1965 lever question

[portagepan]

Thanks diesel. I sent you two PM's. Mike

[portagepan]

Well, I was looking through my '65 accessories catalog today, and yes, there are the curved, big ball handlebar levers listed. Still pt. # 34017-62. "Safety knob hand levers for a better, safer grip. Meets AMA competition requirements for 3/4" ball". But, like was said before, the pivot hole size is smaller. I am still trying to figure if my lever mounts are modified '65's, or later. Anyone know of any distinguishing feature besides the mirror hole? It almost looks like mine were drilled out for the later, and better mirrors. When did they go to the nylon sleeves for the pivot pin. I think my ' 72 has them, but it isn't home right now to check. Mike

[jorrow]

The curved handle with the ball at the end were a safety accessory sold as an update to owners of PRE 1965 bikes with the curved blade levers . It will not fit onto a 1965 clamp which went with the straight 1965 lever.... that now all had a ball a the end. You can adapt it to a 1965 and later bike but it is not correct for 1965.

[portagepan]

Thanks for the info. That is the trouble with using Harley lit for a reference for resto's. A person has to really know their stuff. It seems especially so for the "65 and other changing years. Of course, that is why I asked the question in the first place. The member I bought them off of does resto's, so I figured he knew what he sent me. Oh well. Mike

[rbenash]

'65 posts did not have mirror holes and are very rare. Another one of those one year parts to hassle the '65 FLH restoration geek.

In '66 HD accessories and production moved to stem mount mirrors and stopped the handle bar clamp style.

A true '65 post is one year only part and only appears in the one year '65 parts catalog.

Those one year posts had a single injection point (a small circle that was drilled out by some owners to install stem mount mirrors) where the casting was pored/injected.

The 66 and later that have the stem mirror hole cast in and have 2 injection port markings on the sides rather than that single round circle on the top/bottom that got drilled out by many '65 owners to be cool and install
stem mount mirrors.

The '65 FL alloy ball levers (straight not curved) are first year for 65 parts and then continued into shovel heads 66 on.

[rbenash]

jorrow's got it right for those perches. If anyone has a set, heck even one PM me with your astronomical price :-) I have originals/correct on mine, they were drilled though by one of the previous owners but I plugged them. I would really like to have a nice pair that aren't drilled to get rid of that deduction for next round of judging.

[MY65HD]

I am looking for a set of 65 un drilled mounts.
Thanks

[rbenash]

Hey MY65HD - join the club. They are one year, partial year parts. If you find any for sale get two of each and call me :-)

[carverscott]

Hello MY65HD, 17 yrs ago, when I was putting together my '65, I went to a swap meet in Vallejo, Ca. to pick up some levers among other things. There was a guy who had lots of lever assemblies all for around $20 apiece, one set for a '65 with no holes- the guy told me those were right for my bike but I bought a set with holes because I thought it would look cleaner with the mirrors mounted there. It took about 5 years before I realized how stupid I'd been and I've yet to see another set for sale since.
Oh well, we live and learn...

[jorrow]

I keep running into these at swapmeets surprisingly. I think they are often overlooked because people see the lever hole and it looks ordinary to them and doesn't stand out. I found two at Daytona and one at Wauseon, quite by accident as I passed up a lot of boxes without looking. I have none for sale, but.. they are out there, and the ones I found had no special significance to their sellers.

[upsrod]

I had one on my '65 when I got it, found 2 more on eBay a few years back! Just luck.

[MY65HD]

What's really sad is when I bought my bike he told me he just drilled them out, I almost cried!
At least I saved it from total "restoration".

[MY65HD]

I keep running into these at swapmeets surprisingly. I think they are often overlooked because people see the lever hole and it looks ordinary to them and doesn't stand out. I found two at Daytona and one at Wauseon, quite by accident as I passed up a lot of boxes without looking. I have none for sale, but.. they are out there, and the ones I found had no special significance to their sellers.

if you run on to them in the future please by them for the members here. Your help will be greatly appreciated.

[upsrod]

I posted one on ebay yesterday under the thread about the '65 book...sold for $82.00!

[rbenash]

I posted one on ebay yesterday under the thread about the '65 book...sold for $82.00!

Odd that I missed that - did you list the PN as part of your post?

Ray