frame + transmission date

[theo]

hello, not long ago I bought a panhead an have just started tearing it down to restore it.
I don't have any experience with panheads I have been reading several topic about the date of the frame and the transmission but I still can't tell.
Also it seems if some welding has been done to the frame but I can't tell for sure.

versnelling 2.JPG

versnelling 1.JPG

frame 1.JPG

frame 2.JPG

frame 3.JPG

Who can tell the date of the tansmission and frame?

You will have to forgive my ignorance as I'm new to this old stuff
Thanks for the help.

[panhead]

Check the KB: http://www.hydra-glide.com/scripts/toc13_2.php

[Hog54]

Well the transmission is a 63.But the frame is a mess.The neck has been raked once and thats why the weld and the rest of the frame is a mismatch of parts.I would guess the frame is a late 49.

[UPSROD]

The trans with a 3-3 code has been covered on every forum. It was used from 1953 to sometime in early 1958.
1963 would say 1-63, 2-63 etc.

[Hog54]

Well it doesnt have a vent plug,so that would make it after 58.

[theo]

Thank you for your response.
Could it be that they adjusted the angle of the front forks and thats why the welded the neck?

Thanks again for the help

[UPSROD]

Well it doesnt have a vent plug,so that would make it after 58.

It has the vent boss, but not machined, making it 56 and up.

[Hog54]

Thank you for your response.
Could it be that they adjusted the angle of the front forks and thats why the welded the neck?

Thanks again for the help

yes.

And what year is the motor?

[RUBONE]

Hog54

Well it doesnt have a vent plug,so that would make it after 58.

The vent plug went away in '56 and was replaced by the vented screw. UPSROD's statement is exactly right on the case dating. And yours is not!

theo
As stated the frame is likely late '49 due to the shape of the top motor mount and square cornered horn blocks on flattened down tubes. Beginning in '52 the frame has a date code on it, previous to that only features can be used to identify. And yes, the welded neck is usually a modification that was done to rake the forks. Regretfully it reduces the value of the frame by about 2/3rds. It is repairable in the right hands but depending on your intended use of your bike may not be of any consequence. However you mention restoration and that frame would need major work to make it correct for a restored bike. What year is the engine as that determines which frame is correct and what you need to work around. Nothing is more important than the engine number as a basis for a restoration!
Robbie

[theo]

Thanks for your response Robbie.
The motor is a 56FL and it is my intention to restore the bike as original as possible.
But as it seems now it is going te be more work than I thought.

[Hog54]

Well it looks like somebody tried to make it a 56 frame with that home made toolbox mount.

[CaptMike]

Thanks for your response Robbie.
The motor is a 56FL and it is my intention to restore the bike as original as possible.
But as it seems now it is going te be more work than I thought.

I know of three of us here recently that have later Pan engines in Wishbone frames. This kinda baffles me. My '57 engine was in a '48 frame. (When I sandblasted mine I could read the stamping on the upper mount.) Somewhere there's got to be a pile of straight leg frames.

If you haven't worked on one of these old H-D's "more work and $$$$ than I though" was said about 2,000 times just putting mine back together (de-chopping).

Your transmission case looks really nice.

Looking closer at your frame, it still has the mounts and tabs. You can saw the chunk out of the neck pretty easy. There's a small book here on building a rigid frame, there's good information on how to set and check the neck position (then just weld it back up).

Keep us posted.

[theo]

I am afraid so, guess I will be looking for another frame.

I hope I will find this pile soon

[HD48FL]

My '57 engine was in a '48 frame. (When I sandblasted mine I could read the stamping on the upper mount.)

Which stamping on the upper mount are you referring to?

[Hog54]

Thanks for your response Robbie.
The motor is a 56FL and it is my intention to restore the bike as original as possible.
But as it seems now it is going te be more work than I thought.

I know of three of us here recently that have later Pan engines in Wishbone frames. This kinda baffles me. My '57 engine was in a '48 frame. (When I sandblasted mine I could read the stamping on the upper mount.) Somewhere there's got to be a pile of straight leg frames.

If you haven't worked on one of these old H-D's "more work and $$$$ than I though" was said about 2,000 times just putting mine back together (de-chopping).

Your transmission case looks really nice.

Keep us posted.

My 54 is in a 49 frame.And if anybody got a 54,ill trade.