an old harley is my last dream... Some how some way .... Pretty sure it will be a panhead...... Can only imagine what it must be like to own an old knuckle 😊 Thank You Sir ...God Bless

  • @rjnation5042
    @rjnation5042 2 года назад +1

    Always amazes me how many guys have that Toyota gasket goo in there workshop, it's brilliant stuff, Rj in Oz

  • @jimstretch6109
    @jimstretch6109 Год назад

    In 1965 anybody could find and buy a complete, original knucklehead for less than $500. The collectors have jacked up the prices so high that the average guy has no chance of ever owning one of these.

  • @backwoodscommonsense1578
    @backwoodscommonsense1578 2 года назад

    Since lapping valves with compound puts unnecessary premature wear on the valve face & seat, why aren’t you using non drying Prussian blue to check the face to seat seal then perform a vacuum test instead? Is the seat meeting the valve in the upper 1/3 of the valve face & with a width of .032”? Does making a back angling cut on the upper edge of the valve face help (like the 3 angling seat cut) to create more curvature so the air/fuel mixture remains a mist for more complete burning & less condensation? I ask as I’ve used this method on an evolution engine with some success.

  • @robertclark4509
    @robertclark4509 2 года назад

    Hi Dale , quick question, I have a 2020 softail slim Harley. How easy would those knuckle fenders fit on my bike ? what old style would fit best ? Please advise...

  • @ashtonmariefranklin725
    @ashtonmariefranklin725 Год назад

    I love old technology and the history behind it. Even since as a kid I loved the Harley-Davidson Knucklehead engine. Something about it has always drawn my to it. The beauty of it's design and the iconic sound it makes.

  • @leelarson2655
    @leelarson2655 2 года назад

    I love to watch mat . How he intelligent person about motorcycles. Thank you. I love motorcycles .but I am disabled with cerebral Palsy so I can not ride one. I am trying to come over thank you again

  • @MarkBoese
    @MarkBoese 2 года назад

    Beautiful. I am coming to Pigeon Forge in September, and will make time to see your museum. SO looking forward to it.

  • @larskristiansen9158
    @larskristiansen9158 2 года назад +1

    Its much love for a great motor to be found here. Lovely!

  • @yahweh1x543
    @yahweh1x543 2 года назад +1

    I like coating my gaskets with yamabond or copper spray. I'm going to try visiting the museum this fall! I've driven past it hundreds of times never realizing it was there.

  • @lpd1snipe
    @lpd1snipe 2 года назад

    My father, who rode knuckleheads said there was a lot of oiling problems with the 1936 to 39 models.

  • @redtobertshateshandles
    @redtobertshateshandles 2 года назад

    I guess aero engines were the one's that had the big R&D money spent on them in the '30's. Bill probably looked there for inspiration.

  • @laishlaish3824
    @laishlaish3824 2 года назад

    Sure miss working on the old flathead motors. Just 1 question; where did you get that "speed ratchet" to tighten it all down ? 😎

  • @offgridoldfart8110
    @offgridoldfart8110 2 года назад

    Knuckles are the most beautiful rocker boxes of all Harley engines even though I'm a pan head fan.

  • @coreyelmendorf6335
    @coreyelmendorf6335 2 года назад

    Dang... Matt.
    Awesome. Love the details and information you provide.

  • @juicebox853
    @juicebox853 2 года назад

    ...and HD has made zero advancements since. Bankrupt by end of 2023

  • @davidbaldwin1591
    @davidbaldwin1591 2 года назад

    I respect the clean space all the way. Still, it's amazing that mechanics built them in the grubby little shacks we used years ago.

  • @dennymcfastlane8530
    @dennymcfastlane8530 9 месяцев назад

    At 3:54 Obviously Matt has never seen a Tatro Machine Shop video~~hahaha.

  • @maxdavies5776
    @maxdavies5776 2 года назад

    Could the blow out valve be used with a sump syringe to redo the vacume pressure on the oil system also matt.?

  • @wrestlemaniac202
    @wrestlemaniac202 2 года назад

    Heard anything from Sean at SRK cycles on their WLDR?

  • @ShainAndrews
    @ShainAndrews 2 года назад

    Inovative... perhaps. Genius and Harley-Davidson never belong in the same sentence.

  • @Handskemager
    @Handskemager Год назад

    Great video! I’ve always loved the Knucklehead over all the others

  • @talesfromthescrypt
    @talesfromthescrypt 2 года назад

    Just found you on bikes and beards, need a new channel to binge love this already

  • @Eisenhaltig
    @Eisenhaltig Год назад

    On my engine, all four "rocker-cups" (called in the book "Valve Spring Covers") are having one tiny hole located close were they comes to the Knuckle-housing (aluminium rocker-arm housing). I am having the impression that these holes are for a purpose, but it makes no sense for me, because it is a point for an oil leak. Should I close them or keep them open? Thanks and best regards from a Guy in Germany, who is trying to cure his knuckle from spreading oil.

    • @wheelsthroughtime
      @wheelsthroughtime  9 месяцев назад

      I believe only the intakes have the holes, which are vent holes, and should be on the “high side” of the cup. If it’s on the low side, it will leak.

  • @MoeLarrycurly1
    @MoeLarrycurly1 2 года назад

    It sounds like the top end is like a Swiss watch 👍☺️☺️🏍️🖖

  • @americanbornwalkaway9110
    @americanbornwalkaway9110 2 года назад

    Very Interesting to watch and Learn LOVE that Bike

  • @silentknight101
    @silentknight101 2 года назад

    Someday I'm gonna own a Knucklehead... Someday...

  • @freebird7284
    @freebird7284 Год назад

    i knew better than to watch this, i had to go buy the great ticket deal!

  • @steveshoemaker6347
    @steveshoemaker6347 2 года назад

    Amazing design......Thanks Matt....Shoe🇺🇸

  • @ІмяПрізвище-л5в
    @ІмяПрізвище-л5в 2 года назад

    I hope to visit your museum. From Ukraine.

  • @speedfreak8200
    @speedfreak8200 2 года назад

    Every time I mention my Knucklehead my girlfriend thinks I'm talking about her

    • @speedfreak8200
      @speedfreak8200 2 года назад

      I found that in an Easy Easyriders magazine in junior high...

  • @barrybarnes96
    @barrybarnes96 2 года назад

    You'd need this guy every 500 miles.

  • @billmillar7234
    @billmillar7234 2 года назад

    Was down to see the museum this Spring... wonderful time.... could have spent days.....love the 37.....I did buy tickets!!!......the staff was fun and knowledgeable..... recommend it as a must see

  • @maxdavies5776
    @maxdavies5776 2 года назад

    Nice workmanship.
    Man knows his bikes.

  • @JESUS-POTENTATE
    @JESUS-POTENTATE 2 года назад

    Showing this assembly is a great thing you are doing. It is extremely helpful to so many who want to build a knuckle head RIGHT. THANK YOU..

  • @ernestmathews4674
    @ernestmathews4674 2 года назад

    A question from ignorance: cases are aluminum, barrels are cast iron, What is the cylinder head?

    • @claywright9118
      @claywright9118 2 года назад

      cast iron also, rocker boxes aluminum

  • @joeoregan170
    @joeoregan170 2 года назад

    Great channel love from Australia

  • @cameronlawrence1254
    @cameronlawrence1254 2 года назад

    Brilliant as usual! Learn a lot that’s for sure.

  • @mlienert7
    @mlienert7 2 года назад

    Thanks for letting the world enjoy motorcycles with you. All the best from Australia 👍🇦🇺🤠

  • @johnmcclain3887
    @johnmcclain3887 2 года назад

    That's a beautiful set of heads. I worked on a knuckle Arlen Ness built in the early seventies, when I was stationed out in Hawaii, at a shop I wrenched in for three years. It was a 93 inch Magneson blown belt driven with a sportster tranny in one of his first frames. I did the valves several times absent a new set of guides that were worn out, at a time in my life I didn't realize I could make guides, so redid a bad job several times just to fire it up for a show. I used Kibblewhite valves most of the years I built engines, those heads look pristine, gorgeous going together like that. I hope I get to hear it fire up. Thanks for showing this build.

  • @markwhitney9175
    @markwhitney9175 2 года назад

    Great explanation on assembly Matt.

  • @clarkbabin9799
    @clarkbabin9799 2 года назад

    I'd love to sit with you and work on an engine. You explain everything so well it was almost like I was there.

    • @wheelsthroughtime
      @wheelsthroughtime  2 года назад +1

      That's the mission, to preserve and educate! Thanks for watching.

  • @normls8615
    @normls8615 2 года назад

    Shame we can't win this bike in Australia. Win the jetski scooter from Bikes and Beards when they finally get their Harley together for your drag race. Or see if you can get their WW2 mini Indian.

  • @aishayana4298
    @aishayana4298 4 месяца назад

    Nice job on the heads Matt !😊

  • @KennethDavis-c6v
    @KennethDavis-c6v Год назад

    How do I get raffle tickets?

  • @justingreen4450
    @justingreen4450 2 года назад

    Thanks for taking all the time and energy to work on my new bike. I really appreciate it. See you in November.

  • @acr21957
    @acr21957 2 года назад

    I have a harder time doing a jigsaw puzzle than he does on what must be amazingly difficult assembly

  • @anthonymiller8989
    @anthonymiller8989 2 года назад

    Susan & Tony here, Vary nice work , making dad so proud every day. Sure hope you pass this on to the next generation. Thanks

  • @flyknotrancher4158
    @flyknotrancher4158 Год назад

    Fingers crossed for the win!

  • @RedHotChilliMe
    @RedHotChilliMe 2 года назад

    Incredible. 🇬🇧🥇🧐

  • @ralphwatten2426
    @ralphwatten2426 2 года назад

    Geniuses at Harley Davidson? Maybe they could build an engine without pushrods that works. Potato potato potato blam my crank just broke in half-

    • @NBSV1
      @NBSV1 2 года назад

      They were genius back in their day. Around the AMF era Harley got stuck in a rut and quit innovating and improving. They spent decades selling based on that nostalgia and tradition while everybody else moved on.
      Hopefully with their new stuff it can breathe some life back into them and bring in some new customers.

    • @thedewdster
      @thedewdster 2 года назад +1

      So what Harley did you own that put you in such a bad emotional state?

    • @redtobertshateshandles
      @redtobertshateshandles 2 года назад

      @@thedewdster he didn't. He's like Sgt Schultz.

  • @nh_highlander1985
    @nh_highlander1985 2 года назад

    Knucklehead is the motor...30's technology was supreme!

  • @jeffboudman9305
    @jeffboudman9305 2 года назад

    That’s more like art than mechanics. Beautiful work!

  • @adamr4115
    @adamr4115 2 года назад

    Wonder if he's upgraded the crank from a roller to a timken bearing ..

  • @philly2x
    @philly2x 2 года назад

    I appreciate the amount of knowledge that is exuded during these videos.

  • @thinman8621
    @thinman8621 2 года назад

    Haven't owned a Harley in years but I like these videos. Thanks

  • @Patriot-up2td
    @Patriot-up2td 2 года назад

    Thanks for letting us sit in with you. That was really interesting to watch!

  • @excessivefarce2808
    @excessivefarce2808 2 года назад

    awesome awesome awesome video

  • @randymanx2674
    @randymanx2674 2 года назад

    FIPPYPIG (FIPG) is the shit!

  • @dutchy213
    @dutchy213 2 года назад

    This was great 👍🏿

  • @kirkdavidfarmer3829
    @kirkdavidfarmer3829 2 года назад

    1247 what the f**k

  • @KRAVER_
    @KRAVER_ 2 года назад

    Thanks for sharing , Great Video !!

  • @darwinortiz6394
    @darwinortiz6394 8 месяцев назад

    Great video.

  • @waynecreech
    @waynecreech 2 года назад

    Thanks Matt, My dream bike is a knuck....

  • @ronaldslack9530
    @ronaldslack9530 2 года назад

    Cool (very)!

  • @bikesandacreage8885
    @bikesandacreage8885 2 года назад

    Great stuff!

  • @scottimusgarrett15
    @scottimusgarrett15 2 года назад +2

    Your knowledge and attention to detail is very appreciated! I think your museum would be one of the few reasons I would go to the States. What a great tutorial on the Knucklehead...Thanks! This is gonna be an amazing engine. ✌️❤️🙂🇨🇦

  • @timdavis8154
    @timdavis8154 2 года назад

    Love it.

  • @trepathy1
    @trepathy1 Год назад

    Beautiful

  • @HarleyGeezer1954
    @HarleyGeezer1954 2 года назад

    Counting the days to be there.

  • @Scoodee17
    @Scoodee17 2 года назад

    Great way to spend my work break 👍

  • @revelationakagoldeneagle8045
    @revelationakagoldeneagle8045 2 года назад

    ✌️