65 FLH King of the Highway fit and finish

[Chris Haynes]

Thanks for that info, Chris. I suspected the inner primary should be the sand cast finish, but the previous owner had apparently polished it, which confused me.

I knew my nacelle was aftermarket but wasn't sure about the turn signal indicators, since I'd seen them on some bikes, but never in a manual.

The photo you posted raises another question, though. What is the correct coloration of the cylinders and heads? In the photo, they appear different from the color of the inner and outer primaries.

Thanks!

John

Heads are bare aluminum. Cylinders are painted high temp silver.

[JSB55]

Mine are different, but in the same location.

Mine are about 1/2 inch in diameter, with flat red lenses. Judging by the wiring, the aftermarket nacelle, and the way the holes were drilled I assume the ones on my bike were installed by a former owner, but it's still not clear to me whether having an indicator light there was factory or not.

John

[flthead]

jewels ?

are these turn indicator lamps what you are considering jewels ?

[JSB55]

Thanks for that info, Chris. I suspected the inner primary should be the sand cast finish, but the previous owner had apparently polished it, which confused me.

I knew my nacelle was aftermarket but wasn't sure about the turn signal indicators, since I'd seen them on some bikes, but never in a manual.

The photo you posted raises another question, though. What is the correct coloration of the cylinders and heads? In the photo, they appear different from the color of the inner and outer primaries.

Thanks!

John

[Chris Haynes]

[QUOTE=JSB55;79809]Hi...

First, was the inner primary the same finish as the motor, lightly polished, or highly polished (e.g., to rival chrome)? The one I have on there is smooth, and seems to have been lightly polished, but certainly does not glitter like it would if it were highly polished.

The original finish was sand cast aluminum. Rough texture. Not smooth, polished or chrome.

Second, was the front brake drum highly polished (e.g., to rival chrome), or just lightly polished? I did get my fork legs polished and they came out looking almost as if they had been chromed.

Looking chromed is not correct. Lightly polished is correct.

Finally, I have the chrome headlamp nacelle, and I've seen some restorations that have small jewel lamps as turn signal indicators installed on the nacelle facing the rider. Was that a stock offering, or something that people did on their own?

Jewels and castings without numbers are not original.

[JSB55]

Hi...

I'm putting my 65 FLHFB back together, and have a couple of questions about correct fit and finish. This is intended to be a daily rider, rather than subject to judging by experts, but I still want it as correct as I can get it.

The bike had the King of the Highway package on it when I got it, and I'm reproducing that, but having to contend with some modifications made by the previous owner.

First, was the inner primary the same finish as the motor, lightly polished, or highly polished (e.g., to rival chrome)? The one I have on there is smooth, and seems to have been lightly polished, but certainly does not glitter like it would if it were highly polished.

Second, was the front brake drum highly polished (e.g., to rival chrome), or just lightly polished? I did get my fork legs polished and they came out looking almost as if they had been chromed.

Finally, I have the chrome headlamp nacelle, and I've seen some restorations that have small jewel lamps as turn signal indicators installed on the nacelle facing the rider. Was that a stock offering, or something that people did on their own? My nacelle is undoubtedly aftermarket, as it has no part numbers stamped on it anywhere, and I can't tell from either the Palmer or Field books what is correct.

Thanks for your help!

John