Strap on primary cover

[Chris Haynes]

I was looking through some of my photos and found several photos of early K models with a chrome or stainless strap across the primary cover. Having never seen one of these in real life I wonder how long it was in use?

[Rubone]

Uh Chris,
That would be never! If a strap indeed existed at some point it was only a styling exerciser on the prototype that was photographed pre-production. All Ks had an "as cast" primary with the raised rib POLISHED for detail, matching the polished rib on the cam and kicker covers. All the covers are countersunk for the standard screw heads.
Robbie

[Chris Haynes]

Uh Chris,
That would be never! If a strap indeed existed at some point it was only a styling exerciser on the prototype that was photographed pre-production. All Ks had an "as cast" primary with the raised rib POLISHED for detail, matching the polished rib on the cam and kicker covers. All the covers are countersunk for the standard screw heads.
Robbie

Robbie,
You don't mind if this photo disagrees with you do ya? They didn't build racks of prototype engines.

[Rubone]

That's a polished strip Chris, not a strap.
Robbie

And why do all those workers look photo shopped?
Oh, I know, it is the same guys who made the polished strip so pronounced!
Robbie

[MJW]

I'd bet Dave Swanson has the skinny...Mike

[Rubone]

K primary cover

'52 brochure

I suppose now there is one over the cam cover and kicker cover as well!
Robbie

[vph-d]

I looked in -52, -59, and a -63 parts books and did not find that strap. Some of Chris' photos
sure seem to show a strap, but I've never seen one.
VPH-D

[junkyarddog]

Center Screw

Can anyone say what the screw in the center does? I don't have any K books.

[Rubone]

The center screw is to hold the primary on. It goes directly into a boss in the crankcase on early models and into a boss on the trapdoor of later ones. The primary is held on by three screws, the ones going through the POLISHED rib on the primary, no straps!
I have in my collection every K sales brochure, every K parts book, all the K shop dopes, all the "Enthusiasts", all the K riders handbooks, All the "Cycle", "American Motorcycling", "Motorcyclist", "Buzzzz" magazines showing the New '52 K model, and not in any piece of factory literature is there any mention of, picture of, or part number for any such item. And no K collector or restorer I know has ever mentioned such a thing. Besides, if it existed everyone would be looking for it since not a single restored K has one! Maybe I should start making them and use those studio shots to prove it and sell them in the club mag. Do a little revisionist history of my own!
Robbie

[jtp1955kh]

Harley Davidson Sportster Girdler & Dewhurst

Based on pictures I've seen, these straps were prior to 1956. There is a blue KH on p.12 and 13 of the HD Sportster book by Girdler & Dewhurst that has the bands on both the crankcase and primary covers.

[Sargehere]

Robbie
You have a PM to your Post #6 in this thread. add a "]" to the URL and we'll see what you posted/Sarge

[jtp1955kh]

URL Links to HD Sportster

http://books.google.com/books?id=uZy...page&q&f=false

http://books.google.com/books?id=uZy...page&q&f=false

[exeric]

I have to agree with Robbie; that looks like a raised feature in the casting that has been polished.

[Rubone]

Thanks Sarge
Fixed it!
Robbie

[Chris Haynes]

Robbie,
You are correct about it being a polished strip. The confusing thing to me were the screws in the middle and at both ends making it appear to be screwed on.
There is no airbrushing on either of those photos. Photos that had been airbrushed are clearly marked on the Pholman log as COPY. Here you can see what the whole picture looked like. Those guys are mechanics in the factory Service School and that is their class photo. The date on that photo is 1/22/54.