flh heads

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bigrongee
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flh heads

#1

Post by bigrongee »

HELP! Can't find this anywhere on the web or in the KB. I need the part numbers for 57 flh heads. Thanks in advance.
1962FLH
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Re: flh heads

#2

Post by 1962FLH »

In my Harley parts catalog FL models 1941 to 1984 Printed in 1986 does not show a part number for the 1957 head either. I suspicion it’s because they don’t offer them from Harley any more. You have to source after market or shop the swap meets for used OEM heads and then they are most often in bad shape. I believe it is worth the effort to find OEM and fix them.
Good luck.
John
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Re: flh heads

#3

Post by caschnd1 »

I believe it's:

16700-56 (front)
16701-56 (rear)

-Craig
bigrongee
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Re: flh heads

#4

Post by bigrongee »

Thanks for the info guys
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Re: flh heads

#5

Post by kitabel »

That's the standard head.
If you're looking for the original FLH ("ported & polished") heads, externally they will be indistinguishable from stock FL heads - all the work is internal. There are no extra machining operations or added parts. They will have the stock casting number.
For AMC etc. judging they can't deduct points for something that can't be determined unless:
1. you tell them
2. you have the heads off

In short, you're chasing something you probably won't find, could make yourself from stock heads, and makes no difference in a restoration. Save your energy for the next problem.
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Re: flh heads

#6

Post by Huck »

My 58 FLH has the 5 fin heads, I think they are original to the mill. See lots of 4 fin heads, the 5 fin not so much. I don't know what the difference is other than the apparent. Or which is structurally a sounder head. Mine are in bad shape but continue to run. They are –56 castings.
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Re: flh heads

#7

Post by UPSROD »

They are all -56 casting thru 65...3 or 4 configurations. Don't know were you are getting 5 fins, all of mine have 7. 58-early 62 ONLY have 2 fins above the plugs, ALL others have 3. 58 and later heads have bigger fins and probably survived better.
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Re: flh heads

#8

Post by PanPal »

To the best of my knowledge

56 casting # heads have larger fins that do not match up or are a much larger diameter than the cylinder fins.
56 and 57 have the 3 fins cut out at the sparkplug, no outside oiler casting boss
58 to 62 have 2 fins cut out at the sparkplug, no outside oiler casting boss
63 to 65 would have three fins cut out at the sparkplug and have a casting boss drilled out for outside oiling.
Factory replacement heads would have three fins at the sparkplug. a casting boss drilled or undrilled for outsaide oiling and still have the 56 casting #'s

Please correct me if I am mistaken.
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Re: flh heads

#9

Post by caschnd1 »

The term 4-fin and 5-fin heads refers to the number of fins below the spark plug. The '49-'57 heads all had 4-fins below the spark plug. '58-'62 had 5-fins below the spark plug. Then '63-'65 went back to having 4-fins below the plug again.

Here is a 5-fin head I have. This one has October-'58 casing numbers.
Image

Here is a set of 4-fin heads. These have '55 casing numbers.
Image

-Craig
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Re: flh heads

#10

Post by Speeding Big Twin »

bigrongee wrote:HELP! Can't find this anywhere on the web or in the KB. I need the part numbers for 57 flh heads. Thanks in advance.
Are you after part numbers or casting numbers? If you’re looking for part numbers for 57FLH heads they are on the last two lines of the text below which is from one of my H-D catalogs:
Page2-Copy_zps8e677bcd.jpg
If you’re looking for casting numbers then please let us know because there are at least two sets with a -56 suffix: the set mentioned by Craig in his first post; and an earlier set consisting of 16704-56 (front) and 16706-56 (rear). I don’t know if any of the earlier set were used for 1957 models but I have seen one with a 6 6 (June 1956) date code and some have no date code. And as indicated above, FLH heads have the same casting numbers used on FL heads of the corresponding era, and heads for 1958-later model Pans have their horizontal fins increased in area.
Eric
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bigrongee
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Re: flh heads

#11

Post by bigrongee »

Thanks for all the info. Now I know what I'm looking for. You guys are the best!!
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