This Belly Number

Identification of case numbers and cylinder heads
1951 adam
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Re: This Belly Number

#16

Post by 1951 adam »

The cradles a dead giveaway , is there a cradle?
Speeding Big Twin
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Re: This Belly Number

#17

Post by Speeding Big Twin »

Schwee, notice the area indicated by red stars in the two photos below:
CrankcaseA_zps65611d05.jpg
CrankcaseA_zps65611d05.jpg (67.86 KiB) Viewed 1090 times
CrankcaseB_zpsb2aa64a3.jpg
CrankcaseB_zpsb2aa64a3.jpg (79.41 KiB) Viewed 1090 times
In the first photo there is more material in and around that area than there is in the second photo. And I think your case, in that same area, is similar to the case in the first photo. Can you confirm that please.

And could you post a photo showing the top of your right-hand case (looking down on it). Thanks.
Eric
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Re: This Belly Number

#18

Post by Speeding Big Twin »

kitabel wrote: Re: "the two characters do not necessarily indicate a model year"
Right - just a coincidence that it's:
1. where the year would be
2. later than the year it's stamped
3. mechanically compatible

If it's not a year, why 2 digits (allowing only 100 case sets)?
It seems you have concerns about my comment that the two characters do not necessarily indicate a model year so I posted some photos below. First picture shows 43 stamped on a pair of Knucklehead cases.
KnuckleheadDec1947outside_zps46375081.jpg
KnuckleheadDec1947outside_zps46375081.jpg (76.59 KiB) Viewed 1090 times
Second picture shows date code L 7 inside the left case of that pair, indicating it may have been cast in December 1947.
KnuckleheadDec1947inside_zps89da4bff.jpg
KnuckleheadDec1947inside_zps89da4bff.jpg (62.21 KiB) Viewed 1090 times
A photo I have of the inside of the right-hand case of that pair shows date code L 7, indicating it too may have been cast in Dec 47. So it appears that 43 does not indicate model year in this instance.

Next picture shows 15 stamped on a Knucklehead left case so I imagine on this occasion that 15 does not indicate model year.
KnuckleheadMay1944outside_zpsc0ec63fb.jpg
KnuckleheadMay1944outside_zpsc0ec63fb.jpg (54.21 KiB) Viewed 1090 times
And it seems H-D did not always use only two digits—for example, 105 is stamped on the Knucklehead left case below and 105 does not indicate model year.
KnuckleheadJan1948outside_zpsc0f95c5c.jpg
KnuckleheadJan1948outside_zpsc0f95c5c.jpg (63.13 KiB) Viewed 1090 times
Next photo shows 147 on a Knuckle left case and 147 does not indicate model year.
KnuckleoutsideJan48_zps3a2f9803.jpg
KnuckleoutsideJan48_zps3a2f9803.jpg (108.44 KiB) Viewed 1090 times
Final photo shows date code for the 147-stamped case is A 8, indicating casting in January 1948.
Eric
KnuckleinsideJan48_zps55960b4e.jpg
KnuckleinsideJan48_zps55960b4e.jpg (82.17 KiB) Viewed 1090 times
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Re: This Belly Number

#19

Post by Speeding Big Twin »

Schwee, I’ve been thinking your right-hand case may have been somewhere from 1965 to 1969 inclusive, partly because of the extra material I saw along the upper edge where the gear cover attaches. Next I ran through your posts in other threads and I found the picture below which is of your engine. This picture appears to confirm my suspicions. The red arrow is yours from the other thread so please disregard that. But notice the machined area to the right of my blue arrow:
Schwee_zps7bd6e9be.jpg
Schwee_zps7bd6e9be.jpg (67.68 KiB) Viewed 1090 times
For Shovelheads that area accommodated a fitting for the feed oil line which ran to the rear rocker cover. But it seems that same area is also found on some 1965 Panheads although for obvious reasons it wasn’t drilled and tapped. It was, however, machined smooth as we see with your case. That area on your case doesn’t look like it’s ever been drilled? Can you confirm that.

Also notice the orange rectangle. Inside said rectangle does there appear to have been a hole that is now filled? Or is it just the photo making it appear so? A hole there was used for 1963–65 models to contain a fitting for the feed oil line to the heads. Also for 63–65, a gear cover oil passage bolt was used but in your other photo I don’t see a hole for said bolt in the edge of your case. (There’s a hole in the gasket in your other photo but I don’t see a corresponding hole in the case.)
Eric
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Re: This Belly Number

#20

Post by Duk66 »

hey guys,
new to forum. my name is Jarret aka Duk. live in Gig Harbor. I've got a 48 Panhead with matching numbers title with two digit matching belly pans that match year of number titled. my understanding also from other research and forums is that these are dealer replacement cases that get stamped with the two digits matching title and year. fot whats its worth i thought i would post.
ready...set...go!
IMG_0246.JPG
IMG_0246.JPG (282.1 KiB) Viewed 1258 times
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