knucklehead kicker cover numbers

[nukkel]

Trying to determine the year of manufacturing of my knucklehead kicker cover .
The tag is a bit worn and the cover polished but it looks like a 6. ( and I need a late 1941)

I noticed a number 1 and a number 2 stamped in it.

From a normal point of view the 1 is rotated 90 degr. ,and the number 2 180 degr.

- Seen those same numbers + location / orientation on other kickstart covers that were clearly 1946.
- I have not seen those numbers on other covers.( yet)
-
I would like to know if this is a 1946 feature only.. and if maybe someone knows what they mean..

My best quess would be a control stamping for the crank bushing (1) and the plug thread tapping done (2).

Rein




My transmission cover (2 pics)
1328DA51-E24D-4708-AAD8-ED1596CD0EB8.jpg
542E1B51-9717-443C-942B-D8B787486697.jpg


random 46 ones
10BB54AE-E268-406C-B916-0B7E3F0C9F04.jpg
9DDB5DDD-0B0E-493E-A663-D6CB2FF3C6AC.jpg

[Chris Haynes]

There is a letter in front of that number 6 that will determine if this is a 1946 or 1947 cover. It is not a 1941.

[nukkel]

It is not a 1941.

Thx Chris,I agree.

Those other numbers ( one and two ) stamped in..is that a 1946 (early 47 ) thing only and what do they mean?

More numbers are stamped in on the engine and transmission..like the 7 on the rear engine bracket where we now know it was done during fabrication to identify the 74 bottom from a 61...


Should those transmission stampings be regarded as of no importance at all,an internal HD processing thing or simply some overhaul identification ..or who cares?
I would be interested to find out more about them..
Those engine 7 s weren't always obvious either some decades ago.(at least to me)

Rein

[Speeding Big Twin]

Rein, I don’t know what the 1 and 2 indicate. Sometimes you’ll even see the number 1 upside down just below the hole for the spring stud (pre-date code covers).

I’ve seen several covers with 2 near the filler hole and from more years than just 1946. Here is a cover cast in Jan 47 (code A 7) with what appears to be an upside down 2 near the filler hole.
Eric

[nukkel]

Thx Eric!

Indeed 47 as well , number 2 near the filler plug and upside down..

So many things that we don't know (yet?).I once mentioned a D next to the generator support to you and a stamped in 2 at the bottom of the transmission.
Could it all be stages in the manufacturing,machining and /or assembling process ? Number 7 was.
Not many workers left to explain..

[Chris Haynes]

Random stamped numbers are inspector marks.

[Speeding Big Twin]

You're welcome Rein. Lots of characters appear on different parts and my best guess is that they may have been done by inspectors. Here’s another trans cover and near the filler hole it appears to have the number 1 upside down. I’ve also seen other covers with 1s in this position. Date code J 9 in this instance indicates October 1939.
Eric

[nukkel]

Thanks both of you Chris and Eric.

Inspectors seems to be a good guess.

Those numbers 7 on the rear engine support were inspector markings as well ( same type and size?) ..Nowadays we know their importance for the assembling proces...

Maybe one will find out if there was a specific purpose.

By the way...Glad I haven't seen them on any repop case or cover (yet)

Rein

[Chris Haynes]

Those numbers 7 on the rear engine support were inspector markings as well ( same type and size?) ..Nowadays we know their importance for the assembling proces...

The number 7 on the rear motor mount came in 1941 when the 74" OHV was introduced. This was so a 74" engine could quickly be differentiated from a 61". This continued thru production of the 61" engine. In 1955 the letter H appeared to differentiate the FLH from the FL engines.

[Speeding Big Twin]

A seriffed 7 is the only type I’ve seen so far on top of the rear mount of 1941–47 74ci Knuckle cases and also the only type I’ve seen so far for 1948 Pans. The seriffed 7 continued during 1949 but a sans serif 7 was also used that year.

Both types can be found on 1950 Pans but at some point during that model year the sans serif 7 seems to have taken over completely and it then remained in use for a long time. The latest example I have of a sans serif 7 on top of a rear mount is a 1970 Shovel.



The FLH debuted about mid-55 but I have six examples with no H on the rear mount; instead they have a sans serif 7. I have no photos of Hs on the rear mount of Pan cases prior to 1956 models.

The latest example I have of Hs on the rear mount is a 1976 Shovel.
Eric

[nukkel]

That H would have been stamped in just after cylinder / piston assembly I guess?
Both bottom ends were the same so only the pistons were different.
Maybe the H was stamped in before head assembly ?

Rein

[Chris Haynes]

That H would have been stamped in just after cylinder / piston assembly I guess?
Both bottom ends were the same so only the pistons were different.
Maybe the H was stamped in before head assembly ?

Rein

The cam was also different.

[Speeding Big Twin]

That H would have been stamped in just after cylinder / piston assembly I guess?
Both bottom ends were the same so only the pistons were different.
Maybe the H was stamped in before head assembly ?

Rein

I don’t know at what stage the Hs were stamped on top of the rear mounts and I’m yet to see them on 55 model cases.

FLH has different valve springs to FL.
FLH heads received some internal polishing.
Eric

[41craig]

Here is a 1950 EL, 5 number VIN, with no numbers behind the cylinders.1950 Pan (6).jpg1950 Pan (7).jpgCraig

[Speeding Big Twin]

Thanks for posting but I’m not surprised there are no numbers on top of the rear mount of an EL. Some say the number 6 was used there to indicate E/EL but I found no evidence to support that story. AFAIK the factory didn’t stamp anything on top of the rear mount to indicate E/EL.

Just out of curiosity, has your R-H case got anything stamped on the side of the relay bracket boss? Perhaps T or C?
Eric