The designated springer ID thread

318606 Views 731 Replies 207 Participants Last post by govmule84, 3 mo ago

inkmunky

Discussion Starter · Mar 3, 2011 (Edited)

Changed this up so others can put there Springer ID questions here so the board doesn't get clogged with multiple threads.

Just purchased this springer, it's en route to me so this is the only pic i have for now til it comes next week. Looking for any help identifying it. Looks similar to a Sugar Bear (rockers and trees) but the front legs and spuds look different.

Any help would be appreciated.

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681 - 700 of 732 Posts

Thebigguy0811

· #681 · Nov 9, 2020

I acquired it in the late 70's. It appeared well used then. My guess is mfgrd in the 60's. I know to most of us it was not that long ago. "Vintage" was for the youngsters on here.

Medyo Bastos

· #682 · Nov 9, 2020

That’s a p&p square tube girder

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

GONZO

· #683 · Jan 6, 2021

6

I think this is an RL springer, not sure if it’s original or not though? Also I’ve never seen an I-beam style front leg like this one and was wondering if anyone had any info on it? Thanks fellas!
Ben

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rhysmort

· #684 · Jan 6, 2021

What stem is it?

RL's were all 7/8 standard, also shorter than a VL. I also thought RL's were all front leg I beam.. but I'm not hugely versed on them. I know to make them fit a Big twin they need a fair bit of work!

Looks in great shape too!

Ratso

· #685 · Jan 6, 2021

Hey, Gonzo. If it's no inconvenience, would you post a pic or two of the whole springer (as opposed to detail shots)? A side view and a full-frontal would be swell. Thanks.

GONZO

· #686 · Jan 6, 2021 (Edited)

Yeah man, I'll grab you a couple tomorrow. Thanks for the info rhysmort! It's a 1" stem pressed in, ran it on my pan. Couldn't find a pic of front legs like that but I thought it was a VL at the time. I see some now, but not many out there it seems like

Ratso said:
Hey, Gonzo. If it's no inconvenience, would you post a pic or two of the whole springer (as opposed to detail shots)? A side view and a full-frontal would be swell. Thanks.

GONZO

· #687 · Jan 20, 2021

2

Hey man. Sorry, forgot about these pics but here ya go

Ratso said:
Hey, Gonzo. If it's no inconvenience, would you post a pic or two of the whole springer (as opposed to detail shots)? A side view and a full-frontal would be swell. Thanks.

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Ratso

· #688 · Jan 20, 2021

Thank you. (I forgot about it too.)

Pretty sure I've never seen I-beam front legs before. Says here (Wiki) that the RL was produced 1932-36. Were the forks exclusive to that model, anybody know?

govmule84

· #689 · Jan 21, 2021

I just sent pics of that front leg to a buddy the other day. That thing is neat. He's extending an I-beam right now, and that one popped into my head.

I wonder if that's not some sort of flat stock bent and added to a more pedestrian front leg, then welded and cleaned up.

Ratso

· #690 · Jan 21, 2021

Huh.

Looking at post 683, pics #3 and 4, I would guess not. To me the front legs look too deeply indented to be modified cylindricals.

GONZO

· #691 · Jan 22, 2021

Yeah, I’ve done some research and can’t find any info on it or find similar pics. looks like it was cast that way, doesn’t appear to have been modified. 🤷‍♂️

SpringerId

· #692 · Dec 11, 2021

7

Not sure if this thread is still active but can anyone tell me what this Springer is. I've attached a couple of photos including numbers stamped into the side. Thanks

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whittiger650

· #693 · Dec 11, 2021

SpringerId said:
Not sure if this thread is still active but can anyone tell me what this Springer is. I've attached a couple of photos including numbers stamped into the side. Thanks

I can't help you with the manufacturer of your springer, but what an excellent find!!

Zeeman

· #694 · Dec 11, 2021

SpringerId said:
Not sure if this thread is still active but can anyone tell me what this Springer is. I've attached a couple of photos including numbers stamped into the side. Thanks

Early Dick Allen. Round stock under the springs, inline trees (sugar bear springers which took over that design had offset trees) , dick allen rockers, harley spring bridge (early dick allen springers used a few parts off original harley springers). The number in the legs looks to be a social security number. It should also be heavy, as they were made with solid bar stock.

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SpringerId

· #695 · Dec 11, 2021

Hey Zeeman thanks for the info. The Springer is heavy as hell. Is there any where you can point me to get some verification that it is an early dick Allen.
Thanks a bunch

Ratso

· #696 · Dec 12, 2021

A former owner's SSN! That would kind of demolish a thief's claim to ownership. What a good catch, Z.

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SpringerId

· #697 · Dec 12, 2021

Don't worry it's not stolen haha. Got it from an old timer who was off loading a bunch of old panhead stuff and this cam along with it

Zeeman

· #698 · Dec 12, 2021

SpringerId said:
Hey Zeeman thanks for the info. The Springer is heavy as hell. Is there any where you can point me to get some verification that it is an early dick Allen.
Thanks a bunch

The best resources for info on Dick Allen are: the Chopper Handbook page -

Or search the tag dick allen on the MC Art blog, or Irish Rich's Applied Machete blog. All the info there you could want.

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rhysmort

· #699 · Dec 12, 2021

Dick Allen/Sugar bear are great springers. As Zee has stated all OG by the look of it too. I'm not 100% certain (i'm sure somebody will confirm or correct me) but I believe the stem and the like was braised as well. Simple to maintain and the only real wear is in the bushings!

whittiger650

· #700 · Dec 12, 2021

Zeeman said:
Early Dick Allen. Round stock under the springs, inline trees (sugar bear springers which took over that design had offset trees), Dick Allen rockers, Harley spring bridge (early Dick Allen springers used a few parts off original Harley springers). The number in the legs looks to be a social security number. It should also be heavy, as they were made with solid bar stock.

Wow, a very detailed and excellent rundown/identification of the maker of this springer and in short order too!! That's why the JJ rules when it comes to this stuff!! Thank you, Zeeman!!!

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