Rear Fender Hinge

[jgbrown59]

I am trying to determine the appropriate rear fender hinge configuration for a 48 FL. I have included pictures of fenders where the hinge pin can be removed and fenders where the pin cannot be removed. Which is correct for a 48 FL?

Did Harley change this configuration, and if so, when? Did this change when the hinge was redesigned in 48? I could not find mention of the pin removability in the Palmer books.

Late 46/47 fender - can remove pin.
Hinge-46-47.jpg

48 Fender - cannot remove pin - Original fender prepared for paint, correct underneath with the change to wire routing in 48 - open wire channel and flexible tube to span the hinge.
Hinge-48.jpg

59 Fender - can remove pin
Hinge-59.jpg

Repainted 66 Fender - cannot remove pin
Hinge-66-1.jpg

Original Paint 66 fender - cannot remove pin
Hinge-66-OP.jpg

Thanks for the help!

[exeric]

Great pictures, and documentation. Curious to know if the hinge pin height was an intentional engineering feature, or an assembly problem.

[T. Cotten]

I remember old-fashioned sand-blasting could sure screw them up, Folks.

....Cotten

[jgbrown59]

Checking in - any more feedback on the correct hinge configuration?

[Rubone]

This NOS is recessed....
DCP_3297.JPGDCP_3296.JPG

[jgbrown59]

Thanks for the reference. Would that happen to be a 48 fender? Any idea why some are recessed and some are not?

[Chris Haynes]

Factory picture 17277 hinge.jpg

[jgbrown59]

Thanks Chris. Still no definitive answer as this one appears to be removable. I wonder if the exposed portion of the hinge was random. At least I'll get to see many examples at Davenport next week.

[exeric]

This is the fender on my '51FL. It was on the bike when I got it (including 20+ drilled holes). The seller got it from the original owner who bought it new from Puckett Motors in Orlando, Florida. It's a 3 rib fender and I believe it is genuine to the bike.

hingepin.jpg