This Belly Number
-
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1261
- Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2008 2:29 am
- Bikes: H-D
- Location: Western Australia
- Has thanked: 31 times
- Been thanked: 310 times
Re: This Belly Number
Schwee, notice the area indicated by red stars in the two photos below:
In the first photo there is more material in and around that area than there is in the second photo. And I think your case, in that same area, is similar to the case in the first photo. Can you confirm that please.
And could you post a photo showing the top of your right-hand case (looking down on it). Thanks.
Eric
In the first photo there is more material in and around that area than there is in the second photo. And I think your case, in that same area, is similar to the case in the first photo. Can you confirm that please.
And could you post a photo showing the top of your right-hand case (looking down on it). Thanks.
Eric
-
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1261
- Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2008 2:29 am
- Bikes: H-D
- Location: Western Australia
- Has thanked: 31 times
- Been thanked: 310 times
Re: This Belly Number
It seems you have concerns about my comment that the two characters do not necessarily indicate a model year so I posted some photos below. First picture shows 43 stamped on a pair of Knucklehead cases.kitabel wrote: Re: "the two characters do not necessarily indicate a model year"
Right - just a coincidence that it's:
1. where the year would be
2. later than the year it's stamped
3. mechanically compatible
If it's not a year, why 2 digits (allowing only 100 case sets)?
Second picture shows date code L 7 inside the left case of that pair, indicating it may have been cast in December 1947.
A photo I have of the inside of the right-hand case of that pair shows date code L 7, indicating it too may have been cast in Dec 47. So it appears that 43 does not indicate model year in this instance.
Next picture shows 15 stamped on a Knucklehead left case so I imagine on this occasion that 15 does not indicate model year.
And it seems H-D did not always use only two digits—for example, 105 is stamped on the Knucklehead left case below and 105 does not indicate model year.
Next photo shows 147 on a Knuckle left case and 147 does not indicate model year.
Final photo shows date code for the 147-stamped case is A 8, indicating casting in January 1948.
Eric
-
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1261
- Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2008 2:29 am
- Bikes: H-D
- Location: Western Australia
- Has thanked: 31 times
- Been thanked: 310 times
Re: This Belly Number
Schwee, I’ve been thinking your right-hand case may have been somewhere from 1965 to 1969 inclusive, partly because of the extra material I saw along the upper edge where the gear cover attaches. Next I ran through your posts in other threads and I found the picture below which is of your engine. This picture appears to confirm my suspicions. The red arrow is yours from the other thread so please disregard that. But notice the machined area to the right of my blue arrow:
For Shovelheads that area accommodated a fitting for the feed oil line which ran to the rear rocker cover. But it seems that same area is also found on some 1965 Panheads although for obvious reasons it wasn’t drilled and tapped. It was, however, machined smooth as we see with your case. That area on your case doesn’t look like it’s ever been drilled? Can you confirm that.
Also notice the orange rectangle. Inside said rectangle does there appear to have been a hole that is now filled? Or is it just the photo making it appear so? A hole there was used for 1963–65 models to contain a fitting for the feed oil line to the heads. Also for 63–65, a gear cover oil passage bolt was used but in your other photo I don’t see a hole for said bolt in the edge of your case. (There’s a hole in the gasket in your other photo but I don’t see a corresponding hole in the case.)
Eric
For Shovelheads that area accommodated a fitting for the feed oil line which ran to the rear rocker cover. But it seems that same area is also found on some 1965 Panheads although for obvious reasons it wasn’t drilled and tapped. It was, however, machined smooth as we see with your case. That area on your case doesn’t look like it’s ever been drilled? Can you confirm that.
Also notice the orange rectangle. Inside said rectangle does there appear to have been a hole that is now filled? Or is it just the photo making it appear so? A hole there was used for 1963–65 models to contain a fitting for the feed oil line to the heads. Also for 63–65, a gear cover oil passage bolt was used but in your other photo I don’t see a hole for said bolt in the edge of your case. (There’s a hole in the gasket in your other photo but I don’t see a corresponding hole in the case.)
Eric
-
- Junior Member
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Sun Mar 19, 2017 3:09 pm
- Bikes: 1948 Panhead
1978 shovelhead
1957 Cushman Eagle - Location: Gig harbor
Re: This Belly Number
hey guys,
new to forum. my name is Jarret aka Duk. live in Gig Harbor. I've got a 48 Panhead with matching numbers title with two digit matching belly pans that match year of number titled. my understanding also from other research and forums is that these are dealer replacement cases that get stamped with the two digits matching title and year. fot whats its worth i thought i would post.
ready...set...go!
new to forum. my name is Jarret aka Duk. live in Gig Harbor. I've got a 48 Panhead with matching numbers title with two digit matching belly pans that match year of number titled. my understanding also from other research and forums is that these are dealer replacement cases that get stamped with the two digits matching title and year. fot whats its worth i thought i would post.
ready...set...go!