Correct appearance of 1957FL

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dontsink
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Correct appearance of 1957FL

#1

Post by dontsink »

Hello Gents,

As i am restoring a 1957FL i found a great looking one on the net.
This is how i want to finish mine, could you tell if this bike is correctly painted and if the other parts are right too.
HD-1957-Hydra-jd-1.jpg
HD-1957-Hydra-jd-1.jpg (81.67 KiB) Viewed 2840 times
HD-1957-Hydra-jd-2.jpg
HD-1957-Hydra-jd-2.jpg (79.79 KiB) Viewed 2840 times
Thank you,
Thomas
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Re: Correct appearance of 1957FL

#2

Post by 58flh »

The rear fender seems aftermarket/& the front also.The floor boards are aftermarket,Then there are those things that you would almost expect to be AM-like the clutch-Adj. cover & inspection hole cover.Thats about what I can tell you as I cant see the dash.Overall THE BIKE is a BEAUTY!---But to really pick it apart MORE pics. are needed!--It is however CLOSE with the Aftermarket parts!--The seat is New also.The paint would be correct with the Birchwhite & Black-But the Black is missing in some places.Lets see what others think!---Respectfully---Richie
dontsink
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Re: Correct appearance of 1957FL

#3

Post by dontsink »

Some more pics.
HD-1957-Hydra-jd-3.jpg
HD-1957-Hydra-jd-3.jpg (132.89 KiB) Viewed 2833 times
HD-1957-Hydra-jd-4.jpg
HD-1957-Hydra-jd-4.jpg (137.2 KiB) Viewed 2833 times
HD-1957-Hydra-jd-5.jpg
HD-1957-Hydra-jd-5.jpg (88.48 KiB) Viewed 2833 times
HD-1957-Hydra-jd-6.jpg
HD-1957-Hydra-jd-6.jpg (108.55 KiB) Viewed 2833 times
HD-1957-Hydra-jd-7.jpg
HD-1957-Hydra-jd-7.jpg (61.11 KiB) Viewed 2833 times
Thank you,
Thomas
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Re: Correct appearance of 1957FL

#4

Post by VPH-D »

I don't think the curve separating the two colors is right.
VPH-D
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Re: Correct appearance of 1957FL

#5

Post by RUBONE »

Tool box is wrong type
Speedo is wrong year
Chrome lifter blocks are wrong
Chrome timer is wrong
Black cylinders are wrong
Battery top cover is aftermarket and should be black
Clutch derby and inspection covers should be black on a utility solo
Chrome stop switch is wrong
Black clutch arm is wrong
Horn mount bracket should not be chrome
Black spotlights are wrong, they did not exist in that style
Black muffler strap is wrong
Fender tip is wrong
Taillight lens is wrong
Ignition coil is aftermarket
Those are just some of the more obvious things....
dontsink
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Re: Correct appearance of 1957FL

#6

Post by dontsink »

Thank you Rubone,

Mine has the same speedo, but it is/was an export model with km/h indication - i think in this case the speedo is right like this one.
The muffler strap should be parkerised, right?
What is wrong with the taillight lens?

Thank you again
Thomas
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Re: Correct appearance of 1957FL

#7

Post by Gotnoclass »

dontsink wrote:What is wrong with the taillight lens?
I believe the lens in your picture is for the later tail light- 68 and up I believe. The Guide lens in the RH-55 should look like this
Attachments
image.jpg
image.jpg (80.65 KiB) Viewed 2771 times
image.jpg
image.jpg (10.76 KiB) Viewed 2771 times
Tattoo
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Re: Correct appearance of 1957FL

#8

Post by Tattoo »

Find as many original Harley brochure pics of a 57 as you can find and go from there.....
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Re: Correct appearance of 1957FL

#9

Post by Bigincher »

There are various aftermarket footboards; the good ones are completely indistinguishable from OE, unless you look at the underside. The only thing they are missing is the big rivet on the mount bracket. You need a mirror to even tell they are aftermarket.
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Re: Correct appearance of 1957FL

#10

Post by VPH-D »

The speedo is incorrect, it should be the 56-61 style.
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dontsink
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Re: Correct appearance of 1957FL

#11

Post by dontsink »

Can you preclude that the 1957 export models with kilometer speedos where delivered with the 1953-1955 speedo. Mine is a bike which was delivered to vietnam (most likely as an police bike with the siren-cutout in the rear fender). Acc. to an repair shop here in europe the speedometer is correct. Does anyone agree?
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Re: Correct appearance of 1957FL

#12

Post by VPH-D »

The machine in your pictures has an incorrect speedometer and drive cable, probably taken from 55. While it is not impossible a 57 export model would have shipped with a 53-55
speedo, it isn't likely to have happened that way.
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Re: Correct appearance of 1957FL

#13

Post by jed »

Rocker arm cover screw washers are missing here. OEM 6150W.
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Re: Correct appearance of 1957FL

#14

Post by dontsink »

Thank you VPD-H.
You are right, the cable is wrong, shoul be the thin one.

Thomas
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Re: Correct appearance of 1957FL

#15

Post by dontsink »

One more question.
Did the company in 1957 sell the FL in black only, i mean, was it possible to get the bike in complete black (with extra fee). As the one in the photos above but the white parts black painted too?
If yes, that would be an option for me.
Thank you!
Thomas
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