Knucklehead Parts

Reproduction crankcases which meet or exceed highest restoration demands. Cast from state-of-the-art materials and machined on CNC equipment for strength and precise fitment. Intended to work with stock or identically constructed engine components. Finished and detailed like the original counterparts so these cases will smoothly blend into your old mill to give it a new life. For ease of installation both case halves are carefully matched and feature pre-installed case bushings, which are line bored and lapped for standard rollers. Cam bushings are already in place and reamed. (For exact measures pls see facts).
All cases feature laser-engraved CB production numbers, which are registered and filed.

These Knucklehead style cylinder heads are precise reproductions of the stock counterparts and show all the small details like cast-in number tags and foundry markings. Thus they make for great replacements for your worn top end or to build a factory look-alike engine. They are manufactured after 1940-1947 heads with large intake ports. The pre-installed, but unmachined valve seats are sized for stock intake and exhaust valves and hardened for the use of today’s unleaded fuels.

Reproductions of Knucklehead style cylinder heads, cast from aluminum. The advantages of this material are obvious: besides the significant weight savings of approx. 4 kg per head, they dissipate heat much better than their cast iron counterparts. That's why the Motor Company implemented aluminum heads on the follow-up Panhead series.
On the down side you have a somewhat lower robustness, which is not really relevant on stock motors, however, when high revs and compression rates, or nitrous and supercharging come into play, well, that’s a different story. So, as always, race oriented riders and their mechanics have to decide which route they would follow.
The design closely matches that of 1940-1947 heads with large intake ports. But technically the Cannonball heads are not just 1:1 copies of the cast iron patterns. That wouldn't work. For a safe operation of both valve seats and guides the manufacturer established additional material around them to securely hold everything in place. Valve seats are pre-installed and sized for stock intake and exhaust valves, but unmachined. They are hardened for the use of today’s unleaded fuels. Steel inserts for the head bolts feature factory threads. The heads show all the small details like cast-in number tags and foundry markings, so they make for excellent stock replacements or for building a performance engine with factory look when you camouflage them with black paint.

Authentic reproductions of Knucklehead rocker housings as used by the factory from 1938-1947. You can install them as they come or brush and polish to your personal liking. Precisely machined on CNC equipment for a perfect fit.

Precise reproduction of the factory cam as used in 61” OHV Knuckleheads 1936-1939. All measurements and specs were taken from an original example. It features the distinctive six lightening holes in the gear, hence the nickname "Light(e)ning" cam. Fits all Knucklehead 61” and 74” models and years.

Knucklehead tappet guides are rare bits and examples, that are still in good working condition, are almost impossible to find.
But help is on the way: Cannonball tappet guides are cast and meticulously machined in Germany to OEM specs and fit OEM and Cannonball Knucklehead cases. Just paint or coat them and you're ready to go.

A typical problem of original Knucklehead cylinder heads you find on swap meets are missing tabs for the rocker housing. These cast iron weld-on or solder-on tabs might help you make a good deal. They are made exactly like the original tabs and after you have drilled and trimmed them to length you just have to find a good welder to put them back onto your heads.

Reproduction of the early Knucklehead cast iron oil pump as used by the factory 1936-1940, however, the pump will fit all Knuckles and even early Panheads (with solid lifters). It comes un-assembled with all gears, check valve and bypass valve.

Custom intake manifold which allows direct installation of Bendix and Keihin (butterfly) carburetors on 1940-1954 Knuckleheads und Panheads without adapters or cylinder head modifications. Made extra wide (97 mm), which is excellent when you build an engine with longer cylinders or stroker plates. Requires to be shortened to match the respective situation.

Reproduction of the stock intake manifold for Knuckleheads and Panheads in lightweight cast aluminum. Made extra wide (97 mm), which is excellent when you build an engine with longer cylinders or stroker plates. Requires to be shortened to match the respective situation.

Accurate reproduction of the brass seal washer for Knucklehead right side rocker arm shaft nuts.

When the factory started to omit the priming cups in late 1936 such plugs were installed to close the existing holes in the cylinder heads. These exact duplicates replace your missing, worn or wrong parts. Of course, it can also be used as a drain plug.