History Harley-Davidson
1903-1928
In the beginning of the century production of motorcycles was generally concentrated in the Old World. On the American continent it was in embryo. Other companies on production of motorcycles existed that less when, in 1903 brothers Walter and Arthur Devidson together with William Harley collected the first motorcycle, in North American States already. And one of them, “Indian motorcycle company” based in 1901, became the main competitor for Harley-Davidson for many years.
The first Harley-Davidson it is not enough, than differed from production of the competitors. In effect it was the bicycle equipped with the one-cylinder engine rotating the back wheel by means of the leather belt. Bicycle pedals and chains present at this model, were the auxiliary tool for initial dispersal of the motorcycle till the speed at which there was possible the engine start, and as during the lifting uphill when there was no motor capacity. One-cylinder, volume in 165 cubic centimeters the motor, was similar to other existing motorcycle engines. All details were made manually. This motorcycle gathered speed comparable to speed of the person at fast walking (7-8 km/h). The second option of this motorcycle, was accurate with stronger engine which became the first motorcycle for sale.
Three motorcycles were made this year and the Harley-Davidson company opened the first page of the history.
Production of motorcycles in 1904 made 8 cars, next year 16 and in 1906-vozraslo to 50 units. To initial coloring of exclusively black color, added the gray. Bikers of those times, gave the nickname to the motorcycles "gray-silent-friend", is exclusive because of low noise made by the engine and the general color scale of motorcycles. The aspiration to big speeds, moved the Harley-Davidson company on creations of the powerful and strong engine, – well-known – V-Twin.
Having shown at the exhibition of 1907 the new model, Harley-Davidson started to sell it to clients in 1908. This model was equipped with vacuum valves, with use of the belt drive that was distinctive feature of Harley-Davidson of those years.
At once defects as a result of which, after the lapse of one year, the model was laid off were revealed. But configuration of V-Twin was again used in 1911, with addition of mechanical (IOE) of management by valves and uses of the uspokoitel of the chain.
This moment in the history of Harley-Davidson is the first step in the legend birth.
Development of technology began to grow. In 1912 of Harley-Davidson presented the first option of the transmission. The mechanism of chain transfer was developed in 1913, and 1914 there was the two-high-speed transmission settling down behind. During this period the Harley-Davidson company on a level with two-cylinder, one-cylinder engines were issued also.
In the middle of 1919 small “V-Twins” with volume in 578cm/3 with the horizontal arrangement which were issued till 1923 were made.
In 1912 the volume of engines grew with 812cm/3 to 1000cm/3. And in 1921 there was well-known “seventy four” – 1200cm/3. Constantly carrying out improvement in V-Twin engines, designers of the company could not get rid of the main problems inherent in this motor as still, at open valves the last constantly got littered, quickly wore out, were difficult in operation and service.
At this time competitors of Harley-Davidson – “Indian Motorcycle Company” let out “V”-shaped the engine with the flat head of cylinders. Theoretically this design was less effective, but engineers brought it to perfection, having received the greatest possible capacity, and ease in service. The company management Harley-Davidson came to a conclusion that there came time when it is necessary for them to create the individual class V-shaped of motors with the longitudinal arrangement. The first sample which appeared on streets of the cities in the last days of the second decade.
1929-1935
At the first motorcycles of Harley-Davidson with the Flathead V-twin engine total in volume made 730cm/3. This motor completed model D which successfully competed to Indian Scout and proved as the high-quality engine having long life up to 1973. He was used on different models: three-wheeled Servi Car, military WLA in the fortieth, racing WR in the fifties and тд.
As Flathead V-twin with volume in 1200cm/3 and 1300cm/3 were made. But they existed not long time and did not possess reliability inherent 730cm/3 to motors.
Flathead motors were completed with valves with the lateral arrangement (side-valves), had smaller efficiency, than engines with the top arrangement of valves or the hybrid of Flathead (F-head intake over exhaust) at which only inlet the valve had from above. But classical Flathead appeared much easier in service and could compete to the products Indian Motorcycle Company. Engineering tables of calculation of capacity convincingly show that the greatest return at Flathead, in comparison with F-head, occurred at high turns of the engine from for his lightweight and there was the loss at the low.
Unfortunately Flathead appeared for few months till “black Monday” on October 29, 1929 when the Great Depression began. At this time sale of Harley-Davidson fell more than twice, but the company managed to stand, whereas many other were ruined. In the mid-thirties, when the economy was stabilized, Harley-Davidson had the advantageous position – great demand at almost total absence of the offer. Till 1929 the company concentrated on release of V-twin of motors. At the time of the Depression of Harley-Davidson began development of one-cylinder motors of new generation. At the same time and Big-twin were not forgotten. At the end of 1935, to 1200cm/3 to motors added 1300cm/3 option.
Leading developers of the Harley-Davidson company were declined to opinion that the motorcycle world is on the threshold of emergence of engines of new generation and development essentially other motor began in 1931. This process borrowed a little more than five years, but Panhead given rise as a result of this long development proved to be from the best party. At the same time, and Flathead, was not thrown. Harley-Davidson continued his release for Servi Car complete set up to 1973.
1936-1947
Through short time after the beginning of release of V-Twin of the motor with open Harley-Davidson valves started development of the engine with the top arrangement of valves. In the new motor there were no revolutionary changes, except the configuration of valves (though in one-cylinder motors such constructive decision it was already used). It is possible to call the unique innovation development of the new case of the engine and new system of greasing though as it is necessary to note, the case turned out not tight and oil constantly followed.
The size of the new motor was 1200cm/3 against standard for those times – 1300 kubovy, and 1000cm/3 the engine was made in 1935. Owing to the new design decision, the new engine developed big capacity. Data of engineers of the company showed that standard “seventy four” (1200cm/3) developed 30 p/a, in summary increases in the compression, to 36 p/a. At the same time it was less, than 40 p/a inherent new to the motor. The original name of the new motor – 640HV, bikers of those times, named them “Knucklehead” as visually they were similar to the first two stones of the compressed fist. The motorcycles equipped with V-twin engines were объеденины in the series-E. Motors of the series-E had 6,5:1 compression and gave 37 p/a. The EL series at capacity in 40L/with had the compression 7:1.
Except the new OHV motor the series E – had two innovations – the four-high-speed transmission and well-known, habitual for us now, the board of devices placed on the fuel tank.
In 1941 big 1200 kubovy motors appeared in the series-F. In the skor after that the company refused to continue release of Flathead of motors with volume in 1300cm/3, at the same time 1200 kubovy motors held on till 1948.
The Second World War caused emergence new 730cm/3 the motor with original configuration of the engine at which cylinders at the horizontal arrangement were focused to the opposite sides. This model intended for driving on off road terrain and sand, was completed with the driveshaft and protective disks of wheels. In factory terminology the model had “WLA” index, and was расстиражированна by request of the American army in number of 88 thousand cars. The same model at other, bigger engine displacement turned out not same successful. At release of only 1000 pieces any of them did not get to army.
So left that the Knucklehead model held on in the market of 12 years, from them the bigger piece of time fell on war, but influence of this motor on the subsequent, engineering development, is incommensurable to quantity of the made motorcycles during this period. They created base for the subsequent BigV-Twin of motors.
1948-1965
Engineers kompaniiharley-Davidson continued to work strenuously over Knucklehead even during the Second World War. Designers changed the motor configuration, with addition of the hydraulic pusher of valves that gave the chance will get rid of continuous adjustments of gaps. Thanks to the aluminum case of the engine, motor heatreturn increased, and he began to heat up less. New covers of cylinders looked like the overturned frying pan, for what bikers nicknamed him Penhead. This model appeared in 1948 and opened the new era in the history of Harley-Davidson. Next year there is the Hydra-Glide model, equipped forward the fork with the telescopic shock-absorber.
Within the next years changes were not so considerable. In 1952 there is "mini-revolution" in Big-twin configuration – manual coupling and foot gear shifting. As any innovation, this updating in configuration, demanded time for accustoming, but to the middle of decade bikers accustomed with the innovation.
The main event of 1953 had that no general with mechanical transformations or design development. The fifty years' competitor of Harley-Davidson – the Indian Motorcycle Company company stopped the existence. IMC did not possess considerable financial power and when in America there were foreign motorcycles, it pushed off the company in the financial abyss. That less, Harley-Davidson had the set of problems in the field of production sale from for the become aggravated competition to the Japanese and European motorcycle companies. Release of the series of conditionally small models, for example such as one-cylinder, duple S-125, being issued till the end of the 50th years with minor changes becomes the decision.
By this period as it is necessary to refer replacement 730cm/3 from the series W on the series To. In 1952 of change in Flathead V-Twin are connected with association in the uniform case of the transmission and the engine, and new system of the suspension bracket. In 1955 730cm/3 Flathead increases volume to 883cm/3, and in three years evolves in the sports XLCH model.
Harley-Davidson celebrates the 50th anniversary, letting out models of 1954 in anniversary design. Why 1954, instead of 1953 still remains the riddle. All next anniversaries, for the reference point, take 1903. In 1958 of Harley-Davidson renames Hydra-Glide into Duo-Glide. And further till 1965 as be considerable transformations was not, except emergence of model equipped with the electrostarter and called Electro-Glide. By the way, this model is issued and today as the big motorcycle for tourism.
1966-1983
At the complete set the electrostarter, with the accumulator increased on capacity, and the complete set of the decorative elements Electro Glide weighed about 363 kgs. That should affect high-speed characteristics of the motorcycle. Designers of Harley-Davidson make the decision to add capacity of Big-twin engines, by increase in the piston stroke at 10 %. Covers of cylinders, at new motors, turned out similar to the overturned sovok shovel, because of what were nicknamed (all motorcycles of this model range) – Shovelhead. Than that this engine reminded Sportster of ten years' prescription.
Who could not expect that the next 18 years the Harley-Davidson company will experience huge difficulties and problems.
After the beginning of sale of shares in 1965 of Harley-Davidson it appeared involved in heavy fight against foreign producers. The profit promptly fell, and the financial picture of the company looked very much and very badly. The management of Harley-Davidson started to look for corporate buyers and aspires to connection with other firm.
In January, 1969 the American Machine and Foundry (AMF) company buys Harley-Davidson controlling stake, and becomes the actual owner of leading motorcycle firm of the world. New owners of the company see the future of the motorcycle industry in development of scale of small motorcycles, and together with the Italian company Aermacchi let out one-cylinder, with the four-cycle engine in volume in 250cm/3, Sprint motorcycle. Slightly the late appears the duple. These motorcycles had that no general with Harley-Davidson except the name. But that less they decently impaired a little reputation of classical Harleys. In addition to this Harley-Davidson began to lose the Big-twin and Sportster market. To the middle 70х years both models were in unequal situation in comparison with Japanese competitors who appeared slightly better, and is much cheaper. A little later the sales level of Sportster increased, but quality and the price still were not at height. Too it is possible to tell and concerning Big-twin.
And still, despite all these difficulties, in the history of Harley-Davidson there were also good moments. In 1971 FX Super Glide is let out. Willie Devidson – the grandson of one of founders of the company was the chief designer and which designer. It was the first motorcycle which the factory made to order. Though this model did not become very popular, that less on the basis of Super Glide, Harley-Davidson develops the subsequent, unique motorcycles.
As a result of development of design thought and design development, for all seventieth years, it became clear that under the direction of the AMF company moves in the false direction. The board of directors of Harley-Davidson proposes to AMF firm, return repayment of the controlling stake. As occurs in June, 1981.
Harley-Davidson again becomes independent.
The returnable way to the status of the dominating company in the market of qualitative and unique motorcycles was not easy, but this aspiration of Harley-Davidson all workers supported, the dealer, bikers …
1984-2002
After directors of Harley-Davidson redeemed the controlling stake from the AMF company, appeared much новшест: the belt drive the first (from the motor to the box) and the second (from the box to the back wheel), new configuration of the motor, five high-speed transmission.
All this was offered for the additional payment.
In 1983 on the FXRS model there was the new fork of "anti-deve".
Motorcycle of Sportster XR-1000 equipped with the two-chamber carburetor.
In 1984 there is “Evolution V2 ″ with the aluminum head. The motor still had 1300cm/3 volume, but with the bigger compression, and he worked at usual gasoline without lead additives. In the course of the subsequent improvement of the motor, engineers and the designer achieved required result; silent, powerful and more reliable engine. Bikers nicknamed the Blockhead motor.
But not all motorcycles of this year were equipped with Evolution motors, on motorcycles of Elictra-Glide old Shovelhead were established. With the new motor there was new, so-called “the wet coupling” which allowed to switch more softly speeds. As there was the new system of the back suspension bracket which has given to the motorcycle unusually soft movement. Emergence of option of the frame which is offered and in the presents time belongs to the same period.
Innovations of the Evolution motor were as are used on V-twin motors with which completed Sportster. These changes became the biggest, in the Sportster V-twin series since 1957. Engines did with volume in 883sm/3 and 1100 cm/3, and in 1988 there was the motor with volume in 1200 cm/3. With the advent of the Evolution Harley-Davidson motor made many motorcycles by the individual order. The good example to that the FLSTF Fat-Boy model, and also anniversary models let out to 85, 90, and the 95th anniversary. Harley-Davidson takes the enviable position in the business world: demand much more exceeds the offer that constantly rises the price of production and valuable corporate papers.
(Yet did not estimate)
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