In June 2023, Matt Walksler from Wheels Through Time took viewers on the museum’s YouTube channel on a journey into the world of an extremely rare Harley-Davidson race bike. This particular bike is an answer to the question of what’s rarer than rare.
The bike in question is a 1942 Harley-Davidson FLTT, equipped with a highly uncommon 80 cubic inch racing engine. The factory mechanics of the time went all out on this bike, implementing every trick in the book. The engine features ported cylinders, shortened pistons, polished connecting rods, and lightened flywheels. The goal was to maximize speed and performance by reducing friction, shedding weight wherever possible, and reinforcing parts under intense stress.
In a recent video, the WTT team showcased their progress in getting this unique bike up and running. When it initially arrived at the museum, it was about 70-80 percent complete. However, as anyone who has taken on a project knows, it’s often the final hurdles that prove to be the most frustrating.
A significant contribution to the project came from Walksler’s extensive collection of parts that he has amassed over the years. His knack for recognizing useful parts proved valuable in this case, as he had the correct primary cover for the bike.
Despite all the effort put into assembling the bike and ensuring it was in good working order, it refused to start. Walksler attempted the process multiple times, but to no avail. The bike had great compression, spark, and fuel in the tank, so what was the issue?
In these situations, it’s often best to step away from the project and approach it with fresh eyes later on. Walksler and his team decided to leave it overnight and return the next day with a clear mind. They discovered that the carburetor on this bike differed from the standard unit found in other non-TT race bikes made by Harley at the time. Walksler suspected that the low-speed needle jet was screwed in too far, resulting in improper fueling and the bike’s failure to start.
The good news is that the following day, the bike started successfully, emitting a strong, healthy rumble from its race pipes. According to Walksler, the engine itself is relatively quiet, but the exhaust on the bike is quite loud. Fans of startup videos featuring ultra-rare bikes will appreciate the conclusion of this video, so grab your best headphones for the optimal experience.