1930 Harley Davidson V
1930 Harley Davidson V
This 1930 V started life as a 1930 VC. The C shown at the end of the VIN indicates cast iron pistons which, through time and engine rebuilds, were discarded for the newer light aluminum pistons which were incorporated in this extensive engine rebuild as well. So, for more exacting purposes this is now a 1930 V.
I think most (who have done any) would agree the most challenging V series restorations are the 36 VLH and the 30 V series. Having done the 36 VLH a few years ago and recovered from the effort, I would say the 1930 is damn challenging. Not only many one year only parts but given Harley released an early 30 and a late 30, we now have the complexity of whether or not to build an early 1930 V or a late 1930 V. Both with unique and different aspects. Albeit subtle.
As if the parts are not already very hard to get!
So I decided I would blur the line a bit and admit this is mostly an early 30 but it does have a few late 30 V pieces. Some choices were made based on the better engine improvements such as the larger valve springs and valve covers on the late 30 and some choices were based on my desire to use what I thought looked the best, such as the bare nickel control cables and short leather covers used near the frame neck. I simply love this look and wanted it on this build.
With only one exception (see if you can find it) this bike is built with all parts found on a 1930 V. All of which are exacting in detail and finishes and all are in new condition.
This bike came to me in 2015, basically whole and purported to be running (yah right) I purposed to leave it alone until I had finished other projects but one day I started to dismantle to inspect various parts and one led to another and another until it was totally apart. Thus another full on, right down to the bare bone restoration/rebuild began. As per the 36 VLH and 34 VLD, this 1930 V is completely rebuilt / refurbished including every sub assembly.
The pictures are designed to walk you through the build and highlight many of the 1930 nuances. Very rare original parts were fully restored and refinished.
I can not speak to the originality of all the tins but I can for certain declare the primary chain cover, oiler cover and battery box as original. I suspect the tool box as well. The primary chain cover underwent some expensive metal grafting mastery to the lower area to bring it back. No fillers used anywhere on the sheet metal pieces. The fully restored and working Klaxon 11 is the real deal as are the handlebars, where in the pictures, you can see the lack of grub screw holes and the end nuts (top of pic) being the larger ones (3330-10) with the 57/64″ x 24 tpi.
I seem to always build the gearboxes first and no surprise, the bike did not have the correct “2 ear” case. A days drive down into the US and a few hundred fixed that. Of interest, note the bronze starter cover / constant mesh starter. The early 1930 V series bikes did not have the constant mesh starter which led to lots of jamming. Note the plunger that helped sort this. Part way through the 1930 model year Harley made available a constant mesh starter replacement upgrade assembly. These had a bronze starter cover. You are looking at one of these very rare NOS pieces. Later 1930 models and onward carried this style of starter finished in a silver color. I finished the starter cover cap black as a nod to the early and the gear box cover in CAD as a nod to the late.
The engine, which are my favorite things to build, feature Truett and Osborn flywheels and many new and NOS parts. Note the bike came with an electronic ignition
from the fellow that has sold these for ages and has an add in the AMCA magazine. He was very helpful to me in getting the install, set up literature.
For the carburetor I chose this beautiful Schebler DLX 72 with original nickel finish and pot metal float bowl as is correct. This carb is fully rebuilt.
The correct early VL generator is also fully rebuilt and the OEM stepped end cover was carefully restored and refinished.
The frame was taken to a shop with a frame / laser rack to review straightness and all was good.
The wheels feature original steel spokes and nipples. To get enough of these that are good and prep / refinish, including nipples, is a lengthy task.
For finishes in general, on this bike, where there was a possibility the parts were originally parkerized or cad, I chose parkerizing which I do myself.
Where the choice was cad or nickel, I chose dull nickel as it is so much more durable. Valve covers and spoke nipples, I always use dull nickel as you would mar off the cad just installing these let alone adjusting. For all brightwork I finished everything in polished nickel which looks so good. The front brake levers were chrome so that and the dash light cover and amp meter bezel are chrome.
Paint – Ok purists lets talk about this. I am well aware that the vast majority of 1930 V series bikes were the gawd awful drab olive. I am also aware that any 1930 model in a different color probably had a tank panel color. As we all know, the colors for 1930 don’t seem to be well documented as well as the 1931 sales brochures etc. We also know that this color combination of black, red and gold striping was available in 1929 and in 1931 so its not a stretch to think is could be an optional paint scheme available in 1930. So my reasoning is firstly that there was no way I was going to spend this kind of time effort and a vast amount of money on a bike finished in the gawd awful drab orange (GADO).
Or, imagine I am a guy on the showroom plank floor of a local Harley Davidson dealership in 1930. I really want to purchase a new V series bike! I can afford to do so but the (GADO) is just not doing anything for me. I look over at a new 1929 JDH finished in the black with the red and gold striping. I ask, “can I get a 1930 VC finished in those colors … just like that JDH?… I can wait” well what do you think the answer would be? For a few bucks more, you better believe they’d sell me one. That’s my answer.
That, and everyone who has seen this 1930 V has flipped … they love the paint scheme.