65 FLH King of the Highway fit and finish

[rbenash]

Follow Chris's lead. Realize though that the timing cover on the '65 FLH is really a one year cover. You can perhaps find a shovel cover from 66 to 68 that a good machinist can drill out for you to make it a 65 - I did, but it is not an insignificant endeavor. Save that polished 65 timing cover, you might never find a replacement with the original finish.

It was very common for '65 owners to polish out their primary and timing covers to make them look pretty. Very surprised that your inner primary is polished, which make me think it is not original. That would take significant effort from the owner of an original 65 to have the bike torn down just to polish it out. Seems to me that your engine/trans might have been from a different bike.

[JSB55]

Thanks for all the input!

I figure I'll get it looking as good as I can and then just enjoy my ride while keeping an eye out for an OEM cover in better condition than mine. Had to make that same choice on a couple of other parts, too.

John

[Chris Haynes]

Since your cover has been polished you will never get the sandcast finish back. My blasters media looks to be very fine.

[JSB55]

Seriously ... I found the walnut shell blasting media readily available online ... am I correct in assuming I should use Coarse or Extra Coarse to get the roughness of the sand cast finish back?

e.g., http://www.kramerindustriesonline.co...nut-shells.htm

John

[JSB55]

OK ... will try that!

I hope I'm not required to eat like 25 bags of walnuts first to generate the shells, though.

[Chris Haynes]

Have it blasted with walnut shell.

[JSB55]

Thanks to all for the info, and especially Chris's photo collection, which for me is a priceless reference.

I've tried the "hummer club" treatment (bead blasting, then application of mother's wheel mist, followed by polishing compound and wd-40) on this cover once already, and while it darkened the color a bit, it failed to bring out any of the original "granular" texture.

I'm about to conclude I have to live with it as is, unless anyone else has a magic formula to suggest. I think the former owner must have polished the cover at some point.

John

[Chris Haynes]

[QUOTE=JSB55;79864]

Was the original finish on that the same natural sand cast finish as the primary cover, or something else?

Natural cast finish.

[rbenash]

Much appreciated. For now, I have to live with an aftermarket nacelle, but at least I know to install the turn signal indicator lamps.

Now I'm muddling about the cam cover... I have the original "smooth" cam cover with the correct part number stamped inside, but it appears to me it may have been painted at some time in the past, and the outside is pretty beat up with boot marks and scratches, so I somehow need to clean it up.

Was the original finish on that the same natural sand cast finish as the primary cover, or something else?

Thanks again to everyone for helping a restoration newbie get things right.

John

Both the cam cover and outer primary covers were natural sand cast aluminum.

[JSB55]

Mine is definitely "dull", but does not have any of the "grainy" texture found on the sand cast primary cover. Inside is the same color as the outside, and the part number is clearly stamped on the inside, near the front.

There are a few places on the outside where it has been rubbed or scraped to the point it reveals a shine, and when running your hand over it the surface feels like "flat" paint, which is why I wondered if it had been painted.

The previous owner had painted the heads and the generator to match the tank color, so I'm finding that anything is possible on this bike.

Maybe the attached photo will allow someone to tell me if the cover appears to be more or less the correct finish. It's "smooth" meaning "without ribs" but also smooth to the touch, rather than granular like the primary cover. The black specks towards the back of the cover are actually areas where it is pitted, and it obviously has plenty of scratches.

Any tips on if/how this cover can be given a more "like new" appearance would be greatly appreciated. I have brand new paint and chrome, and want to get the engine finish and covers looking as good as I can.



John

[Magic]

Now I'm muddling about the cam cover... I have the original "smooth" cam cover with the correct part number

Was the original finish on that the same natural sand cast finish as the primary cover, or something else?



John

Yes it should be a dull finish which many owners changed.

[JSB55]

Much appreciated. For now, I have to live with an aftermarket nacelle, but at least I know to install the turn signal indicator lamps.

Now I'm muddling about the cam cover... I have the original "smooth" cam cover with the correct part number stamped inside, but it appears to me it may have been painted at some time in the past, and the outside is pretty beat up with boot marks and scratches, so I somehow need to clean it up.

Was the original finish on that the same natural sand cast finish as the primary cover, or something else?

Thanks again to everyone for helping a restoration newbie get things right.

John

[Underdoggie]

I have attached some pictures of the head light housing off of my 65FL, I also noticed a couple of numbers on the inside of each half. Anyway I thought they might be good reference for you. I am a new member but am thinking any time you have a part off your bike maybe a few pictures for future reference might not be a bad idea.

[JSB55]

Okee doke. Thank you guys!

John

[panz4ever]

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

If you look closely at Chris' photo you can see the turn signal lens covers.