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WLA Manual

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2018 1:18 pm
by matt506
Ok I got a feeling on this but….. what is every ones opinion on a manual Date for a type 3 WLA built on April 4 43? A bunch of manuals out there and I have a few but I am going to thin them out except the right dated one. Would one go off of date or the Registration number falling on the ones listed on the cover but closest to the date
? Matt

Re: WLA Manual

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2018 4:26 pm
by OLDABEWLA
Matt ,

It all depends what time frame you want to represent? As what I think your thinking is what was available at the time of your bike was issued?
I personally like all the manuals for what was needed to service the 42WLA Harley-Davidson.
What comes to mind for you is the August 1942 operation and service manual and the January 1st 1943 parts manual.

I have the November 1st 1941, May 1st 1942 and January 1st 1943 original 42WLA parts manuals and would like to find the late October 1943 and 1944 original parts manuals to complete the set.

I also have the August 1942 operation and service manual, October 1943 TM9-879 Technical manual (issued in the WLA saddle bags with type IV) and Ordnance maintenance TM9-1879 March 1944 all original to display with my bike.

The original Fort Knox motorcycle school manuals are always nice too.

Craig

Re: WLA Manual

Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2018 8:11 am
by matt506
Craig , I was just curious on what would go best with the bike from the factory but maybe I'll just try to collect all 5 you mentioned. I got three of them two ft knox ones and two parts lists with one comming. Just got to see if I have doubles though.

Re: WLA Manual

Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2018 3:51 pm
by ericsattic
See the attached picture. According to Palmer's Military HD "bible," page 145, I believe this is the technically correct manual for a WLA Type III. Hope this helps, Eric

Re: WLA Manual

Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2018 4:08 pm
by ericsattic
WLA Fort Knox Manual axx.JPG
WLA Fort Knox Manual axx.JPG (171.38 KiB) Viewed 2901 times
When I was lurking this thread a few days back I thought I saw some pictures but now they are gone. Or am I mistaken? Anyway, I saw some photos of the Fort Knox, Kentucky Motorcycle Mechanics Handbook from 1942 so it made me think to dig mine out because of what I found in it when I purchased it years back (in a box with lots of other manuals). Anyway, the '42 Fort Knox manual I have has a paper cover that is a dull olive drab and has faded, and it has some color sketches in it. Its actually in much better condition than the photos show; you can really tell the age of it by the type of paper on the inside, the fond, all the old style drawings in it etc. The paper cover has texture, almost feels like a thin leather when you run your hand over it (but its paper). After I bought it I was thumbing through it and some U.S. Army Ft. Knox Stickers fell out! Looks like the backs have to be wet to stick them on something, but these were all dry and not stuck to the pages. I found other papers inside other manuals (more on that some other time); it is clear all these manuals were owned by a soldier who attended the mechanics school there (his name is on the cover of the WLA operation manual I posted further ABOVE); these stickers MUST be vintage WWII. Anyway, I communicate with David Sarafan now and then and he has never seen these; same thing for George Ogden (wrote the forward to Palmer's Military HD book) - George lives just 30 minutes from me here in Fairfax County VA. Also believe I mentioned them to Steve LeMay of Resurrection Cycles (a fellow Virginian) and he was mystified. Anyway, been wanting to post photos of manuals and such so I guess this thread is as good as any. Has anyone else ever come across these Fort Knox stickers anywhere?

Re: WLA Manual

Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2018 5:02 pm
by OLDABEWLA
I had posted the Fort Knox manuals. I have the 1942 WLA mechanics and lubrication school manuals and the 1943 WLA mechanics manual as well.

These stickers are very cool item as I haven't seen these either. These were sold threw the PX at Ft Knox to service men / women going threw camp. I have a pillow case with a tank on it marked Fort Know it too is very Cool item.

These sticker would display great with your bike with other items from the Fort and the time period of WWII.

Craig

Re: WLA Manual

Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2018 6:51 pm
by ericsattic
THANKS CRAIG, all it took was a simple post on this forum and voila! I now have an answer to my question. The knowledge of members in this forum is just unbelievable. Funny how the first thing I thought of when I saw them was that they are the perfect size for the ammo box. What a riot if somewhere somehow we saw a photo of one stuck on a military bike from back in the day. You are right; One of these days I DO want to clean up the garage, repaint it and set up an area along one wall where, behind my bike, I can display all my WLA accessories, WWII field gear, NOS parts in boxes etc I need to make that a priority! I could put those two stickers in a frame.

I don't contribute here much but I have learned lots by lurking. Maybe we should continue to post other WLA manuals in this thread? We all love the bikes, but the accessories are the icing on the cake once the bike is completed.

Re: WLA Manual

Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2018 6:35 am
by OLDABEWLA
I've been collecting all the go along accessorys since I purchased my WLA back in 2006
I collected the 42WLA manuals with other paper military motorcycle memorabilia and even the home front Harley Davidson stuff from WWII and having a great time doing it.

Craig

Re: WLA Manual

Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2019 10:26 am
by Chuck Lutz
A friend asked about the value of what appears to be A mint condition one of these manuals...
Harley WLA 1942 Manual.jpg
Harley WLA 1942 Manual.jpg (119.36 KiB) Viewed 2603 times
I will also check some Harley websites but I figure you guys know your stuff....

Re: WLA Manual

Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2019 2:42 pm
by OLDABEWLA
This is a very common 42WLA service manual that came with the earlier type III and used till the later type III's 42WLA's until the October TM9-879 1943 manual came out.
With the writing on top might hurt it a little but it's a very nice manual as I see them bring $75 -$85 on ebay but also with ebay can sometimes sell for a crazy money amount which one just sold for $177 ??? I guess the guy really wanted it bad?? to pay that price as said they are out there and are not rare!
I have two in my collection one mint and one used I paid $60 for one and $85 for the mint one as it's the going rate.

Craig

Re: WLA Manual

Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2019 6:36 pm
by matt506
Craig is pretty much correct on this. I have one with a stamp I paid for 78 bucks. Mine is the wrong date. If your freind comes up with a price let me know, I would be interested as mine is a type III bike. Matt