Identifying a 1956 Hydra Glide

Information about the identification and numbering of frame, motor belly, transmission and other parts
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Johndoe69
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Bikes: 56 Hydra glide
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Identifying a 1956 Hydra Glide

#1

Post by Johndoe69 »

Hi all,

I am new to Pans and have a chance to buy a 56 Hydra Glide but I am not sure if the frame fits the model.
There is no steering lock in the head and it looks like the seat-post was altered on the top.
On the right axle plate are the letters XE6 a square with some letters and the number 50.
The top motor mount seems to be altered and the rear cylinder sits directly in front of the seatpost-downtube.
The VIN on the engine is 56FL....

I made some pictures that I will attach.
Maybe you can help me out on this one.

regards,
volker
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Last edited by Johndoe69 on Tue Dec 20, 2016 9:45 am, edited 1 time in total.
Johndoe69
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Re: Identifying a 1956 Hydra Glide

#2

Post by Johndoe69 »

Here are some more pictures.
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RUBONE
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Re: Identifying a 1956 Hydra Glide

#3

Post by RUBONE »

That bike was built from pieces and appears to have been a chopper at some point. The frame neck is heavily modified, probably racket at some point and then brought back. All the other mods point to chopper.
There are many incorrect parts on it. The heads, oil lines, outer primary cover, shifter, handlebar controls and bars, forks, generator and regulator, battery cover, kicker cover, arm and pedal, oil pump, carb, airfilter, timer, tank emblem style, not to mention the polished cases and wrong finishes, are all incorrect for '56.
Johndoe69
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Re: Identifying a 1956 Hydra Glide

#4

Post by Johndoe69 »

Do you think it is worth buying?
I would like to bring it back to original as much as possible.
The oil lines will be changed.
The seat post will be put back on with original style seat.
The bike has been coneversed to 12v so generator and regulator were modified for that.
Paint will be made in original style with correct tank emblem.
The aircleaner will be changed to original style.
Carburetor is Dellorto 40. Maybe this one will also be changed against a S&S Super E.
Whats wrong with the fork?
What do you think is this bike worth in this condition?
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Re: Identifying a 1956 Hydra Glide

#5

Post by Bigincher »

I think if you plan on restoring that bike back to factory original, the purchase price will have to be bargain basement low, because it will cost a ton to bring it back. That frame is hacked, bad. You'd be looking at thousands of dollars to bring it back. And decent straight-leg frames are hard to find and expensive when you do, so replacing it wouldn't be feasible. Besides the frame, you'd have to replace the entire front end. Oh sure, you can get by with a few repop parts, and overlook a few wrong finishes, but you'd be much better off starting with something that has a sound foundation- uncut frame, correct front end, original sheet metal, etc.
I can't speak to the value, because I wouldn't want to steer you wrong. But considering how much you'd have to dump into it, you do the math.
Last edited by Bigincher on Tue Dec 20, 2016 4:38 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Identifying a 1956 Hydra Glide

#6

Post by 1962FLH »

Nothing obvious wrong with the forks; he is just telling you the forks did not come on the Panhead model. The lower tree is of a shovelhead model. Just telling you not much on that bike is stock.
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Re: Identifying a 1956 Hydra Glide

#7

Post by Bigincher »

The seat post and original style seat are missing because the seat tee bracket (upper portion of the top motor mount bracket) is gone. Cleaved off when they made a chopper out of it.
There's also a big repair weld at the top of the seat post tube under the casting. It's likely to need work just to fit a seat post down the tube.
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Re: Identifying a 1956 Hydra Glide

#8

Post by Buddhahoodvatoloco »

Senor Doe,
if the bike floats your boat, and the price is right, makes you happy, buy it. Very few bikes make this far without some mods, you can fix anything, so get Palmers book, and have at it..
Good luck.
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Re: Identifying a 1956 Hydra Glide

#9

Post by Lowbikemike »

If the price is right buy it, but probably a long road back to stock.

The good thing is that there are very few people in this world that know what is right and wrong on these bikes. The general public and most motorcycle enthusiasts will believe anything you tell them about the bike.

Don't get caught up in the hype. Buy it, upgrade along the way....
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Re: Identifying a 1956 Hydra Glide

#10

Post by Speeding Big Twin »

Welcome to the forum, Volker.

Regarding the R-H axle clip, are you sure about number 50? Or could it be 10? I agree it has XE 6. The square with letters may be a hallmark for Interstate Drop Forge although the letters in order would be DIF. Next may be the number 10, not 50? Apparently die number 10 was used there for some 1954 frames as well as 1955–57 frames. On the left axle clip you may find die number 15 or 16.

You could check the spark coil mounting blocks. According to Bruce Palmer’s restoration book, 1956 was the first year for the blocks to have 3/8”-24 holes. Prior to that the blocks had 5/16”-18 holes.

The 7s on top of the cases are consistent with 56FL but that style of 7 was also used for several other years. Are the cases really 56? Does the VIN look authentic? If you’re not sure then you could post a partial photo of it. Maybe just show the 56FL and the first sequence number.

What are the belly numbers? If you’re unfamiliar with them they may be stamped under each crankcase half near the outer edges and somewhat toward the front. For 1956 I’d expect them to be formatted like the following example: 156-1234.
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Re: Identifying a 1956 Hydra Glide

#11

Post by VPH-D »

There's not much 56 there. That bike is not a good candidate to restore, but would be an OK rider.
VPH-D
Johndoe69
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Re: Identifying a 1956 Hydra Glide

#12

Post by Johndoe69 »

Hi. I would make it look more a 56.
Not a complete original conversion.
It would not be a everyday rider.
We have several modern bikes for this.
If i need to go on a long trip i take my 15 Fltrxs.
This would be fun to have for short trips and weekend fun.
And every man knows: be a man, ride a pan.
I could buy it for 22000.
If you know others worth buying let me know.
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Re: Identifying a 1956 Hydra Glide

#13

Post by Bigincher »

What part of the world do you live in, JohnDoe? In some regions that might be a reasonable price. But generally speaking, 22k is waaay overpriced. Personally, I wouldn't be able to go over 15k, and would probably feel good around 12k.
I had a friend a few years ago that had a mostly-original '56 with wrong-year tanks on it, and couldn't get $15k for it. Ending up selling it for $12,500.
So you can pay twice it's value if you want, like these guys here say. Or you could keep looking and maybe do better.
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Re: Identifying a 1956 Hydra Glide

#14

Post by RUBONE »

What part of the world do you live in, JohnDoe?
He is in Europe (Germany) and prices tend to have a premium on them. That said, I would consider it as a rider and nothing more. As a restoration project it would be a cash pit with no recovery. And it will not go up in value over time, too much wrong with it. Johndoe69, how badly do you want it???
Johndoe69
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Re: Identifying a 1956 Hydra Glide

#15

Post by Johndoe69 »

Theres no final need to have exactly this one.
But there are not much left over here in Germany.
I was looking to several bikes and none was in perfect condition.
There is none on the market that is really stock.
Maybe I look a little further and see what is coming up.
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