Where would they have fitted a generator?
The KL model was originally planned for release in the early 50's. Instead, the poor performing K model was rushed into production to fill it's gap. The high cam KL was continuously plagued by overheating problems, so the later (1954), experimental XL overhead design superseded it. At one point both the KL and XL were being tested side by side. Harley originally didn't want an overhead design based on the old flathead four cam bottom, but it worked and it's performance pretty much surprised everyone. What shouldn't be a surprise is that the XL's top end was designed by the same guy (Charley Featherly), who had done detailed work on the Knucklehead and later the Shovelhead. Since early Panheads had trouble with their aluminum heads, he stuck with iron like on Knuckles. Charley also thought that the valve covers on Pans held too much heat.
3 comments:
I know that Harley-Davidson had a Brough Superior in the factory, tearin' it down and copying everything - and later used some of the design for the XL . . . (some 90 yr. old gray beard that worked in engineering at Milwaukee told me that at Davenport)
I saw him sitting on a tailgate and offered to get him a drink, Can't remember his name, but he worked at the plant for 40 years.
Heard a Brough run - and it even sounds like a Sporty . . .
Please, may I borrow your photo,to post it on my blog? Thank you.Michael
Now that's a novel idea (asking to use a photo), no problem.
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