OSKRG Research/Restoration Bulletin # K & XL Frame Model Year Determination Flow Chart

Transcription

1 OSKRG Research/Restoration Bulletin # K & XL Frame Model Year Determination Flow Chart This research and restoration bulleting was created with input and assistance from members of the OSKRG. The report consolidates the best available information at the time of creation and may be updated or revised at a future date. If errors are identified, or there is additional information on the subject of this report that has not been included, please send corrections or additions to: graino@comcast.net & sklange@comcast.net 1

2 52-72 K & XL Frame Model Year Determination Flow Chart Vs.6 Note: Years denote approximate model years since some changes were running changes. Generic Frame K & XL K Model See Slide XL, XLC, XLH & XLCH See Slide 6. (Small Hole) XLH & XLCH See Slide 13. (Big Hole) 2

3 52-56 K Model Frames 52 Neck Casting, none known of with date codes & not welded. Believe correct for all 52 & 53K Models. Earliest 52 frame welded on steel fender strut supports to late 52???? Hollow footpegs, believe used only on 52 & 53K models. Believe solid footpeg with non date coded frames and non-welded 52 neck castings also used on late 53Ks. Cast fender strut believe used late 52??? & on for all K models. Solid footpegs first known date code August 53. Am aware of a non date coded frame with solid footpegs. Believe all 54Ks were frame date coded, had solid footpegs and welded neck 52 neck castings or 52A neck castings 52A Neck Casting, earliest known Oct. 53 latest December 54. Believe correct for later 54K models & early 55K models. Early & late welded 52 Neck Casting, earliest vs. known June 53 frame code, earliest later vs. known August 53 latest known September 54. Several exist pre frame date Code. Believe correct for 54K & early 55K model. 55 Neck Casting, only know of several with frame dates of April & May of 55. Believe for now that 52A & welded 52 Neck Casting frames were used for early 55K models, to what VIN unclear. Early 56K Neck Casting without Stem Ridge latest known A6. Late 56 Neck Casting with Stem Ridge, used on 56K models & XLs. Earliest known D6. 3

4 52-56 K Model Notes Note 1, 55 & 56 neck casting frames have the reinforced down tubes. Yellow arrow. Note through 54 frames have 5/16 course threaded coil mount bosses. 55, 56 and on have 3/8 fine threaded bosses (yellow arrows). 52A neck casting frames & 52 welded neck casting frames used on 54Ks have the 5/16 coarse treads. 52A & 52 welded neck frames used on 55Ks have the 3/8 fine thread coil bosses. Note 3. Earliest 52 seat casting (yellow arrow), welded on fender strut supports, thinner than Mid 52 through 55 seat casting (red arrow), has cast fender struts, is thinner than has thicker seat casting (blue arrow). Note 4. Smashed underside of backbone to make room for 57XL rocker boxes (green arrow). Believe L5 to be last non smashed underside and A6 to be first smashed underside. Note 5. Some K model top motor mounts have casting numbers. I have been unable to discern a pattern based on frame date. I believe difference is due to two different providers. 4

5 52-56 K Model Notes Note 6 Frame Steel Mild Steel C 1026 X X X Chrome Moly X? The September of 1954 Enthusiast magazine indicates that the 55 K frames will be Chrome Moly steel as a new feature. Cannot locate documentation indicating frame steel type for the rest of the K & XL frames. Because the 54 Enthusiast indicates the Chrome Moly as new for 55 I believe the earlier models are not Chrome Moly and later XL frame steel is unknown at this time. Note 7. Earliest 52 swingarms have longer tubes than 53 and later, yellow arrow, although overall length is the same. 52 has squared corners, see red arrow. Don t know if this was a running change in 52 or not. There are definitely 3 distinctly different swingarms for the K model, possible 4. Note 8. It appears the earliest left side footpeg bracket has a hole in it, see red arrow, that was cast over at some point, see yellow arrow. Believe to be cast over by 53. it should be noted that Eric K has an early welded fender strut support K frame that has the footpeg hole cast over. Believe for now that the welded strut frame with the hole in the footpeg bracket may have been used on most 52s? 5

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7 57-66 XL, XLC, XLH & XLCH (Small Hole) 58 XLC & XLCH will all have sleeved gas tank rear mounting hole, blue arrow. Many XLH frames will have an owner drilled hole to accommodate the small tank but it won t be sleeved. For XLC & XLCH see slide through 1966 XLH frames have 2 bosses for mounting the coil, green arrows and the Wedding Band strap for the oil tank bracket, yellow arrow. For XLH frames see slide #10. 7

8 58 XLC & XLCH (Small Hole) XLCH bare underside of seat casting, red arrow & on XLH and XLCH have threaded hole, yellow arrow, for speedometer cable bracket. 57 & 58 XL and XLCH necks do not have threaded hole. 58 XLC & XLCH will all have sleeved gas tank rear mounting hole, blue arrow. Many XLH frames will have an owner drilled hole to accommodate the small tank but it won t be sleeved & 60 XLCH only?? with large casting letter/numbers. Unclear if all 59 & 60 XLCHs have it and if XLHs have it as well as any other years. yellow arrow. Voltage Regulator mounting boss used on 1965 XLCH only. Coil mounting boss used on 65 & 66 XLH. Earliest known appearance April Present through red arrow. Lunch Box oil tank bracket, red arrow, used on 1966 models through 1969 with this seat casting design XLCHs have 2 voltage regulator mounting tabs has no terminal strip boss below the regulator mounting tabs. 8

9 58-66 XLCH Notes Note 1. Several date coded frames for 1959 & 60 XLCH & XLH models are known of with this additional extra large casting on the neck What is unclear is whether or not all 59 & 60 XLCHs & XLHs were like this or just some (don t believe they all were). Not known if any other model years have these castings marks as well. Note 2. I am aware of an H6 XLCH frame with the small hole in the top motor mount, believe at this time that it was a replacement frame for a 66 since it did not have the small terminal strip below the voltage regulator tabs on the left downtube. Note 3. Unclear at this time as to when Antitheft numbers first appeared, believe in 62, definitely by 63 they show up. Have seen them on both the left (green arrow) & right (red arrow) hand sides of the neck casting, not enough information yet to discern a pattern. 9

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11 57-66 XL & XLH Frames (Small Hole) 1957 through 1966 XL & XLH frames have 2 bosses for mounting the coil, green arrows and the Wedding Band strap for the oil tank bracket, yellow arrow & on XLH and XLCH have threaded hole, yellow arrow, for speedometer cable bracket. Voltage Regulator mounting boss used in 1965 only. Earliest known appearance April Present through 1966 on XLH. through 69 on XLCH, red arrow 11

12 57-66 XLH Notes Note 1. Several date coded frames for 1959 & 60 XLCH models are known of with this additional extra large casting on the neck What is unclear is whether or not all 59 & 60 XLCHs were like this or just some (don t believe they all did) and whether the XLHs had these casting marks. Not known if any other model years have these castings marks as well. Note 2. The parts books list two different frames for the 1965 & 1966 XLHs, I cannot discern the difference between them. Is anyone aware of any differences in these frames? The parts book shows frame part # for 65 and the Parts Book shows frame part # A for 66 & earlier. Note 3. Unclear at this time as to when Antitheft numbers first appeared, believe in 62, definitely by 63 they show up. Have seen them on both the left (green arrow) & right (red arrow) hand sides of the neck casting, not enough information yet to discern a pattern. 12

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14 67-72 XLH & XLCH (Large Hole) XLCH will have Lunch Box oil tank bracket & Large Hole in top motor mount (maybe early 67 XLCHs with small hole) XLCH will have bent rear downtubes, Whale Tail on right side of seat casting and Pyramid shaped seat bracket and WILL HAVE Lunch Box oil tank bracket. See Slide XLH will have bent rear downtubes, Whale Tail on right side of seat casting and Pyramid shaped seat bracket and WILL NOT HAVE Lunch Box oil tank bracket. See Slide

15 XLCH (Large Hole) XLCH will have the older style seat casting with the seat bracket Leaning forward. It will not have the Whale Tail on the right hand side of the seat casting XLCHs have 2 voltage regulator mounting tabs has no terminal strip boss below the regulator mounting tabs XLCHs have terminal strip boss on left rear downtube below lower voltage regulator mounting tab, red arrow XLCH will have the newer style seat casting with the Pyramid shaped seat bracket, red arrow, and the Whale Tail on the right hand side of the casting, yellow arrow. They will also now have the Bent rear downtubes like the XLHs, green arrow next picture & 71 XLCHs will have the top or horizontal welded on portion of the lunch box seat bracket facing the front of the frame, yellow arrow frames were universal and were used on XLCHs & XLHs. The lunch box oil tank bracket was fastened in place with two screws with the horizontal potion facing the rear of the bike, yellow arrow. 15

16 67-72 XLCH Notes Note 1. The 1972 frame is universal, same frame for both the XLH & XLCH models. The yellow arrow identifies the two tapped holes for the XLCH top oil tank bracket to mount. Note 2. Believe that after mid 67 the kickstand bracket was reinforced with additional weld. A is from a G7 frame, no reinforcement and B is from a L7 and has reinforcement. A B 16

17 67-72 XLCH Notes Note 3. Unclear at this time as to when Antitheft numbers first appeared, believe in 62, definitely by 63 they show up. Have seen them on both the left & right hand sides of the neck casting, not enough information yet to discern a pattern. The Antitheft numbers eventually evolved into a VIN on the right hand side of the neck casting. The VINs started with the 1970 models but the boss shows up somewhere in I believe it to be mid April of Both neck castings B & C are frame date coded D 9 or April of Neck casting A is from a 1966 XLCH and neck casting D is from a universal 1972 frame. I need help with fleshing out the Antitheft Number/VIN Boss Table. Any frame date codes and style of casting would be greatly appreciated. A C D B Antitheft Number/VIN Boss Date Table Earliest Frame Date Code Latest Frame Date Code Has Frame Antitheft Numbers on RHS, Style A G5 G5 Has Frame Antitheft Numbers on LHS, Style A Has Frame Antitheft Numbers on RHS, Style B D9 D9 Has Frame Antitheft Numbers on LHS, Style B Has VIN Boss C D9 D9 Has VIN Boss D 17

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19 67-72 XLH (Large Hole) XLHs will all have the bent rear downtubes, whale tail right side seat casting, pyramid shaped seat bracket and large hole in top motor mount as can be observed on both the black and orange frames pictured here. Two features distinguish the black XLH frame from the orange frame. The frames will have the two tabs welded to the rear left side downtube to support the voltage regulator as can be seen on the black frame. In addition they will not have the flattened spot on the right side of the neck casting for the Frame VIN that started with the 1970 models. Note that the flat spot for the frame VIN showed up as best as I can tell in April of 69 so there are 1969 XLHs that will have the flat spot but no VIN stamped. The XLHs can be identified by their flat spot on the right side of the neck casting for the frame VIN and their larger one piece voltage regulator bracket on the left rear downtube. The 1972 XLH frame can be identified by the two drilled and tapped holes located under the seat casting for mounting the XLCH oil tank top bracket. 19

20 67-72 XLH Notes Note 1. The 1972 frame is universal, same frame for both the XLH & XLCH models. The yellow arrow identifies the two tapped holes for the XLCH top oil tank bracket to mount. Note 2. Not yet confirmed but believed whale tail was drilled to mount key for 67-71, see red arrows. Believe 72 was not drilled. This might be an easy way to quickly ID a 72 frame. 20

21 67-72 XLH Notes Note 3. Believe that after mid 67 the kickstand bracket was reinforced with additional weld. A is from a G7 frame, no reinforcement and B is from a L7 and has reinforcement. A B 21

22 67-72 XLH Notes Note 4. Unclear at this time as to when Antitheft numbers first appeared, definitely by 63 they show up. Have seen them on both the left & right hand sides of the neck casting, not enough information yet to discern a pattern. The Antitheft numbers eventually evolved into a VIN on the right hand side of the neck casting. The VINs started with the 1970 models but the boss shows up somewhere in I believe it to be mid April of Both neck castings B & C are frame date coded D 9 or April of Neck casting A is from a 1966 XLCH and neck casting D is from a universal 1972 frame. I need help with fleshing out the Antitheft Number/VIN Boss Table. Any frame date codes and style of casting would be greatly appreciated. A C D B Antitheft Number/VIN Boss Date Table Earliest Frame Date Code Latest Frame Date Code Has Frame Antitheft Numbers on RHS, Style A G5 G5 Has Frame Antitheft Numbers on LHS, Style A Has Frame Antitheft Numbers on RHS, Style B D9 D9 Has Frame Antitheft Numbers on LHS, Style B Has VIN Boss C D9 D9 Has VIN Boss D 22

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24 K Group Frame Features Date Code/VIN Table of Running Changes Frame Feature Earliest Frame Date Code/VIN Latest Frame Date Code/VIN 52 Neck casting First No Date Code Welded 52 Neck Casting 5/16 coarse thread coil bosses Pre 3F Welded 52 Neck Casting 3/8 fine thread coil bosses 4I 52A Neck Casting J3 4F 52A Neck Casting 5/16 Coarse Thread Coil Boss 4C 52A Neck Casting 3/8 Fine Thread Coil Boss 4H 55 Neck Casting D5 E5 Early No Stem Ridge 56 Neck Casting K5 A6 Later With Stem Ridge 56 Neck Casting D6 F6 Hollow Foot Peg Mounts First PRE H3 Solid Foot Peg Mounts H3 REST Visible Casting # on Top Motor Mount NA A6 No Visible Casting # on Top Motor Mount NA H3 Earliest K Seat Casting, Welded on Strut Supports Assume 1 st K in 1952 VIN??? Early (Thinner) Seat Casting 2 nd Generation VIN??? D5 Later (Thicker) Seat Casting A6 REST Smashed underneath of backbone to accommodate XL Valve covers A6 REST Note: Date Codes/VINs given are not necessary the earliest or latest but rather the earliest or latest codes known at this time. Legend: REST = All from the earliest Date Code forward Unknown = Date Code exist but at present is unknown First = From first bike model forward 24

25 XL Group Frame Features Date Code/VIN Table of Running Changes Frame Feature Later (Thicker) Seat Casting, Seat Bracket Waves Forward Asymmetrical Seat Casting, Whale Tail with Rounded Upright Triangle Seat Bracket Earliest Frame Date Code F6 Latest Frame Date Code Small Hole in Top Motor Mount F6 H5 Large Hole in Top Motor mount POST H5 REST No Regulator Boss under RHS of Seat Casting F6 H3 Regulator Boss under RHS of Seat Casting D4 Has Factory Sleeved Hole in Backbone for small (CH style) Gas Tank Straight Rear Downtubes FIRST Bent Rear Downtubes REST Does Not Have Small Hole RHS of Neck for Speedo Bracket Has Small Tapped Hole in RHS of Neck for Speedo Bracket Note: Date Codes given are not necessary the earliest or latest but rather the earliest or latest codes known at this time. Legend: REST = All from the earliest Date Code forward Unknown = Date Code exist but at present is unknown First = From first bike model forward 25

26 XLCH Group Frame Features Date Code/VIN Table of Running Changes Frame Feature Earliest Frame Date Code Latest Frame Date Code Later (Thicker) Seat Casting, Seat Bracket Waves Forward FIRST D9 Asymmetrical Seat Casting, Whale Tail with Rounded Upright Triangle Seat Bracket Does Not Have Lunchbox Oil Tank Bracket (Early Using Horseshoe Design Oil Tank) Has Lunchbox Oil Tank Bracket G5 D Universal Frame Bolt on Oil Tank Bracket Small Hole in Top Motor Mount FIRST H5 Large Hole in Top Motor mount POST H5?? REST No Regulator Boss under RHS of Seat Casting FIRST H3 Regulator Boss under RHS of Seat Casting D4 E8 Has Factory Sleeved Hole in Backbone for CH Gas Tank Has Small Tapped Hole in RHS of Neck for Speedo Bracket Does Not Have Small Hole RHS of Neck for Speedo Bracket Straight Rear Downtubes Bent Rear Downtubes REST Note: Date Codes given are not necessary the earliest or latest but rather the earliest or latest codes known at this time. Legend: REST = All from the earliest Date Code forward Unknown = Date Code exist but at present is unknown First = From first bike model forward 26

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