late 1957 frame anomaly

[dontsink]

Hi Guys,

I´ve stripped my 57FL down to the frame and everything is like expected - and acc. to palmer. All marks are there and acc. to the stamp the frame was made in September 57 (7I).
The only thing which is not like it should be is the mounting of the front crash bar and the crash bar itself. There should be two mounting holes in the bar weldet to the upper frame and as well two mounting holes in the tab weldet to the crash bar. Acc. Palmer mine is a 58 crash bar and for that there is only one hole in the frame and in the bar. Could it be that the company did roll out this frame and the bar originally because 3 months later the changes in the crash bars took place officially or is it more likely that this is an modification which was made later in the history of the motorcycle. The Welding itself looks like factory made. If needed i could post pics as well.

Thanks,

Thomas

[58flh]

Thomas---I think your answer is correct!---I mean they must of had skids with the 1-bolt mount for upcoming Duos.The time frame is so close & It wouldn't be the first time HD did that!--They could of runout of the 2-bolt & said Screw it Im not retooling for a few weeks before the 58s start rolling.---Lets see what other answers come up--Respectfully---Richie

[RUBONE]

Thomas,
Post a picture of your mount. '57 crashbars were the same mounting as Knucklehead and would have attached with two U-clamps and not bolted to the tank mount.

[dontsink]

Here are some pics, hope it helps.

Thomas

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[Tattoo]

I think it has been changed... Or at least welded on...

[RUBONE]

The flat bar on your tank mount was added at some time. the original looks like the picture below, and the correct crash bar mounting goes directly to the down tubes, not to the tank mount.

[dontsink]

Ok RUBONE, that´s how a 55-57 frame should look like. But what if someone in the production has weldet on the 58 parts for the crash bar. I do not know how exactly the mount for the 58 and later frames looks like but in the parts catalog from 58 it looks like mine. Has anyone maybe detailed pictures of an 58 frame with it´s crash bar mounting point?

Thank you!
Thomas

[socalrider]

This is the 3rd straightleg i have seen with this modification. The 56 i currently own and one i sold. Always suspected they were add ons and not factory installed. Thought maybe were added to add strength to that area of the frame. Thanks to that motorcycle encyclopedia (robbie ) i learned something new. Will be removing mine.
Robbie, once again thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Arnulfo

[VPH-D]

I have a late 56 frame on my 57. It has the same welded-on lower tank/ safety guard mount. A past owner did this for some reason, it isn't a factory job.
VPH-D

[dontsink]

Thank you guys, anyway i´ll leave it like it is.
Maybe someone could post a picture of that area of an 58 frame, just for interest. Should look quite similar.
Still not convinced

Thomas

[john HD]

I have the same mod on my '55 frame. Must have been a popular thing to do.

john

[RUBONE]

Maybe someone could post a picture of that area of an 58 frame, just for interest. Should look quite similar.
Still not convinced

The flat strap welded on your frame is both too thick and too long to match what H-D did in '58 (The front strap is the same gauge as the tank mount). And the welds look like a ten year old did them.

[Tattoo]

The flat strap welded on your frame is both too thick and too long to match what H-D did in '58 (The front strap is the same gauge as the tank mount). And the welds look like a ten year old did them.

Yep Harley's welds never looked that bad...

And after looking at the nice pics that looks like a think piece of flat bar that has been rounded off and welded on...

[dontsink]

I am afraid your right. I´ll smoothen the welds as good as possible and leave it like it is. It´s part of the history of this frame.

Thomas

[Tattoo]

I am afraid your right. I´ll smoothen the welds as good as possible and leave it like it is. It´s part of the history of this frame.

Thomas

Yes it is... I'd clean up the welds and take off the flat bar..... Then it would be right...