1955 Panhead Cam Cover

Gear Case (cams, idlers, cam cover)
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danpatch
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1955 Panhead Cam Cover

#1

Post by danpatch »

I am building A 1955 Pan and do not know which cam cover is correct.I was told 1954 was one year only.
just click the liks below
54camcover.jpg
here is a picture of A know 1956

http://danpatchappraisals.com/56camcoverorg.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

any help would be great
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DaveSwanson
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Re: 1955 Panhead Cam Cover

#2

Post by DaveSwanson »

Here is a shot from a 100% original 55.
0134030.jpg
and my 56
DSCN1245.jpg
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Hog54
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Re: 1955 Panhead Cam Cover

#3

Post by Hog54 »

Looks like the 55 and 56 are the same.54 was the a transition year motor.When I built mine,theres alot of stuff in it thats 54 only.Im rebuilding my old oil pump and its hard even finding the hex head relief valve caps.Colony dont even have them in thier catalog.I think they only used them in 53 and 54. :(
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Re: 1955 Panhead Cam Cover

#4

Post by Bigincher »

Not all of Colony's products are listed in their catalog. When I need something that they don't list, I give them a call.... :)
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Re: 1955 Panhead Cam Cover

#5

Post by Hog54 »

Oh really?
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Re: 1955 Panhead Cam Cover

#6

Post by Bigincher »

Hog54 wrote:Oh really?
Naa, never mind. I'm just kidding...
Speeding Big Twin
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Re: 1955 Panhead Cam Cover

#7

Post by Speeding Big Twin »

danpatch, as you've indicated it seems there were indeed two different four-rib gear covers for pre-1958 Panheads. I don't know for how long the first of those two was used but apparently it wasn't just for 1954. The picture at below left is of a 53 FL and I've posted one of your pictures at right for comparison:
53.jpg
54camcover.jpg
Also, on the old HTT forum a member posted a photo of his father's police bike and although it had a four-rib gear cover several of us there agreed that the bike was probably a late-53 model.

Pages 604-605 of Palmer's book show a 54 prototype but the engine is 52 (I have a photo of the serial number) and still has an eight-rib cover. Pages 607-608 feature a 55 prototype and it says on page 608 that the partially visible motor number is 55FL10xx. It's hard to be sure but the gear cover on page 607 looks like the type in your picture which I posted above.

Have you got Palmer's book? And what's the approximate serial number of your 55? Is it in the 1000s? In the 2000s? Higher? Eric
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Speeding Big Twin
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Re: 1955 Panhead Cam Cover

#8

Post by Speeding Big Twin »

Dave, do you know the approximate serial number of the 55 you posted? Is it in the 1000s? Higher? Eric
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Re: 1955 Panhead Cam Cover

#9

Post by john HD »

this help any? factory photo.

couresty of mr. haynes

john

Image
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Re: 1955 Panhead Cam Cover

#10

Post by john HD »

and another untouched original for comparison.

john

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DaveSwanson
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Re: 1955 Panhead Cam Cover

#11

Post by DaveSwanson »

Speeding Big Twin wrote:Dave, do you know the approximate serial number of the 55 you posted? Is it in the 1000s? Higher? Eric
Eric, I don't have the VIN of the 55.
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Re: 1955 Panhead Cam Cover

#12

Post by Hog54 »

Looks like some 55s got 54 covers and some got 56 covers.
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Re: 1955 Panhead Cam Cover

#13

Post by Speeding Big Twin »

Dave, thanks for the reply.

John, thanks for posting those two photos. The factory one from Chris looks like the 55 prototype on page 607 of Palmer and its gear cover seems to be the first type of four-rib. And that’s the engine that Palmer says on page 608 is 55FL10xx. The cover on the orange bike looks to be the second type, as does the cover on the original 55 posted by Dave. And it looks like the second type of cover was also used though 56 and 57.

But it remains to be seen at what point in the 55 model year the change occurred. Do you know the approximate serial number of the orange bike? Eric
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Re: 1955 Panhead Cam Cover

#14

Post by john HD »

eric

27 something, i do not have a clear shot of the vin.

john

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Re: 1955 Panhead Cam Cover

#15

Post by john HD »

and just as a comparison, my '55 has the later cover (chromed) and my vin is in the low 1500's

john
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