This 53 H-D was on Ebay 2 years ago. The seller didn't mention it's most unique feature. There were other photos of the bike's engine but I'm highlighting the starter set up. It would be cool to restore it to working condition.
That's a Police issue oil tank behind the large starter gear. How about them horns out front? Must have been some bike in it's day.
That's no saddle bag. It's one hell of a battery box. The size and shape of the box means it held an old car battery which indicates that this mod was old.
The spring must take some of the shock out of the motor's initial kick.
Another view of it. Those are oil lines are crossing under the shaft.
I'm guessing that's a relay switch.
Once again, a backyard builder was doing H-D's R&D.
OK Guys, Here's today's trivial question: What year did H-D first come out with an electric starter? (Sorry), Lewy K, Noot, Irish Rich, Dr, Sprocket, and Knuckle Buster can comment but, are all banned from the question.
7 comments:
Crazy shadetree engineering, man!! 1965 was the first year for the electric start (Electra Glide).
That's a starter soleniod (last photo)that usually kicks the bendix drive into the ring gear but not here. The other end w/ the rubber boot doesn't hook-up w/ the small starter gear. The big spring is usually used to retract the bendix gear. This looks like the starter armature always went round with the small gear and ring gear when running. The flex plate was attached right to the kicker out shaft. Nutts!
I thought it was a solenoid but like you say it's not connected. Maybe there was once some linkage that engaged it with the Bendix gear? Taking another look at the boot side, there is some kind of hook or something left on it?
I failed to mention that the large gear (a car flywheel?), would probably scrape if you weren't careful on right turns/cornering.
Not 1963 or 1965 - somewhere in between. Why is it everything I do gets banned?????
1964 servi car....
chucktx
Chuck is correct. It's kind of a trick question. The Servi-Car got it first in '64. Maybe they should have called it an Electra-Car.
Noot, I waited to post your comments because your hint was giving it away. Now you see why you get banned? From here on, I offically ban you from looking at or thinking about Gayle Swan.
Yup, '64 Servi-car. And unlike a Big Twin, you cannot have both electric and kick on a Servi-car, its one or the other.
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