by hennesse » Wed Apr 16, 2014 11:02 am
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