1965 Panhead Book Project

[vph-d]

Chris,
No, I have never seen any factory documentation on 51 footshifters, it's just one of those stories/myths you hear over the years.

The battery side cover is not shown in my 55-65 parts book, but does show up in 99456-67
parts supplement book, dated Sept 1966. It is shown as 65-*.
VPH-D

[gmarakas]

I saw that seat, too. The problem is that there was no sparkle in 1965 and the catalog they are showing is not the 65 accessory catalog. I haven't checked my library but it is probably 66.

[Chris Haynes]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HARLE...d=p3911.c0.m14

[rbenash]

Isn't the -suffix of a part number the year of 'blueprinting', rather than the year of production?

Wayne at Heather's Leathers has gold piping, but I do not encourage anyone to butcher a good seat just to please the latest consensus.

My '55-'65 Parts Book only lists top 12v battery covers, in either black or chrome.
Finding a serviceable battery with the embossed elongated shield logo would be nearly impossible.

....Cotten

Good info! Looks like the side battery covers may only show up later in the year.

But it could be fun to find an old/dead one and gut it. Maybe insert a gel sell if you can find something that would fit in there.

Gotcha on the seats. No way I would do anything with a nice smooth vinyl original that didn't have gold or whatever piping. To hard to find them in good condition as it is. And know one I have come across can do vinyl restorations that come close to the original material.

[Chris Haynes]

Thanks Chris.

The guy I am working with at the Archives now has it on the list to look at again. Maybe they held off for some reason until later in the year. This is really good information. Our last conversation on the subject is what I am working off of but I will keep digging.

Thanks.

Just make sure that "GUY" in the archives is giving you documented facts and not opinion. Photos don't lie. I have the negative log from Pohlman Studios that gives the date that the negative was entered into the Pohlman Negative Archive. These dates will tell you if the photo is of a prototype or production machine. Also if it is early or later production.

[Chris Haynes]

I have never seen any factory documentation of a 1951 with footshift. Have you?

[vph-d]

The - suffix number is the year the part was authorized for use in production. However, there are exceptions to this rule, namely, late 51 models with footshift.
VPH-D

[portagepan]

What about the t-bar? When did they change from the flat numbered one to the newer doglegs, with no numbers on them? Thanks.
Mike

[T. Cotten]

Isn't the -suffix of a part number the year of 'blueprinting', rather than the year of production?

Wayne at Heather's Leathers has gold piping, but I do not encourage anyone to butcher a good seat just to please the latest consensus.

My '55-'65 Parts Book only lists top 12v battery covers, in either black or chrome.
Finding a serviceable battery with the embossed elongated shield logo would be nearly impossible.

....Cotten

[gmarakas]

Thanks Chris.

The guy I am working with at the Archives now has it on the list to look at again. Maybe they held off for some reason until later in the year. This is really good information. Our last conversation on the subject is what I am working off of but I will keep digging.

Thanks.

[Chris Haynes]

I can help with the polished ring on the primary. It was originally planned as a 66 finish detail and began to appear on late 65 models. So, again, yet another mid-year brainstorm. I restore all my case natural but it is just a personal choice.

I beg to differ. The photos I have clearly show it in photos entered into the archives on May 20th 1964. It was definately on the prototype 1965's.

[rbenash]

JWL - as mentioned upthread my original white seat on my '65 has gold piping. I also have another seat stamped 1965 with the gold piping.

George - I was talking about the timing cover being polished in the pciture in Fields book mentioned above. You said it was a color version of the factory photo you have. In you factory photo is the timing cover polished? I would be surprised if it was. I was assuming that the bike in the fields book referred to above was incorrect in that aspect. As far as the polished primary ring, gotcha on that it was late 65 and early 66 I believe. I have a polished set on the bike and a NOS natural set that I will be putting on during the resto.

[gmarakas]

I can help with the polished ring on the primary. It was originally planned as a 66 finish detail and began to appear on late 65 models. So, again, yet another mid-year brainstorm. I restore all my case natural but it is just a personal choice.

[jwl]

Great news. Thanks for the effort. I've just delivered by '65 after years of research and parts collecting for some of the missing parts. Very interested in details on '65 seats. My information tells me that basically any white seat (buddy, deluxe buddy) had gold piping. It would be good to get some final confirmation.

So this is timely conversation for me. I'll keep watching for any other info requests I might be able to help with.

I may be proven wrong but I believe the white buddy seat with gold piping was a 64 only item.

[rbenash]

That's the color version of the factory photo I spoke about. Looks like both of our piping is safe at last ;-)

Whoa!! I'll have to dig out my B&W factory photo too. Need to see if it also has that polished timing cover. That's odd if it's on the factory photo for sure.