BRASS (BRONZE) LINKERT CARBURETORS
AS INSTALLED ON HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FACTORY PRODUCTION MODELS FROM 1933 – 1965

– SALUTING ALL OUR VETERANS –

Home of the Free Because of the Brave

INTRODUCTION

This website has no agenda, I hope it gives insight for those who wish to restore their Harley-Davidson’s carburetor.

This website is for the preservation of information through pictures of all the M model Linkert series used on Harley-Davidson motorcycles as produced by the Harley-Davidson factory. This includes variants of the same models. For example, the M41 has three variants of that model. Model variants include series changes such as 2-338 vs 2-348, or 4 vs 3-line manufacturer information, or 2 vs 4 bolt air induction mounting. Model variants do not include the lettering or font changes of the M numbers, manufacturers name, or address. Model variants documented here also will not include round body vs machined body variants.

The Linkert’s metal composition of body or parts will be referred to as brass, pewter, copper, or steel for simplicity.

Every effort is made to use original parts or refurbished or repaired original parts. There are no zinc plated parts used. There are no stainless-steel parts used. There are some re-plated modern hardware and re-produced parts that are modified back to original, or as close as possible. There are parts that are re-plated; white cadmium plated, parkerized, nickel plated, blackened or re-painted. Unfortunately, many original parts are very scarce, not available, or too pricey.

It should be noted that many original plated parts and re-plated parts have different textures and qualities about them due to how old they are, when they were plated, what companies plated them, if the parts were polished or not polished, and/or how the parts were prepared. For examples: the M41, 2-348, 4 lines, 4 bolt, Military carburetor with the 7” air cleaner, might appear to have the body painted silver when it is nickel plated. The M5, 2-348, 4 lines, 4 bolt has a polished manifold, where this manifold should not be polished. Also, there are some OEM parts that are plated nickel that appear to be plated white CAD due to age or conditions in storage?

And not every knowledgeable person (expert) that shared their firsthand knowledge and years of experience agree on everything. For example: if small plated parts were polished or not, or plated at all? Then again, the Harley-Davidson produced parts catalogs that cover the years brass Linkert’s were assembled have only two fuel valves and needle sets listed. However, the fuel valve and needle sets were most likely made by outside venders and there are at least 5 different combinations used from 1930 to 1965.

Regardless of the actual year, these carburetors are restored as closely as possible to NEW AS INSTALLED ON A NEW HARLEY-DAVIDSON FROM THE FACTORY. Which might seem like an impossible task. So, I’m going to use the following premise: That, On a perfect day, in a perfect situation, with all the parts coated and available from all outside vendors and the factory’s supplied parts as ordered by Harley-Davidson for assembly––What would the carburetors have looked like? However, some are left in the condition as found, if determined that most of the carburetor is in original condition. Occasionally on this site, a picture or pictures of an M model that came from the factory in an original package will be included with the restored M model of the same. When a carburetor is currently unavailable, pictures obtained with permission will be used if required.

Over the years many Linkert carburetors no longer exist in the original configuration as installed at the factory. Most carburetors have been overhauled, rebuilt, modified, and parts interchanged by race teams, factory dealers, independent motorcycles shops, or individual Harley motorcycle owners, (not to mention parts interchanged with different carburetor manufactures, types, and models.) Many small parts were installed without being plated simply due to unavailable plated parts at the time the carburetor was assembled and packaged by Linkert or Harley-Davidson. These un-plated parts might include idle hole plugs, passage plugs, fuel valves, drain plugs, choke shafts, or choke discs. Still many Linkert carburetor bodies were stripped of their paint, bodies polished, and/or chromed. Many more had the plugs, fixed jets, venturi, main nozzles changed or modified, or even had the original M series for their Harley-Davidson motorcycles removed and a different M model installed.

And: There is no doubt that over the years parts stocked and re-stocked by factory and non-factors dealers who received many carburetors and parts that were not plated according to the years that correspond to the years that a particular Linkert M model was installed by the Harley-Davidson factory on their motorcycles.

For example: Most original 1930 to 1939 nickel plated carburetors have nickel plated fuel valves, as some later carburetors have cadmium plated fuel valves and many that do not.  Even carburetor parts originally packaged in OEM H-D boxes, you will find both plated the same as H-D factory produced motorcycles or some parts not plated at all.  For most of the carburetors in this collection, they are built and plated as original produced for H-D production motorcycles.  A few are left as found and then there are BEFORE pictures that are diffidently ‘as found’, when I had the foresight to take them.  

It is my opinion if you were to restore a carburetor with a brass non-plated fuel valve, choke disc, choke shaft, brass idle or passageway plug the carburetor would certainly pass inspection from most judges.

There are many original carburetors hidden from public view in private and corporate collections where research access is limited, most importantly the Harley-Davidson Museum where access has its limits. Many are scattered in collections spanning the country, hemisphere and globe and may simply be out of the reach of many including this researcher.

This website is a work in progress and relies on many sources of information and experience. I am sure that there are many errors, I apologize in advance. Like I stated before I have collected these carburetors to preserve a historical record and I am constantly learning. I do not restore or overhaul Linkert carburetors for the general motorcycle public nor do I sell carburetors or parts. I do include some recommendations for services later in this introduction.

My personal experience started when, at 16, I purchased a ‘basket case’ 51’ panhead chopper (photo below), all the way to 2010 when I began to restore a WLA (photo below) then started collecting Linkert carburetors used on Harley-Davidsons, which you will see listed below. However, I acquired a lot of knowledge and reference materials from the following books and or websites that I will list below. And many discussions with knowledgeable persons, (experts).

My Thanks to the references I’ve listed below this Carburetor Index.