Motor/Tranny Hardware '48 Pan Specific

[GrandpasHarley]

Okay, so I know this could go under several categories, and has even been discussed in-depth on a broad scale, but I am going to ask the question anyway. This thread could really get out of control fast, so due to the dilemma below, I would like to try to clear up the confusion (or at least my confusion) around the '48 pan specifically.

What should the finishes be for the motor and tranny hardware on a 1948 Pan?

The reason I ask is because in Palmers book he states all motor hardware should be parkerized for '48. I believe on the '47, generally all the motor hardware was parkerized, but that was a knucklehead. So this could make since, BUT when looking at the prototype pictures of the 1949 models, you can plainly see CAD plated fasteners all over the motor. It is my understanding that the '49 prototype pictures would have been of a modified '48 Pan. So which direction do I go?

As a note my bike was a later '48 due to the silver painted jugs and the 5 digit VIN.

I am restoring a burnt up '48 Panhead, as a result I don't have much left to go from as far as hardware finishes are concerned. I understand that Harley did what was needed to get bikes out the door, so there is no true answer to my question. I am really only looking for major rule of thumbs or guidelines to get me going in the right direction. I know changes will need to be made down the road if I were to have this judged.

I can't be the only one who has ever pondered this, Hopefully in the future, others with '48 pan's find this thread useful.

Thanks in advance,

Josh

[Chris Haynes]

[Robert Luland]

Josh. The factory photos are doctored to make thing look as good as possible. I don’t believe any of them. I had the same question a while back and called upon another member here for advice. Hank also known as the knucklehead sent me the following. Hank is a walking wizard on this particular subject.

The timing cover and lifter block screws are parkerized. The head bolts are 1038 parkerized. The cylinder base nuts are parkerized. The upper motor mount studs, motor mount, washers and nuts are cad. The top motor mount bolt, nut and washers along with the 48 only throttle cable bracket are parkerized.
The engine mounting bolts are 1038 cp with castle nuts and cotter pins, also parkerized. They have a washer under the bolt head anytime steel meets aluminum, (front and rear motor mount). The have no washer where steel meets steel, (transmission mount, front crash bar upper mount).
The real expert is Clete at Old Dude. He has forgotten more about correct hardware than I will ever know!

[Chris Haynes]

Josh. The factory photos are doctored to make thing look as good as possible. I

That is an undoctered photo. It is easy to see the difference between actual and "Doctered".

[Robert Luland]

Chris what I meant by doctered was that most of those factory pictures are of proto-types and don't totaly represent what rolled off the line. They were made to look good. Bob

[Robert Luland]

Now there is something someone could shed some light on. In one of the pictures Chris posted. It shows the cover on the foot clutch painted silver. Is this right. I've always seen them black. Bob

[Chris Haynes]

Chris what I meant by doctered was that most of those factory pictures are of proto-types and don't totaly represent what rolled off the line. They were made to look good. Bob

Once again you are incorrect. I have many photos of production models. In most cases a proto type is a production line machine with the next years different parts hung on it. They are not specially built machines and show plenty of uglyness. Notice that the 1949 I just showed you the photo of is a prototype. It is 48FL10173. It has just had the new '49 parts added to it.

[T. Cotten]

Bob!
I would suspect that the footclutch bearing cover in the photo is stainless, not painted.
Black would probably have been available as well, of course.

Chris!
Wasn't the oil tank decal supposed to be on the front of the tank, behind the seatpost?
That's where I found mine.

....Cotten
PS: What is the proper name for that particular shift knob?

[bmh]

These photos in particular can demonstrate some things for us. While the thread is in regards to 48's which are quite a different animal than 49's and I'll be getting a little off topic here I would like to point out a few things. I do not believe prototypes were built with next years parts hung on them because the point of a prototype is to develop those parts for the next model year. Case in point, the rear fender on the 49. Having not seen the original photo until now I always thought or assumed ( a very dangerous thing) that a commercial artist airbrushed out the 3 ribs on the rear fender. Obviously this is not the case as the fender never had them as we can now see. The part itself appears to be a prototype. there are other things also, anyone else ever notice the difference in finish on the bars and risers in the 49 prototype photos? Sure appears that both are made of stainless rather than chrome plate which to the best of my knowledge was the way production machines were built. In addition these photos often contain parts from the previous year that were superseded in production such as the outer primary with the inspection screws at 3&9 o'clock rather than 6&12. In my opinion these photos can sometimes be as dangerous as they are useful. one area I find particularly interesting in these situations are the things the artists did change in every angle of view, I always figured that someone must have told to make sure they changed it. Although I don't readily see an example of that here. So I guess my point is on the importance of research. Everything yields clues if we take the time to see them.

[Chris Haynes]

Many chrome or shinny parts are covered with a dulling agent to prevent glare from the lights in the studio.

[GrandpasHarley]

'48 Pan Oil Pump Finish

I am getting ready to refinish my oil pump. I know the pump is supposed to be painted silver.

My question is regarding the finish on the fasteners. My findings are that the bolts are to be parkerized. (As shown in the pictures posted by Chris) And the oil fittings are to be CAD plated, But what about the two large slotted head plugs? Are those to be CAD plated or should they be installed before painting?

Thanks,

Josh

[Chris Haynes]

Cad. Paint doesn't stick to cad very well.

[GrandpasHarley]

Are those to be CAD plated or should they be installed before painting?

For future reference, I would like to clarify my above statement, What I should have asked was, are the slotted plugs be CAD plated or should they be painted silver like the oil pump.

Chris, Looks like you understood what I meant.

Thanks for the help,

Josh