Harley Davidson military motorcycle model 42 WLA-solo (civilian models WL & G 1940-1952). Operation and maintenance manual — page 1

OPERATION and MAINTENANCE MANUAL
HARLEY-DAVIDSON MILITARY MOTORCYCLE MODEL 42 WLA—SOLO BUILT FOR THE UNITED STATES ARMY

HARLEY-DAVIDSON CIVILIAN MODELS W L & G 1940 - 1952

GENERAL INDEX
OPERATION AND CARE Pages 8 to 14
PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE. Pages 14 to 19
LIGHT MAINTENANCE Pages 20 to 25
ENGINE LUBRICATION Pages 25 to 27
ENGINE OVERHAUL Pages 28 to 45
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Pages 46 to 58

CARBURETOR SERVICE Pages 58 to 61
TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH Pages 62 to 70
WHEELS, HUBS AND TIRES. Pages 70 to 72
CHASSIS ALIGNMENT Pages 72 and 73
(Servi-Car) Pages 75 to 80

INDEX
Pages

Alignment. Frame and Fork. . . . ... 72

Alignment, Wheel Rim. . . . . . 72

Battery, Care of. . . . . . . .. 52

Bearings, Engine Main. . . . . . 34

Bearings, Connecting Rod Lower. . . .29, 34

Bearings, Transmission. . . . . ... 65

Brakes, Adjusting . . . . . . . 22

Bushings, Connecting Rod Upper. . . ... 44

Bushings, Timing Gear Shaft. . . . .. 33

Carburetor, Adjusting. . . . . . . 23

Carburetor Service. . . . . . . 58

Chains, Adjusting. . . . . . . 20

Chains, Lubricating . . . . . . ..20

Chains, Repairing. . . . . . . 20

Circuit Breaker and Timer. . . . 24, 30, 40

Clutch Adjusting. . . . . . . . 21

Clutch, Disassembling . . . . . . 22

Clutch, Reassembling. . . . . . .22

Clutch Assembly Illustration. . . . .. 63

Clutch Hub, Removing. . . . . . 67

Clutch Hub, Installing .. . . . . . . 68

Coil, Ignition. . . . . . . . .. 52

Connecting Rods, Aligning. . . . . 41

Control Wire, Front Brake, Replacing. . .. 24

Control Wires, Throttle and Spark, Replacing ... 24

Crankcases, Assembling. . . . . .. 36

Cylinders, Reboring and Rehoning. . . . 32

Damper, Steering. . . . . . . . 24

Electrical System. . . . . . . . 48

Engine, Overhauling. . . . . . .. 29

Engine, Disassembling. . . . . . 29

(Top Overhaul Only)

Engine. Removing (Assembled). . . . 30

Engine, Disassembling. . . . . . 30

(For Complete Overhaul)

Engine. Fitting and Reassembling. . . .. 31

Engine, Installing. . . . . . . . 43

Flywheels, Assembling. . . . . ... 35

Flywheels, Truing. . . . . . . 36

Generator Assembly Illustration. . . ... 46

Generator, Removing. . . . . . . 48

Generator, Testing. . . . . . 48 to 50

Generator, Disassembling. . . . . . 49

Generator, Reassembling . . . . . . 50

Generator, Installing. . . . . ...37, 51

Guides, Valve. . . . . . . . 32

Guides, Valve Tappet. . . . . . 33
Pages

Handlebar Controls, Servicing. . . . . 24

Horn . . . . . . . . . . 57

Inspection, Higher Echelon. . . . . 19

Lamps . . . . . . . . . 57, 58

Lubrication, Engine. . . . . . ... 25

Maintenance, Regular Interval. . . . 18

New Motorcycle, Initial Servicing of. . . 18

Pistons, Fitting Oversize . . . . . .. 32

Pistons, Removing and Installing. . . .. 43

Piston and Ring Service, Emergency. . ...43

Points, Circuit Breaker. . . . . . 24

Pump, Oil Feed. . . . . . ..25, 30, 40

Pump, Oil Scavenger. . . . . 25. 30, 37

Radio Interference Suppression. . . ..57, 74

Relay, Cut-out. . . . . . . . 52

Rings, Piston. . . . . . . ...43, 44

Saddle Spring Post Assembly. . . . . 25

Shifting Controls. . . . . . ...21, 68

Signal Lights, Instrument Panel. . . . 25

Specifications, Engine . . . . . . 45

(Fitting and Adjusting)

Specifications, Transmission. . . . ... 70

(Fitting and Adjusting)

Specifications, Lubricant. . . . . .. 15

Springs, Valve. . . . . . . ... 33

Switch, Ignition-Light. . . . . . . 53

Tappets, Valve (Adjusting). . . . . 23

Tappets, Valve (Servicing). . . . . 33

Timing Crankcase Breather Valve. . . . 37

Timing Ignition. . . . . . . . 40

Timing Gears. . . . . . . . 40

Timing Mark, Flywheel. . . . . .37, 40

Tires and Tubes. . . . . . . .. 71

Tools, Manufacturer's Special. . . . . 75

Transmission Assembly Illustration. . . 62

Transmission, Removing. . . . . .. 66

Transmission, Disassembling . . . . ... 66

Transmission, Assembling. . . . . . 67

Transmission Endplay Adjustments. . . 67

Transmission, Installing. . . . . ... 69

Valve, Crankcase Breather. . . . . 37

Valves, Intake and Exhaust. . . . ... 32

Valve Seats, Cylinder. . . . . . 32

Wheels, Removing and Installing . . . .70

Wheels, Hubs and Tires. . . . . .. 70

Wiring Details. . . . . . . . 54

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS