panhead FL 1953

VIN Identification
VPH-D
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Re: panhead FL 1953

#16

Post by VPH-D »

I don't think the left case is a 53, looks more like a 48-51 case.
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Re: panhead FL 1953

#17

Post by panhead »

Bigincher wrote: Mon Sep 18, 2017 5:32 pm
panhead wrote: Mon Sep 18, 2017 4:58 pm Roughly 3500 panheads were built in 1953.
Sequential portion of VIN covers all models.
Could be five digits but unlikely.
approx. 1150 Servi-Cars, so less than 5000 in total
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Re: panhead FL 1953

#18

Post by panhead »

Amazon122 wrote: Mon Sep 18, 2017 5:43 pm is there also a corresponding number on the frame ?
No.
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Re: panhead FL 1953

#19

Post by Amazon122 »

It actually has the same number on the frame

vin nr.jpg
vin nr.jpg (40.13 KiB) Viewed 3551 times
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Re: panhead FL 1953

#20

Post by RUBONE »

Each "family" of engines in a given year start with 1000 (or 1001 in some years). So there can be a 53FL1234, but not a 53FLE1234. Conversely there could be a 53G1234 and a 53K1234 but not a 53KK1234. So the total production of an engine family type plus 1000 gives the highest possible number. They did not jump groups of numbers in sequence, it is all consecutive.
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Re: panhead FL 1953

#21

Post by RUBONE »

H-D did not put numbers on their frames as VINs until 1970. Again, that number wasn't put there by H-D but by some agency or individual in Europe. And those are indeed earlier cases than '53.
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Re: panhead FL 1953

#22

Post by Amazon122 »

VPH-D wrote: Mon Sep 18, 2017 6:28 pm I don't think the left case is a 53, looks more like a 48-51 case.
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what are the different ?
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Re: panhead FL 1953

#23

Post by awander »

I'm no expert, but I don't see a whole lot on that bike that could be from 1953.

Looks like a fun ride, though....
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Re: panhead FL 1953

#24

Post by Speeding Big Twin »

Ole, welcome to the forum. As mentioned above, the VIN was not factory-stamped. It is way too high and some characters are not consistent with H-D styles for a 53 Pan VIN. I do not know the exact production amount for 1953 model Panheads but the highest examples I have of authentic-looking VINs for 53FL/FLE are in the 6000s. At this stage I doubt that authentic 53 Pan VINs reached the 7000s. (As Robbie mentioned, VINs for 53 Pans began at 1000.)

Left case may be H-D but it isn’t 53; instead it appears to be 48–early-52. In my photo below, compare the red squared-area with the same area in your pictures. That area changed about mid-52 (model year) to the style in my photo.

Pan left case.jpg
Pan left case.jpg (95.97 KiB) Viewed 4750 times

Stamped under each case near the outer edges and somewhat toward the front you may find belly numbers and they may be formatted similar to one of the following examples: 148-1234; 249-1234; 350-1234; 150-1234; 151-1234; 152-1234. Please let us know what you find because these numbers will give us more of an idea what year each case is. Photos would be good because sometimes we find fake belly numbers.

Stamped on top of each case near the rear engine mounting bolts you may or may not find 7s. I can’t see anything there at the moment but can you post a clear close-up of that section. Thanks.
Eric

NB: for the benefit of anyone with Bruce Palmer’s 37–64 books (FE and/or SE) you’ll notice he indicates the change to the front of the Pan left case occurred as of 55 models. Both editions of the book are wrong. The change occurred about mid-52 (model year) as I mentioned above.
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Re: panhead FL 1953

#25

Post by VPH-D »

The area in the red square is what I was referring to in my post. I wasn't able to tell from the pictures if the right side case has a provision for a tappet screen.
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Re: panhead FL 1953

#26

Post by Speeding Big Twin »

Cheers VPH-D. I figured you were looking at that area but it went beyond 51 and the left casting was still like that for early-52 models.

Re the R-H case, there appears to be at least one clue so far:


WP_20170915_16_47_59_Pro.jpg
WP_20170915_16_47_59_Pro.jpg (142.58 KiB) Viewed 4715 times

I'm also intrigued by what appears to be a marking on the boss where a relay bracket would normally be mounted. It will be interesting to see the belly numbers.
Eric
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Re: panhead FL 1953

#27

Post by Bigincher »

Eric, do you suspect the relay boss has been added to the RS case...?
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Re: panhead FL 1953

#28

Post by Speeding Big Twin »

No, Tom. It may just be the photo but I was wondering if the side of the boss has a letter on it. I’ve seen T stamped there on some 1950 models and C on a 52. I have no idea what they mean though and my best guess is they may have been applied by inspectors.
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Re: panhead FL 1953

#29

Post by VPH-D »

The right case isn't a 53, either...
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Re: panhead FL 1953

#30

Post by Amazon122 »

Thank you all for your sharpness.
I have been in doubt if I should buy this 53 Panhead. So I'm considering it.
Has subsequently found a 1948 EL - as a box model - 90% complete. It looks interesting. But also expensive.
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