left front brake cover application

[omar1951]

I'm switching my front brake on the shovel rebuild to the correct left side, and I have a -49 front brake cover. It has the grease deflector in it. Was wondering if I could leave that in and still use mid-star hubs, or if it needs to be removed. It shows the deflector as a separate part in the parts book, and my guess is that it is pressed into the cover. If I do need to remove it, has anyone attempted the removal?

[omar1951]

After a little more research and cussing, it appears as though the deflector needs to be removed in order for the hub on the brake drum to fit. Anybody tried to take that deflector out of the brake cover?

[RUBONE]

It is easily removed. Just warm up the cover and yank it out. If heated in an oven the deflector will sometimes fall out on its own. The other difference in the cover though is the drain hole, mid star brakes didn't have it.

[omar1951]

It is easily removed. Just warm up the cover and yank it out. If heated in an oven the deflector will sometimes fall out on its own. The other difference in the cover though is the drain hole, mid star brakes didn't have it.

Thanks Rubone. I can live with the drain hole. But I wonder, does that make the cover for '67 and '68 a 2-year only item?

[panhead_kicker]

... But I wonder, does that make the cover for '67 and '68 a 2-year only item?

[omar1951]

And there is the answer! If I had to bet, though, my money would be on seeing early '67's with holes in the plate. You know they never threw anything away!

[omar1951]

And here is another tidbit to ad to the confusion of which part and which year. Here's a part on eBay right now. Look at the casting number and notice that the part does not include the sleeve to divert grease or the drain hole.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Panhead-Front- ... 4872346184

[RUBONE]

And here is another tidbit to ad to the confusion of which part and which year. Here's a part on eBay right now. Look at the casting number and notice that the part does not include the sleeve to divert grease or the drain hole.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Panhead-Front- ... 4872346184

That part is misidentified, it is a '67-'68 cover. The casting number has zero to do with it as it didn't change. The only confusion is by the seller.

[RooDog]

Thee are so many sellers on eBay who misidentify old Harley parts either through ignorance or deception. One needs to educate oneself regarding H-D parts and be smarter than the sellers who are only interested in moving their merch. This is often the case where hidden golden opportunities lie there for the educated buyer.
Happy eBay hunting, and good luck with the treasure hunt....
....RooDog....

[omar1951]

And here is another tidbit to ad to the confusion of which part and which year. Here's a part on eBay right now. Look at the casting number and notice that the part does not include the sleeve to divert grease or the drain hole.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Panhead-Front- ... 4872346184

That part is misidentified, it is a '67-'68 cover. The casting number has zero to do with it as it didn't change. The only confusion is by the seller.

What about the pic above that shows the part #44125-67 (guessing that was a photo of a page from a parts book)? They changed the part number but didn't change the number cast in the part? So it appears that they changed the part design and the part number, but left the casting number the same until the brake went to the right. I wonder how much that confused the inventory people at the factory?????

[RooDog]

A casting number is just that, the part was cast. Now if it got further processing, say surface finish, then the appropriate part number would be different, that is, chromed, polished, painted parts all cast the same but finished differently would have different part numbers. So to would machining and or modifications generate new part numbers. Pretty simple, eh?
A gas tank, as another example, are all stamped and welded the same, but the paint scheme will determine the PN, no?
....RooDog....

[RUBONE]

And here is another tidbit to ad to the confusion of which part and which year. Here's a part on eBay right now. Look at the casting number and notice that the part does not include the sleeve to divert grease or the drain hole.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Panhead-Front- ... 4872346184

That part is misidentified, it is a '67-'68 cover. The casting number has zero to do with it as it didn't change. The only confusion is by the seller.

What about the pic above that shows the part #44125-67 (guessing that was a photo of a page from a parts book)? They changed the part number but didn't change the number cast in the part? So it appears that they changed the part design and the part number, but left the casting number the same until the brake went to the right. I wonder how much that confused the inventory people at the factory?????

Why would the "inventory people" give a crap about the casting number??

[panhead_kicker]

... What about the pic above that shows the part #44125-67 (guessing that was a photo of a page from a parts book)? ...

Yes from the 60-70 parts catalog.

... They changed the part number but didn't change the number cast in the part? ...

Yup, and this is not unusual in the least. Too many folks THINK the number they sometimes find cast into a part is "the" Harley part number, when only in rare instances were the two identical. I even see folks on the AMCA site (yes I am one of the lurkers) that are still unaware... maybe they are new participants. All three side plates below have the same cast number 44139-49. As Robbie and Roo have noted, small machining differences (drain hole) or finishes (polished vs unpolished) can rank a different catalog part number.
Right is part # 44125-67, the left is 44141-50.

IMG_3617.JPG

IMG_3618.JPG

Bottom is 44141-49 (Not polished, but I ignorantly tried to polish at one point...)

IMG_3619.JPG

[RooDog]

Once the hub's wheel bearings changed from caged rollers to sealed ball bearings, the grease cup became unnecessary, no?

There is an eBay vendor of Harley parts claiming to be an AMCA member, but is totally ignorant when it comes to describing his parts. I keep watch, hoping to find something really good that he is unaware of its true identity. LOL...
....RooDog....

[omar1951]

That part is misidentified, it is a '67-'68 cover. The casting number has zero to do with it as it didn't change. The only confusion is by the seller.

What about the pic above that shows the part #44125-67 (guessing that was a photo of a page from a parts book)? They changed the part number but didn't change the number cast in the part? So it appears that they changed the part design and the part number, but left the casting number the same until the brake went to the right. I wonder how much that confused the inventory people at the factory?????

Why would the "inventory people" give a crap about the casting number??

I'll concede that one, Rubone! I guess how manufacturers catalog and trace their own parts is their own decision. I think I got caught up temporarily in the "that's not the right one" syndrome. And seeing as how I'm never gonna have anyone judge this when I'm done with it, what I have (pre-'67 cover) will do. Thanks to all for the enlightenment!