panhead FL 1953
-
- Site Admin
- Senior Member
- Posts: 3291
- Joined: Mon Jan 01, 2001 12:00 pm
- Bikes: 1954 FL
- Location: Holland
- Has thanked: 108 times
- Been thanked: 488 times
-
- Member
- Posts: 23
- Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2017 2:48 pm
- Bikes: Harley 1919 1000cc
Harley 1931 500cc
Harley 1953 1200cc - Location: Christiansfeld
-
- Moderator
- Senior Member
- Posts: 8407
- Joined: Sat Nov 15, 2008 4:09 am
- Bikes: Multiple H-D, Ducati, BMW, Triumph, BSA,...
- Has thanked: 482 times
- Been thanked: 2957 times
Re: panhead FL 1953
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.
-
- Moderator
- Senior Member
- Posts: 8407
- Joined: Sat Nov 15, 2008 4:09 am
- Bikes: Multiple H-D, Ducati, BMW, Triumph, BSA,...
- Has thanked: 482 times
- Been thanked: 2957 times
Re: panhead FL 1953
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.
-
- Member
- Posts: 23
- Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2017 2:48 pm
- Bikes: Harley 1919 1000cc
Harley 1931 500cc
Harley 1953 1200cc - Location: Christiansfeld
-
- Senior Member
- Posts: 2086
- Joined: Fri Sep 21, 2007 3:03 am
- Bikes: '52 FL
'64 FLH - Has thanked: 164 times
- Been thanked: 516 times
Re: panhead FL 1953
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....
Looks like a fun ride, though....
-
- 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: panhead FL 1953
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.
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.
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.
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.
Re: panhead FL 1953
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.
VPH-D
VPH-D
-
- 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: panhead FL 1953
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:
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
Re the R-H case, there appears to be at least one clue so far:
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
-
- 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: panhead FL 1953
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.
Eric
Eric
-
- Member
- Posts: 23
- Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2017 2:48 pm
- Bikes: Harley 1919 1000cc
Harley 1931 500cc
Harley 1953 1200cc - Location: Christiansfeld
Re: panhead FL 1953
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.
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.