65 FLH King of the Highway fit and finish

[Chris Haynes]

Another thing about '65's. The screen for the lifters was on the early models, disappeared during mid production, the reappeared for the late production.

[rbenash]

If you don't have it but the cover is original, you probably don't need to worry about it. If you are restoring a '65 you probably aren't near done AFA finding "little unique things" and "big" this year/model is loaded with firsts and lasts and other rarities when it comes to parts and little things that are correct/not correct for the year.

[JSB55]

Welp, another tidbit I never knew. I've got two 65s, and neither has that plug in the primary cover.

I'm amazed at how much I've learned just in the month or two I've been on this forum.

[rbenash]

Nothing really. Some '65 FLH's have a small plug in the Primary cover for access to lubricate the compensating sprocket. If you don't have a cover with that plug I wouldn't worry about it.

Here's a picture of my original (original was polished by the first owner) during teardown. Replacing it with an NOS I bought in Oley about 10 years ago during reassembly.

Chris probably has a factory pic

[JSB55]

Including the compensating sprocket access plug in the primary.

Huh? Now what did I miss?

[rbenash]

Ray,
Like I said , lots of '65s appear to have chrome pipes and most likely always were. The dual exhaust system was always all chrome. The single system as fitted to police and utility units had painted header pipes with chrome flex covers. But there are known exceptions to both configurations!
Robbie

Very interesting point regarding dual vs single exhaust systems. Both of the 65 FLH's that I'm talking about had all of the chrome groups as well as the KOTH group upon purchase from the dealer. Including the compensating sprocket access plug in the primary.

Is there really a difference in terms of painted versus chrome from the factory if a 65 FLH was ordered with full chrome groups and KOTH? I am assuming that meant dual exhaust system.

Chris - when you show the factory photo's are those painted pipes on a single or dual exhaust system? Was there a difference in terms of finish or plating? Would be good to know.

[JSB55]

See page 5 I-1 of the Service Manual.

The photo upper left is kind of small and black and white, but those pipes sure look like shiny chrome to me.

No comment on the fact that the factory technician wears a long white lab coat when working on the bikes.

[Chris Haynes]

Ray,
Like I said , lots of '65s appear to have chrome pipes and most likely always were. The dual exhaust system was always all chrome. The single system as fitted to police and utility units had painted header pipes with chrome flex covers. But there are known exceptions to both configurations!
Robbie

Robbie,
I have gone over the 1965 sales and order blank information several times. I can find no listing for chrome pipes. Only painted pipes with chrome covers. The 1965 parts books does list chrome pipes for 1958-*, but that doesn't mean they came on a stock machine. I know then as today owners wanted to dress their bikes with chrome parts. I can find no written factory documentation of any kind of 1965's being sold with chrome pipes from the factory.
I do see information of chrome pipes being available on pre 1965 models.

However to further add to the confusion I find one factory photo of a 1965 with chrome pipes. Go figure.

[Rubone]

Ray,
Like I said , lots of '65s appear to have chrome pipes and most likely always were. The dual exhaust system was always all chrome. The single system as fitted to police and utility units had painted header pipes with chrome flex covers. But there are known exceptions to both configurations!
Robbie

[rbenash]

JSB55,
One thing on the pipes. Lots of '65s have chrome pipes. And lots of factory replacement pipes are chrome. It seems as the lower priced packages and police were painted and top end packages may have come chrome. The pipe covers and heatshields were always chrome ans so were the mufflers.
Robbie

My 65 FLH always had chrome pipes. If they were changed from painted it must have been very early or at the dealer. Another '65 FLH (had the chrome groups and KOTH package) I saw with my father when the original owner brought it by the house just after picking it from Wentzel's in Pottstown PA had chrome pipes and pipe covers. So that was either special ordered that way or changed out at the dealer.

I have all HD NOS chrome pipes on mine now (kept the originals), not planning on painting them silver I'll just take the point hit if I ever have it judged. If I ever get anal about points hits I'll paint the old ones silver.

[Chris Haynes]

Old Dude has the correct CP fasteners. I don't know of a source for the circle F other than getting lucky at an old H-D dealership. I have been told that circle F is trademark for Foster.

[Rooster]

Yes, the Colony Machine fasteners are marked with 1038 CP, but the markings are not quite exactly as the original OEM fasteners. Overall, Colony offers high quality replacement parts and fasteners.

[exeric]

JSB55 brought up a good point. Do any of the Colony fastener kits have CP1035, CP1038, or circle F marked bolts? Just curious since I haven't bought any of their fastener kits. I know Chandler Products is still in business and making nuts and bolts. It would seem logical for Colony to buy in quantity from CP.

[JSB55]

Interesting about the pipes turning gold... the pushrod tubes that came on the motor were gold, and I thought it was some kind of "custom" thing to go with the blue cylinders, but maybe, after all, the guy had tried to cad plate them.

[flat-happy]

replate your fasteners----better than using colony. i know a guy that cad plated his exhaust and he had a very hard time putting it back together and after about 30 miles it turned an ugly gold color. i was only 16 at the time-----