Facts, Fables and Opinions

1929	SERIAL NUMBERS KJ or KL 28000 and up - Ballak #1 KL? The "Special" was announced in May 1930 - there were no 1929 KL's - Dave Hennessey EXHAUST Earliest 1929's did not have the exhaust system packing nuts, the pipes were fastened to the cylinders by set screws - Jay Zanetti  This is visible in both the Streamliner Owner's Manual and the 1929 brochure GENERATOR 1929-1930 KJ used the DU-7 - Steve Blancard and Steve Blancard INTAKE VALVE GREASE CUPS Grease cups were added under the intake valve springs starting in August 1929. Dealers were urged to retrofit machines - Service 08-05-1929 Later announced as standard for 1930 models - Dealer #30-1 HORN 1929-1930 KJ used the Klaxon 11 - photo identification guide
1930	SERIAL NUMBERS KJ or KL 33000 and up - Ballak #1 GENERATOR 1929-1930 KJ used the DU-7 - Steve Blancard and Steve Blancard "The Splitdorf DU-5" - The 1930 Rider's Manual; However, general agreement is that this is a holdover from the De Luxe, as they shared the same Rider's Manual - Blancard, Ruiter, Hennessey. WHEELS "New 18" Drop Center Rims" - Dealer #30-1 1930 Parts Book lists both 18 inch and 19 inch rims. Wheels, etc. are painted black - Restoral Society - Paint "I have looked high and low for factory proof of black wheels to no avail." - Steve Ciccalone Period photos of Police bikes with BLACK wheels CAMSHAFT "A new camshaft gives quieter valve action and more efficient timing" - Dealer #30-1 Intake lift was reduced... - Hendry - Cycle 1954 CYLINDERS KL model used different cylinders than the KJ did - photo comparison
1931	SERIAL NUMBERS KJ or KL 35000 and up - Ballak #1 GENERATOR "The new Hendersons are fitted with larger generators, ..." - Dealer #31-1 In 1931 the Auto-Lite generator replaced the Splitdorf until the end of Henderson production - Steve Blancard Auto-Lites were phased in during 1931. Early had DU-7, late had Auto-Lite - Jay Zanetti HEADLIGHT "New headlamps" - Dealer #31-1 - colloquially known as "John Brown". FRONT BRAKE "Detail refinements have been made in the operating mechanism of the front brakes, ..." - Dealer #31-1 Front brake pulled from the bottom not the top - Perry Ruiter, Dave Hennessey HORN "New horns...latest disc type" - Dealer #31-1 Several styles of horn face have been seen - which is correct?