1938 EL Skid Plate Finish

[PhilJS]

Should the skid plate for a 1938 EL be parkerized or painted black?

[Chris Haynes]

Bruce sez they are Parkerized in '38.

[40 Nuck]

How about 1940 model year? I assumed painted?

[Chris Haynes]

How about 1940 model year? I assumed painted?

Assumption is the mother of all foul ups.

[Steve Little]

Hi.
I have been cleaning up my narrow rib skid plate and it is definately Parkerized under the black paint.
I know thats going to add confusion to the debate.
Regards Steve

[junkyarddog]

Would you post a good picture or 2 of your skid plate ?
Jim

[46WL]

Phil, here's a picture of one of our early skid plates. I don't see any signs of paint on it, and it hasn't been touched for many years, if ever. Not sure what that means..

[Steve Little]

Hi. This is my plate. The paint is all buffed off and I had to blast a bit of rust in the middle but the Parkerizing is still quite visible.
Regards Steve

[Chris Haynes]

All skid plated were Parkerized. Some were painted over the Parkerizing. In the factory photos the skid plate is in the shadows under the bike and you can't tell what they are. Your only hope is finding an unmolested original and look to see what is what.

[Steve Little]

Hi 46WL.
Your skid plate does not look to have any trace of Parkerizing on the outside.
Can you describe or post a picture of the other/protected side.
The other side that faced the engine is protected from abrasive dust/gravel and scrapes.
When the plate was installed on a running bike, the inside of the plate usually had a pretty good coat of oil and dust to protect it..
Mine still has good clear evidence of Parkerising on the outside as well, but that was probably preserved due to the paint.
Regards Steve

[monukes]

When did HD stop using the early skid plate?
Jeff

[Chris Haynes]

When did HD stop using the early skid plate?
Jeff

When they ran out of them.

[len dowe]

When did HD stop using the early skid plate?
Jeff

Hi Jeff,
I thought the early plates stopped in 40. I also thought that they were painted in 38. what page is it on Chris?
Len.
p.s. say hi to Crystal for me.

[Matt McManus]

I have a 41EL just under 2000 VIN and it still has the early skid plate, also seen a few other early 41's with an early skid plate. I say the early skid plate stopped some time in early-mid 41 model year

[len dowe]

Matt, on your early OP bikes, is the skid plate painted(as for my 38)? mine is not right now and I want to finish that part so i can install my genny?
Len.