Tranny on Fleese-Bay

[Robert Luland]

Got an interesting question? There is a fl tranny on Fleese-Bay right now 160396758831. The seller says that it’s a 37. Yet it has a date code on it that says #33. As far as I know date coding didn’t start until 1938 and double digits until 50. It has an untapped vent boss. The boss didn’t show up until 40 and up. If it’s 56 and up it wouldn’t have a date code of March 53. Any body got a answer. Thing looks to have the reverse idler gear and pin in it. Thanks, Bob L

[flat-happy]

the date codes changed from letter and number to number and number about 1950 so the code 33 is march 1953. the vented screw for the lid is visible in photo #3 bottom right corner. i think that 51 or 52 was the first year of that---38 had the vent on the cover and no boss on the case. i have a J8 cover with the vent on the cover

[Robert Luland]

Flat 1953 still had a vent on the tranny. I'm not saying that this isn't a 56 and up tranny. What I don't understand is the date code. If it was 63 it would say 63. Bob L

[flat-happy]

a 33 date code could be either 53 or 63. the way you would tell the difference is where the vent is. 53 had a hex head vent on the case and 63 would have the tall headed vented screw holding the lid on at about the second screw back on the kicker side of the case. would it help if i posted pictures? i have both but would have to take pictures to post

[Robert Luland]

Flat I disagree. As far as I know and I can back this up tomorrow. 1960 and up has the full year. It says #?-60. I'm quit aware of the years and the differances. Now the date code? Bob L

[flat-happy]

the trans in my 59 is date coded 11 58 and i have a trans case date coded
11 3 with no vent on the case. i think 58 was the first year of the two digit year code but no letters in the 50's. the trans we were originally talking about on ebay has a boss on the case looks like to me. it also has the vented screw laying there. i think a 33 code would be march 1953. of course there is no picture of it and the guy might not have read it right either

[Robert Luland]

Flat the vent screw wasn't used until 56 and up. Are we missing something here?

[flat-happy]

not sure man--what is the part number for the vent screw? i can't seem to find that 113 date code case but i don't remember using it

[Robert Luland]

The screw is #34720-56

[Chris Haynes]

a 33 date code could be either 53 or 63. the way you would tell the difference is where the vent is. 53 had a hex head vent on the case and 63 would have the tall headed vented screw holding the lid on at about the second screw back on the kicker side of the case. would it help if i posted pictures? i have both but would have to take pictures to post

You are incorrect on that. All the date codes changed completely during the mid '50's. Nothing makes sence. Bruce is researching original bikes trying to decipher the strange codes.
Any information from anyone with an unmolested '50's machines would be appreciated.

[DaveSwanson]

Here are a couple shots from my original 56 FLH

[DaveSwanson]

There were allot of tranny castings made with the 33 date code.

[Jerry Wieland]

That is a 1956 and up tranny. I do not know why but that 3 3 date code seems to be on all tranny's from mid 1953 to at least some 1956's. Now I know that those years are low production but that still translates in to thousands of transmission cases lying around for a few years.

Jerry

[Robert Luland]

Thanks Jerry. Here’s a pic of my 1960 for the record. My 57 has a later case on it and for the longest time I’ve searched for a 57. I never found one. Could it be that this 33 code ran though the 1957 year and ended with introduction of the swing arm frame? Does anyone have a pic of a 1958. Bob L

[flat-happy]

this is the trans from my 59---i believe it's oct 58. the frame is dated A9