Front Fender Question

[hennesse]

Are the 1952-1954 front fenders all the same? Are they the same basic fender as the Harley Hummer, except with different struts?

The 1957 Parts Book lists the 59007-52 and -52B.

My guesses - are they correct?
-52 = 1952-1954 w/bellmouth
-52A = 1955 and 1956 - no bellmouth
-52B = 1957 Sportster, raised area on struts stops way short of fender

[Magneto Sportster]

The fender with the long ribs that you are calling the "-52B" (raised area all the way to the fender) was in use until sometime during the 1959 model year.

[hennesse]

Thanks, Magneto. You are correct about the ribs on the struts. I started paging through The Legend Begins, and the pictures show the full-length ribs from 1957 through 1960. Since the photos were taken months in advance, H-D did assemble some bikes for the advertising photos with some of last-year's parts. So the 1960 photo might have a 1959 fender on it.

So perhaps this is more accurate?
1952-1954 - bell-mouth rear tip, long ribs on struts
1955-1956 - no bell-mouth, long ribs on struts
1957 XL, 1958 XL/XLH, 1959 XLCH, (?1960 XLCH?), no bell mouth, long ribs on struts
1958 XLC/XLCH - no bell-mouth, rear tip cut off just below the rear strut, long ribs on struts
(?1960 XLCH?),1961-up XLCH - no bell-mouth, short ribs on struts

These are different animals
1959 XL, 1959-up XLH - fenders have wide valences

The 1957 Parts Book shows -52 and -52B. Not sure if there was an "A" or if there is a difference between 1954-1956 and 1957. So many unknowns!

Trying to bone-up on my fenders - Oley swap meet is end of next week. You never know...
Dave

[John R]

Hi Dave

The quick answer to your question is that the Hummer and K blades are different. The width is the same but the Hummer radius is tighter, which messes everything-up. I thought I could get a K center brace to convert one to the other. Wrong!

The photo shows a donor Hummer fender overlaid on a modified '59-up fender (with short raised ribs) and you can see the tighter radius. I used that fender for the photo as it's off the bike, but I've compared it with the original fender on my '56 KHK. The only differences '59 to '56 (apart from short / long raised ribs) is the front stay is riveted about 1/2" closer to the center stay on the '59.

Why did I put a duck-tail on a '59 fender? Because that's what I had and I like the period look of the duck-tail on my '53 KK. How many people know about short / long raised ribs? I'm not into judging!

Anyone want a K center brace, NOS?!

Cheers!

John

[hennesse]

The quick answer to your question is that the Hummer and K blades are different. The width is the same but the Hummer radius is tighter, which messes everything-up. I thought I could get a K center brace to convert one to the other. Wrong!

Bummer! The difference between the two is obvious in your photo. So much for the quick-fix.

[sean]

still have the stock k center brace?

[John R]

Hi Sean

I'm sure I have 59107-52 but can't find it. It's NOS in original packing and not where it should be! I'll look again but it will be shortly after Xmas till I can dig deep.

John