K-Model belly numbers

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K-Model belly numbers

Postby hayleyl » Sun Aug 09, 2015 10:18 pm

Can any one shed some light on these numbers...
I have a 1952K (#1121) - belly numbers are 552 1742 1050 - can anyone tell me what the 1050 means? Is it a measurement?
Cheers Hayley.
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Re: K-Model belly numbers

Postby sean » Mon Aug 10, 2015 6:04 am

you have the 121 st k model built,they started at 1000 with the serial numbers..as for the belly numbers they should be matching numbers on both sides,if not then one case has been changed out.
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Re: K-Model belly numbers

Postby JerrryR » Mon Aug 10, 2015 9:48 am

Hi would it be possible to post a picture of your belly numbers. Also from what you can tell does your bike appear to be mostly original. If so it may help answer some questions about when some of the early running changes took place with the 52K. A picture of the rear fender ducktail and one of your primary cover showing the fill plug might shed some light. In addition does your K frame have have smooth bore holes in the seat casting for the seat plunger assemble to slide into or are the seatcasting holes threaded for the seat plunger assemble. Finally are the seat casting fender strut supports part of the casting or are they welded steel pieces to the casting. Thanks.
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Re: K-Model belly numbers

Postby hayleyl » Mon Aug 10, 2015 9:12 pm

Thanks all, sadly machine is not complete. I purchased the frame, swing arm, complete engine (with 2 sets of spare heads) from a swap meet here in Australia a few years ago. The gent who had it purchased a shipping container of Panhead and early Shovelhead parts from Amarillo Texas. The remains of the K-Model was buried under a pile of tin and fibreglass parts. That's as much as I know about the bike. I think it's been a back yard club racer or similar at some stage. Engine, frame, (modified Hummer tank) and front end (early Ceriani or Redwing I think) were all as one (no wheels). Engine cases and heads have all the usual stress cracks etc. and there has never been any aluminium repairs carried out. Apart from being very tired in condition, there are some interesting things I've discovered. Cylinders are 750cc but have had extensive modifications to ports, pistons crowns have been hand shaped, KHK stamped cam set has been installed, carb is modified 53a linkert on a (what looks like) a KR manifold. It has a wide clutch with a smooth pressed tin primary cover. Gear box has weird gears (teeth numbers). Appears ratio 1st & 2nd are really close and 3rd and 4th are close but 2nd to 3rd are in different postcodes.
Frame is a shorter rake than standard, no side stand lug, no provision brackets or mounts etc. for oil tank or battery, lugs on frame to hold T bar on seat have been removed, seat plunger and fender strut casting is one piece, plunger holes are smooth with a step about an inch down into the frame. There are some different number here and there, some stamped and some cast. The joints from tubing to cast sections are all welded and it it much much lighter than say a stock 77 XL frame which I have. The journey of this machine is anyone's guess. It's never going to be anything than a bitsa', but It will be recommissioned as say an example of what a 52KRTT looked like.
I am simply intrigued by the belly numbers - 552 (ModelK1952) 1742(I take as sequential or mating number) but I don't know what 1050 means. The numbers are matching and in the same font.
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Re: K-Model belly numbers

Postby hennesse » Mon Aug 10, 2015 9:24 pm

Hayley,

hayleyl wrote:I am simply intrigued by the belly numbers - 552 (ModelK1952) 1742(I take as sequential or mating number) but I don't know what 1050 means. The numbers are matching and in the same font.


Me too. All the belly numbers I've seen are of the form 552-1742 (see the "Numbers" article over in the "Technical" section).

So I'm guessing that yours are 552-1742 <space> 1050 - all in a line - and 1050 is stamped in just like the rest? If you can take a photo, that would be great. Never seen anything like it - so I'm just as intrigued as you are...

Dave
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Re: K-Model belly numbers

Postby hayleyl » Mon Aug 10, 2015 9:53 pm

Thanks Dave, will get the camera out tonight, cheers Hayley.
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Re: K-Model belly numbers

Postby sean » Tue Aug 11, 2015 6:18 am

never seen a extra set of numbers...after the usual numbers...heres a shot of mine on my spare 52 k 1571 motor...
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Re: K-Model belly numbers

Postby hayleyl » Tue Aug 11, 2015 10:14 pm

Hello all, apologies - after eyeballing numbers last night (been a good while since I've actually looked at them) the mystery number 1050 is only on one side of crank cases, (primary side) and is not on the cam side. They are also not 100% in line (thanks Dave) so that suggest to me these have been stamped at some later stage. By who or why is anyone's guess. I don't think they're of significant importance.
Primary side says 552 1742 then a gap and 1050, cam side just has the 552 and 1742.
Next question on numbering - can anyone shed some light on sequence of engine / machine numbers in that - as an example 52K 1121 would be preceded or followed by 52K 1120 or 52K 1122 - or in 1952, the machine 1122 could have been 52FLH 1122? or is there evidence of say a Hummer with 1121 and a K Model and a big twin with the same serial number, just the prefixes change? So let's say for example Panhead numbers started at 1001, K's started at 1001 and Hummers started at 1001? Or are numbers consecutive regardless of model? Can't find any definitive answers....Cheers Hayley.
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Re: K-Model belly numbers

Postby thefrenchowl » Wed Aug 12, 2015 2:56 am

All serials for all models start at 1001 at each year start, usually the Sept of the year before what's stamped, before the early 60's when the even/even or uneven/uneven started.

But same code numbers models, 5 for Ks, follow each other, 54 KH 2354 follows 54 KHK 2353

From early 60s, it's 1001 or 2001

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Re: K-Model belly numbers

Postby hayleyl » Wed Aug 12, 2015 3:21 am

Thanks Patrick - yes understand, what I'm really trying to find out is: for e.g. in 1952 is it possible to have a K-Model 1121 and a Panhead 1121 and say a Hummer or Servicar 1121 ? - K would be 52K 1121 and Bigtwin (I think) would be 52FL 1121 and so on. Cheers Hayley
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