What was the first Harley Davidson carburetor made of? That’s right, a tomato can!
The first HD motorcycle had a single-cylinder engine and could only go up the 25 miles per hour… and had a tomato can carburetor. Times have certainly changed since 1901, when William S. Harley and machinist Arthur Davidson, had designed the first Harley-Davidson motorcycle. With the help of the other two Davidson brothers (William A. and Walter), the foursome launched their business out of a backyard garage in 1903, and the first three machines were completed and sold by the C.H. Lang dealership of Chicago.
Carburetors create a combustible mix of gasoline and air. This gives the engine power to create the driving force to propel the vehicle forward. Nowadays, instead of using a tomato can carburetor, carburetors’ molded bodies are made from lightweight alloy or aluminum.
Throughout history, Harley-Davidson has redesigned its bikes to be better than before. The company has truly come a long way from designing the first Harley Davidson carburetor. There is a reason they are the most iconic motorcycle in the world!
If you need a carburetor rebuild kit, we’ve got you covered… No tomato can necessary.
