Motorcycle, Solo (Harley-Davidson Model WLA)

About this book

This work is a United States War Department technical manual for the Harley‑Davidson Model WLA solo motorcycle, issued during World War II. It opens with a straightforward statement of purpose: to provide a description of the bike and the technical data needed for identification, operation, and upkeep. The text then outlines its structure, Part One covering operating instructions and Part Two detailing maintenance procedures for personnel tasked with service. What follows is a systematic enumeration of specifications (engine type, dimensions, performance figures) and a step‑by‑step guide to controls, pre‑starting checks, and the various starting techniques for cold, warm, hot, or dead‑battery conditions. The manual also includes cautions about engine wear, brake use, and signal‑light interpretation, all presented in a matter‑of‑fact style that assumes a military audience familiar with ordnance and quartermaster protocols.

The voice is that of an official wartime handbook: concise, directive, and heavily annotated with warnings and procedural footnotes. Its language reflects 1940s military documentation, employing terms such as “pre‑operation service,” “jurisdiction,” and “ordnance service.” Readers who enjoy detailed mechanical reference material, particularly those interested in historic military vehicles, vintage motorcycle restoration, or the logistics of World War II equipment, will find the manual’s precise, no‑frills exposition both informative and evocative of its era.