Belt on right side??

[butch27]

I found a pic of a 1939 Simplex and the belt drive is on the RIGHT side also the fender indent is there. Is this correct?

[pd]

All the '39 pics I've seen show a left drive .

http://tinyurl.com/koybv5k

[Mike Sal]

I think the 39's would have still be direct drive, so the belt would be on the right side.
Mike Sal

[butch27]

What year did they change over?  Mine is a 1945 model H.

[Ricks]

What year did they change over?  Mine is a 1945 model H.

In 1940, Simplex came out with a clutch model, but offered a direct drive model into 1941. 

[Ricks]

All the '39 pics I've seen show a left drive .

http://tinyurl.com/koybv5k

Pete, the problem with your link to google, is it brings up a lot of pictures of Simplexes, none of which are 1939!

This bike below is probably a 1940 Direct Drive. I am trying to get an engine number from the guy.

A 1939 would be similar, but without the crash bars and footpads, but with footpegs.

[pd]

"Pete, the problem with your link to google, is it brings up a lot of pictures of Simplexes, none of which are 1939!"

I thought those looked a bit newer . The ones I checked stated they were 1939 . Obviously , they know not of which they speak . I have a thing or two to learn , too .

Sorry for unintentionally misleading anyone .

Pete .

[Ricks]

This is Bill's 1937 that was just restored.  He had it at Portland, but I did not have my camera when I saw it.  It is a work of art!!  These pictures are before shots, and I believe would closely resemble a 1939.

[bill marcum]

I like how the rear fender is formed for the belt , instead of being cut out. Bill Marcum

[kartjockey]

Here is Bill's bike restored to it's former glory!

[kartjockey]

Guess I was shutter happy.

[oil-lamp]

Well I think if there were some other people out there like my Dad there's a lot more right side drives out there. My Father told my that back in the day when your clutch gave way or broke you ran it direct drive. He said all you had to do was put your pulley on the right side hooked straight to the motor. I'm thinking there's no rear fender to mess with. He said just hook it up and use the compression release to stop then you pushed it to start it going again. This was fine until you rode at night where when your motor stops you lights go out and you had to sit there in the dark until you got it started again. So there may be some right side drives out there that were not right side drives to start with.

[pd]

Absolutely , a work of art .
Obviously , Bill paid attention to detail .

[Ricks]

Well I think if there were some other people out there like my Dad there's a lot more right side drives out there. My Father told my that back in the day when your clutch gave way or broke you ran it direct drive. He said all you had to do was put your pulley on the right side hooked straight to the motor. I'm thinking there's no rear fender to mess with. He said just hook it up and use the compression release to stop then you pushed it to start it going again. This was fine until you rode at night where when your motor stops you lights go out and you had to sit there in the dark until you got it started again. So there may be some right side drives out there that were not right side drives to start with.

Reese, that is really interesting, as I have a price list from a Servi-Cycle dealer that lists just such a conversion. They charged $7.80 in 1946 to do this, labor only, parts extra.  To go the other way, from direct to clutch, was $9.80, labor only. I would imagine the only part needed to go to direct drive was a new belt, but to go the other way would take a lot of parts!  This price list is dated June 13. 1946.

[kartjockey]

That is quite a serial number on Bill's engine.  Wonder why so long and if it all means something.