Tranny plate & clutch arm?

[Robert Luland]

Are the 48-57 FL tranny plate and clutch arm parkerized or painted? Thats enough! Off to Oley! Bob

[Chris Haynes]

Here is a photo. The plate is Parkerized. The arm appears to be Parkerized as it is dull black.
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/pp209/hd36knuck/17766.jpg

[exeric]

Just out of curiosity, if you saw this picture for the first time, would you know what year the motorcycle was? Are there specific clues that give away the year?

[Rooster]

Just out of curiosity, if you saw this picture for the first time, would you know what year the motorcycle was? Are there specific clues that give away the year?

I'd like to say that '48-'57 is a fairly broad range of years, and also that if Chris Haynes puts a photo up, there's a pretty darned good chance it will be of the correct year being discussed. True, this wouldn't stand up in a court of law, and I surely understand and appreciate your perspective.

[Chris Haynes]

Just out of curiosity, if you saw this picture for the first time, would you know what year the motorcycle was? Are there specific clues that give away the year?

That photo is of 48EL10171. It happens to be the prototype 1949 bike.
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/pp209/hd36knuck/17766-1.jpg

[Rub]

Back to the question, if Chris had not jumped the gun and spoiled the fun, You can see the muffler cover at the rear clamp which would make it '49.
Robbie

[Rooster]

Back to the question, if Chris had not jumped the gun and spoiled the fun, You can see the muffler cover at the rear clamp which would make it '49.
Robbie

Gee, sorry if the fun was spoiled. :p How do you guys know all this stuff, anyway???

[Rooster]

That photo is of 48EL10171. It happens to be the prototype 1949 bike.
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/pp209/hd36knuck/17766-1.jpg

Chris, what in the world is that light on the fork leg, looks like a running light of some kind?

[Rub]

Front parking lamp, mounted in the lower tin hole in the bottom tree. Part of the deluxe group.
Chris has tons of factory photos which help but are sometimes pre-production and so not always exactly right. However, they usually are!
Robbie

[cdndewey]

Same lamp as used on the signal lights, which I think appeared in 50.

[Chris Haynes]

Chris, what in the world is that light on the fork leg, looks like a running light of some kind?

Geeze Robbie,
What are we gonna do with this newbie kid? :D
Tom,
Those are the 68500-48 parking lamps, also use for turnsignals. They were introduced in 1949.

[Paps]

I think the kicker arm may be gloss black painted. Paps

[Rooster]

Geeze Robbie,
What are we gonna do with this newbie kid? :D
Tom,
Those are the 68500-48 parking lamps, also use for turnsignals. They were introduced in 1949.

Thanks once again for the invaluable education, Chris. You too, Robbie.

[Rub]

Chris,
I figure it is all about priorities. You have made it your life's work to amass a large base of knowledge based on what interests you. So have some others. But many have spent their lives on their own priorities. Be it work, family, drugs, sex, horses, whatever. Some guys have a small interest and some don't care at all. Its all OK. My quest for knowledge is not just in vintage motorcycles, although that is the largest part. And it is not just American motorcycles, or large motorcycles. It encompasses all two wheeled motorized conveyances. Remember this though, at one time you nor I knew diddly-squat about this stuff. So lets cut the newbies a little slack. But just a little and only once!!!
Robbie

[Chris Haynes]

Ronnie,
Tom is hardly a newbie. I just enjoy teasin' him.

[bmh]

They seem to have changed the lenses when they started using the marker lamps as turn signals. The lenses used for turn signals have a depressed section in the center, the ones used as parking lamps until 50 have a domed shape as shown in the pic.

[Rooster]

Do these have a Guide number on them? I think I have a pair I've been dragging around for the past 35 years, I may have just stumbled onto what they might be.....

[bmh]

The later ones used as turn signal lenses and running lights after about 50 or so are marked around the outside edge "GUIDE" and "DH-49". I don't believe the earlier ones are marked but I could be wrong.