Manuals, Equipment, Tools & Spare Parts

During assembly, each WLA was fitted with specially designed equipment for military use.
A Tool Roll, Spare Parts Kit and various Manuals were provided with each motorcycle.

Image from Bruce Palmer's 'How to restore your military HD'

On this type II Factory photo; note the windshield apron, the leg shields, skid plate, luggage carrier and the brand new tan leather saddle bags. The rear view mirror mounted on the far side of the handlebars is hidden by the leatherette windshield apron.
The M1940 Submachine Gun scabbard (or other carrier) was a Quartermaster item and was supplied in the vehicle's unit.

Manuals

It is not quite clear which Technical Manuals (TM) were provided with each WLA, but most probably each motorcycle would have been issued with at least two publications listed on the motorcycle's data plate.

*TM 10-1174 or 10-1482 Parts List for Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Solo Model WLA
*TM 10-1175 Operation and Maintenance Manual Harley-Davidson Military Motorcycle Model 42WLA Solo
*TM 9-879 Motorcycle, Solo (Harley-Davidson Model WLA)
*Ordnance Supply Catalog ORD 7-8-9 SNL G523

Below are original manuals from the webmaster's collection.

 TM 9-879 (left), dated 18 October 1943, contains a description of the motorcycle and technical information required for the  identification, use and care of the vehicle. Basically it's a guide for personnel charged with operation, maintenance and minor repairs and was issued with Type VI and VII 42WLAs.
TM 10-1175 (middle) contains specific information about engine and gearbox maintenance and overhaul of motorcycles built under Contract Numbers W-398-QM-10530 and W-398-QM-11782. The webmaster's Type III 42WLA31854 was made in this contract. The manual is dated April 1942 and issued with types I thru V.
The SNL G523 (right), dated 15 September 1944, lists all parts and includes all changes to the different types, provided with Type VI and VII.

Lubrication Order

Although lubrication guides were printed in the vehicles' manuals, during the later stage of WW2 a separate guide was issued with each vehicle. Jeep owners will know that it was attached under the hood of the vehicle from late 1944 onwards.
The 15 September 1944 edition of SNL G-523 lists a Lubrication Order to be issued with each bike. The form of this order is not clear but it could have been a decal as issued with other equipment in the later stages of WW2. This decals may have been applied to the oil tank of late production bikes, or it was stuck onto the tank once the bike was sold as surplus after the end of WW2.

 DRMO Photo via Dave Thomas

 The picture above shows an official sale of a brandnew WLA in the immediate postwar period.
The US Government sold thousands of surplus vehicles thru the DRMO (Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office) where US citizens could obtain original US Government surplus property.
The date of the sale above is not known but as Jeep sales have been reported as early as 1947, we can assume the motorcycle sale happened around the same year.

The bike, which is obviously a late type and unissued, has a large decal stuck on the oil tank.
On the photograph it is not clear what the decal is, but the WLA on display in the Harley-Davidson Museum, shown below, has an identical decal stuck to the tank. It is a March 15th, 1945 dated Lubrication Order LO 9-879.

 Private Photo from Gerard Lameloise

By late 1944, these decals seem to have been a common thing for different US Army equipment.
Lex Schmidt has similar decals in his collection which are shown below.
They are Lubrication Orders for Compressors, Battery Charger , etc....
The dimensions of these decals are about 6"3/4 x 8"1/2. This matches the decal on the WLA in the HD-museum.

Decals from the Lex Schmidt Collection

Military Equipment

The 42WLA motorcycle was based on existing models and many parts were identical to the ones used on civilian production bikes. Special military parts were designed to withstand rugged Army use. The chart below lists these parts as described in TM9-879 and SNL G523.

* The Scabbard, Submachine Gun, M1940 was not issued with the bike from the factory.

Wind Shield & Leg Shields

Photo from the Webmaster's Collection

 Although the WLA above is clearly a Type VI or VII, it sports an early leatherette windshield apron.
The absence of the BO Driving Light gives a clear view on the complete windshield as mounted on the WLA.
The bike belongs to the 542nd AAA Automatic Weapons Battalion attached to the US 15th Army (15A 542AAA)
The unit performed Military Police duties in Germany in 1945 and the windshield might have been added for that purpose.
Note the missing Ammo Box from its bracket on the front forks.

The Windshield Apron was made of Leatherette up to 42WLA42000. From about June 1943, Canvas was used.
Both leatherette and canvas apron had the same Part Number 11306-41BN

   

NOS Leatherette Windshield Apron as used on Type I thru Type IV 42WLA.
The image on the right shows typical brown paper wrapping and markings for WLA parts during WW2.

As war progressed sometimes windshields were adapted or improvised from whatever material available.

Photo from the Webmaster's Collection

To accomodate the tall rider, the upper part of the windshield on the WLA above has been enlarged by lengthening the metal frame above the apron.
The motorcycle is marked to an 8th Service Command Military Police Unit on the front fender and ammo box.
The M5 Tank which seems brand-new, bears no unit insignia.
The 8th Service Command comprised units and camps in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.
The Jeep in the background carries markings of a Tank Destroyer unit.
The motorcycle does not have a Black Out light, but does carry a large pursuit light on the right front forks.

Photo from the Webmaster's Collection

 A makeshift black metal shield has been added to the standard solo windshield frame on the WLA above.
Both motorcycle and other vehicles visible in the picture belong to the 822nd MP Company,
stationed in Berlin in the summer of 1945.
Note how white rimmed pursuit lights have been fitted and even the small marker light's lens has been painted white.
A rectangular 'British Style' rear view mirror is attached to the right handlebars.

The rider wears a British made motorcycle helmet marked to his function.

Leg Shields were packed separately in the wooden transport crate and were not always fitted upon assembly.
Since legshields were only meant to be used in cold weather, they were generally not mounted or only the bracket was bolted on the frame.  

   
Photos: Dave Thomas

A pair of original unrestored legshields. Note the protection plate on the right shield to avoid contact with the front exhaust pipe.

The above decal warned the rider about the dangers of using the legshields in hot weather.
It was applied to the right legshield only.

Saddlebags

A set of two saddlebags (Part Number 11786-XM) was supplied with each bike. They were made in both smooth grain and pebble grain brown leather. These bags mount to the special plates on the luggage rack by means of brackets riveted to the bag. Each bag has two tie-back straps on the sides to keep the bags from swinging. The covers are secured with three leather straps with black painted or parkerized steel buckles. A leather re-inforcement was stitched to the back of each bag.

The WLC Bags (Part Number 11786-43) are equipped with a large leather pocket sewn inside the bag. Other than that they are similar to the WLA Bags.

Original bags in good condition are extremely rare!

   
Saddle Bags from the Webmaster's Collection

Note the internal pocket in the WLC style bags on the right

Gun Scabbards

Each WLA was equipped with a Gun Carrier Rack on the right side of the front forks. Generally the rider carried a Thompson Sub Machine Gun in the M1940 leather scabbard. However all types of weapons could be fitted to the rack, either in the TSMG Scabbard, M1 Carbine or M1938 Rifle Scabbard as illustrated below.
Except for one example observed on a wartime picture, WLC's were never equipped with a Gun Rack or Ammo Box on the front forks. 

Top to bottom:
Scabbard, Submachinegun, M1940 with M1A1 Thompson SMG
Scabbard, Rifle, M1938 with M1 (Garand) Rifle
Scabbard, Carbine, M1A1 with Folding Stock M1A1 Carbine

These scabbards were fitted in the unit's motorpool from Quartermaster Department stocks and were not issued with the bike upon delivery from the Harley-Davidson factory. Vehicles and weapons were supplied by the Ordnance Corps. 
The Milwaukee Saddlery Company (MILSCO), which also made leather seats for Harley-Davidson and many other leather items for the US Army of WW2, was the main supplier of these scabbards; but other contactors such as Graton & Knight Company also supplied leather goods.

   

Typical markings on leather equipment made by MILSCO (left) and Graton & Knight Co (right)

The Thompson Sub Machinegun and M1 Carbine were the most common weapons carried by WLA riders, but some prefered the trusty M1 Rifle (Garand), favored for its accuracy and long range.

Stills from US Army Signal Corps Film Reels/National Archives

Personnel from Divisional Headquarters of the 82nd Airborne Division load a WLA aboard a WACO glider prior to the Normandy Drop, June 1944.
Note the M1 Rifle carried in the M1938 Rifle Scabbard.
The headlight glass has been painted over for Black-Out purposes.

Tool Kits

42WLA Type I thru IV came with the smaller Tool Kit 11800-40A containing only a basic set of tools. From Type V on, the larger Tool Kit 11800-44, containing more tools, was provided. Although not shown in the manual, the tire pump issued with the Type V and later was longer than the one with the earlier tool kit.
Whether or not the earlier types were retrofitted with the larger tool roll in the motorpool is not clear, but safe to assume....
Harley-Davidson bought its tools mainly from the J.P. Danielson Company Inc of Jamestown, N.Y. and most are unmarked, except for size on the open end wrenches.
No doubt as war progressed other makes were included in the tool rools, either at the factory or in a unit's motorpool. So tools made by Crescent, Vlchek, Williams, Barcalo Buffalo, Irwin, etc... would not be historically incorrect.

The table below gives a list of the tools carried in the tool roll, along with the different manufacturers of the tools. The columns on the right show which tools were included in the early and late sets.

Below are examples of complete kits......

Tool Kit 11800-40A as provided with Type I thru IV 42WLA



Scan from US Army Technical Manual 10-1482, Dated January 1st, 1943
Mouse Over image for an Early Tool Set from the Webmaster's Collection

Tool Kit 11800-44 as provided with Type V, VI and VII 42WLA



Scan from US Army Ordnance Supply Catalog ORD 7-8-9 G523 dated 15 September 1944
Mouse Over image for a Late Tool Set from the Webmaster's Collection

Spare Parts Kit

The Spare Parts Roll contained a selection of parts to allow roadside repair.
Earlier models only had a Rear Chain Repair Link furnished, but Types V, VI and VII were provided with the kit described below. 

* Lamp Units from other manufacturers like Corcoran Brown, Arrow, Yankee, etc... would of course also fit.

Spare Parts Kit as provided with Type V, VI and VII 42WLA



Scan from US Army Technical Manual 9-879, Dated October 18th, 1943
Mouse Over image for a Spare Parts Roll from the Webmaster's Collection

  
Webmaster's Collection

This WW2 ad for Diamond Roller Chains features several vehicles in which Diamond chains are used.
Top left shows Harley-Davidson WLA Motorcycles.
The Front Chain Repair Link provided in the Spare Parts Kit was supplied by Diamond Chain & Mfr Company.

A complete and original Tool Set and Spare Parts Pouch are the ultimate accessories to any restored WLA!