James Roper-Caldbeck runs Customs From Jamesville, a small Harley workshop in Copenhagen, Denmark. We’ve featured his flatheads earlier than, however none can top the tale attached to this military-spec WLC 750, the contemporary gadget to roll out of his shop.
“inside the 1940s, this WLC become pushed out of a aircraft somewhere over Europe,” says James. “i'm able to handiest consider that she noticed some heavy movement, because some of the components have been in pretty bad shape—or have been changed via parts from other motorbike brands, together with the wheels, brakes, and again fender.” After WWII, the motorbike turned into used as a tow truck at a car dealership. “i used to be told with the aid of the proprietor’s sons that each time one of the 6-volt motors wouldn’t begin, they might hook up a rope and use the WLC to bump start it.”
remaining August, a properly-dressed businessman walked into James’s save, and asked if he constant old bikes. “He stated, ‘i've this antique motorbike that belonged to my grandfather and it desires a few paintings. It’s been sat in a basement for the reason that 60s’.”
James hit the street tomorrow to view the motorbike. “It become in a totally sorry country after being sat in a basement for forty eight years in a house next to the sea. Each nut and bolt at the entire bike became rusty as hell, all of the aluminum had turned white, and components had corroded away. I informed the proprietor we are able to try, however I’m no longer sure if i will even get this issue to portions. I stated that if it changed into now not your grandfather’s motorbike, then you could be crazy to even try to restore it."James spent the following month spraying the motorbike down with six cans of WD40. “Then in October I started to wrench. “To my wonder, nut via nut, bolt through bolt it got here aside. There has been some grinder, blowtorch and Sawzall action, but now not as awful as I imagined. The largest shock became opening the gear casing to find the whole thing in perfect condition.” The engine only needed a top give up rebuild, and the gearbox wished a new fork, however every nut and bolt at the whole motorcycle had to get replaced and every part needed to be very well cleaned. “I used as many unique elements as feasible,” says Roper Caldbeck. “The best fundamental new elements are the returned fender, battery field, taillight and headlight.” The motorbike has been up to date to twelve-volt electrics, a belt pressure, a Mikuni carb and new leather-based at the seat, however apart from that, it’s pretty inventory.
“It become a unusual component for me to start the motorbike for the first time after 48 years. That is a sincerely long time: a lot has came about, and this little bike just sat there waiting,” says James. “It changed into an amazing feeling building this motorcycle—knowing that at least two more generations of the proprietor’s own family will experience it. After I went for the first ride I notion, ‘How special these streets need to have appeared the remaining time this motorcycle changed into ridden, 1/2 a century ago’.”
Head over to the Customs From Jamesville internet site for more antique flathead and warm-rod goodness.
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