Panhead brake / clutch coated levers

[slamiste]

Hi,
These levers were on my 1957 FLH when I bought it in the early 1980's. They have a thick red coating like what's on new channel locks and other pliers. Were these offered thru HD or the early aftermarket? I suppose they could have been hand dipped into a liquid coating by a past owner but the coating is pretty thick and even.

Steve Slaminko

[dommi7]

I was wondering the same thing. I have a similar lever in a box of parts I just went through. Mine is more of a green-gray. It looks like the same dip length as yours.
I also recall seeing a ball end version, I wonder if these are from an accessory company?

[Jerry Wieland]

I do not know the answer but I always assumed that they came on competition type bikes. Maybe some Aermacchi models and CH Sportster.

Jerry

Hi,
These levers were on my 1957 FLH when I bought it in the early 1980's. They have a thick red coating like what's on new channel locks and other pliers. Were these offered thru HD or the early aftermarket? I suppose they could have been hand dipped into a liquid coating by a past owner but the coating is pretty thick and even.

Steve Slaminko

[Rubone]

H-D didn't make a coated lever (they did make ball end). The Aermacchi stuff is quite different and CHs used normal levers. If I recall they are in the Beck catalogs. Possibly Flanders also, but not H-D. I think I still have a couple black ones around here.