Harley-Davidson's first flathead V-twin appeared in 1929 as the Model D. Its 45-cubic-inch engine was smaller than the company's existing 61- and 74-cubic-inch F-head V-twins, which then became known as "Big Twins." Flathead Shovelhead Magneto Kickstart Rat 4 Cam CustomBuilt from a UL flathead bottom end and a Shovel top end. for Uncle Sam. tommy. Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by scratchit, May 13, 2008. 1929 Harley-Davidson Flathead engine. In Harley Davidson Flathead history, the Big Twin model was built in … In our webshop you find the parts for your classic 45 cubic inch Harley-Davidson WL, WLA, WLC and Servicar. Named after its flat, curved cylinder heads, the Flathead or ‘45’ (named after the capacity of the engine in cubic inches) has enjoyed the longest life span of any engine in Harley-Davidson history. By 1940 the venerable flathead Big Twin engine had been thoroughly sorted out by Harley-Davidson engineers, making it one of the most reliable models of its time. Powering the Harley was a 74” U-series flathead with a 3-speed transmission. from Davidsonville, Md. The 1930 Harley flathead Big Twins were about a hundred pounds heavier as a result of more robust construction including bigger brakes and heavier frames. Hey all, gonna be doing a lot of pick in' of y'all's brains since #1,this is my first "real" bike,and#2, you guy's know stuff! Joined: Mar 3, 2001 Posts: 14,758. Flathead reliability. Also many aftermarket parts for your classic Bigtwin can be found in the webshop. Harley-Davidson had already moved away from the hybrid F-head to the Flathead side-valve and so Harley-Davidsons were acquiring a reputation for reliability and deservedly so. IBRARY’s comprehensive booklet on obtaining the best speed & power from your Harley-Davidson 45” flathead 1937-73 solo, Servi-Car, military and civilian, including model letters WL, WLA, WLC, G, GE, etc. Your “obsolete” 45” side-valve is capable of surprising speed & power, without loss of original appearance or reliability. Page 2 of 2 < Prev 1 2. The Flathead is a simple, robust and reliable side-valve engine, originally 750cc … However, because the New York Police Department had very specific requirements for its fleet motorcycles to ensure reliability, the company had to add a magneto ignition connected to a generator, instead of using a … Profile Page. - Harley-Davidson Flathead. Flathead designs have been used on a number of early pre-war motorcycles, in particular US V-twins such as Harley-Davidson and Indian, some British singles, BMW flat twins and Russian copies thereof. But the increased reliability of … Member Emeritus. Discussion Starter • #1 • Sep 7, 2014. ... 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