50 Frame

[hawghd1]

I bought a chopped and bobbed 50 pan. After reading the Palmer restoration book, I am not so sure that it has an original 50 wishbone frame. The frame appears to be original HD, but it doesn't have the flattened tubes were the horn mounts are located. Is possible to have a 50 frame with the round frame tubes, how can I tell for sure what I really have? Also I need some measurements for putting the horn mounting tabs back on the frame.
Thanks.

[Chris Haynes]

Is the frame bare metal? If it was customized it could have had the mounts removed and the tubes rounded. Has anything else been removed from the frame? Pictures! We need pictures.

[bmh]

Center line of top horn mount holes should be 3- 1/4" below the center of the lower tank mount slot. Assuming of course that part of the frame is still original.

[hawghd1]

The only thing that has been altered on this frame is that they cut off the tool box mount, horn mount and side car loops. It has not been racked or stretched. Do the casting numbers have any meaning? Thanks for the measurement.

[Chris Haynes]

It would also appear that the horn mounts were removed.

[bmh]

If the casting numbers had no meaning they wouldn't have bothered to put em there

They did change from time to time, but I doubt it was often enough to be able to tell a 48 frame from a 50 by the numbers alone. Steve Little would be the guy to ask about those things. Don't know I've ever seen a frame with the horn mounts cut off where they pressed the tubing back to round, most were just carefully made to appear so with bondo.

[Chris Haynes]

I have asked him if the frame was bare metal and he hasn't responded. Paint will hide a lot.

[hawghd1]

I have asked him if the frame was bare metal and he hasn't responded. Paint will hide a lot.

No I have not removed the paint

[Neil74]

You could just run a strong magnet over the area to see if a layer of bondo is present, if you prefer to leave it painted.

[Steve Little]

Hi.
1949 had unpressed tubes with thin horn mounts welded all the way around.
Hawghd1, If you want the frame positivley identified, send me an email. steve@raceframe.com.au
Regards Steve

[Chris Haynes]

Hi. 1949 had unpressed tubes with thin horn mounts welded all the way around.

The prototype photos show that. I have never seen a production model with those mounts.

[bmh]

I think Steve was refering to these...

[Chris Haynes]

Yup. That makes more sense.

[Steve Little]

Hi.
I should have also posted that high VIN 49 had the pressed downtubes and the thicker horn brackets that were tack welded on the ends.
I have tracked it back to just over VIN 10,000.

If anyone has a lower VIN number 1949 with the depressions/thick horn blocks on the downtubes, I would appreciate your info.

The bike would need to be "Known History" to be credible.

If you post your Engine VIN, keep the last digit blank. "I've heard there are longhaired ratbag Bikers on this forum"
Email me direct or personal message me on this forum.

Regards Steve

[bmh]

Steve, how about a later machine with the early style? That pic I posted is of a machine in the late 9500's. I also have photos of one in the 11,000's with these style mounts. The pics came from an auctioneer who would not provide the last three digits of the vin. It was an estate sale, the original owner had passed away and it was up for auction. On another note, I think most people are a little too scared about letting their VIN out, If I was the type of person who punched numbers I wouldn't be too concerned with copying an existing number. I'd just punch a number that seemed good. After all copying a number that is already in the system would be a good way to get caught, those guys aren't that dumb.