American Iron Magazine Presents 1001 Harley-Davidson Facts

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Tyler Greenblatt. American Iron Magazine Presents 1001 Harley-Davidson Facts

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Dedication

Foreword by Buzz Kanter

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62 The top dog Model X8E took performance a step further by using the first chain-drive system to drive the rear wheel. Actually, it used two chains. The engine transfers power to a primary chain, which spins a set of gears that operate the final drive chain, which fits around a gear on the rear wheel hub. This was a first, as was the first use of the traditional primary chain cover. A slotted gear on the left side of the crankshaft oiled the primary chain as well as the drive chain. Represented by the E designation, both twin options could be ordered with a chain or a belt, while singles weren’t offered with a chain until 1913.

The defining look of the left side of a Harley-Davidson came to fruition in 1912 with the first appearance of a chain-driven rear wheel. The belt drive connected the engine pulley directly to the rear wheel. However, the chain-drive used a series of sprockets at the engine and the pedals, and at the rear wheel. Look at any new Big Twin and you’ll see that it uses the exact same pattern, albeit with a belt instead of a chain.

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