Head Scratchin' time

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Head Scratchin' time

Postby hennesse » Fri Mar 24, 2023 8:28 pm

I need your help. I'm not sure whether to post this in the K or Sportster forums.

Take a look at this purported 1956 KHK tank. The new paint job doesn't have the 1956 "swoosh", but that's immaterial.

What year and model is this tank?
IMAG5896-72-720x576.jpg
Mystery tank TOP
IMAG5896-72-720x576.jpg (58.5 KiB) Viewed 21915 times


Now take a look at the bottom of the tank.

Guess again - what year and model is this tank?
IMAG5897_1-72-720x576.jpg
Mystery Tank BOTTOM
IMAG5897_1-72-720x576.jpg (64.63 KiB) Viewed 21915 times


Odd bodkins! What's going on here? What is this thing?
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Re: Head Scratchin' time

Postby Rubone » Sat Mar 25, 2023 1:17 am

Looks like it could be a later production factory replacement tank with KH emblem mounts and Sportster base. I have seen various replacements for other models (Knucklehead, Panhead) with features from different eras.
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Re: Head Scratchin' time

Postby rito » Sat Mar 25, 2023 3:18 am

It's actually an "early" production factory tank. I have the exact tank "nos" that I'll be using on my 1956 khk. What I've read is that the 1957 overhead valve was supposed to debut in 1956, but productions setbacks at the factory caused a delay till the following year, 1957. The extra space under the tank was for the Sportster rockerbox clearance. Interesting the 1957 Sportster fuel tank is exactly the same sans the round indention on either side made for the round Harley logo. Someone painted your tank yellow, because it should have the swash on both sides. The original Harley color for 1956 was called Champion Yellow. It's much less bright than the color on your tank. You have a rare tank...
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Re: Head Scratchin' time

Postby starcain » Sat Mar 25, 2023 7:14 am

I'm pretty sure that used to be Erik Hoopes tank. Sold on ebay a few tears ago.
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Eriks Late 56 Tank (1).jpg
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Eriks Late 56 Tank (2).jpg
Eriks Late 56 Tank (2).jpg (184.13 KiB) Viewed 21842 times
Eriks Late 56 Tank (3).jpg
Eriks Late 56 Tank (3).jpg (174.46 KiB) Viewed 21842 times
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Re: Head Scratchin' time

Postby starcain » Sat Mar 25, 2023 7:31 am

FYI, Through the years I've heard many different word descriptions for the paint stripe on the 1956 tanks. For what it's worth, Harley called it a "Slash" as noted in the 1956 Enthusiast.
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Re: Head Scratchin' time

Postby hennesse » Sat Mar 25, 2023 10:02 am

starcain wrote:I'm pretty sure that used to be Erik Hoopes tank. Sold on ebay a few tears ago.


Yes, it was Erik Hoopes' tank. I'm finishing up the Technical : Nameplates and Transfers page, which I'll upload later today or tomorrow, and I remembered that Erik had sent me a photo of his tank years ago. I had forgotten about it, and just dug it out yesterday. It belongs on the Technical : Gas Tanks page, which only covers the XLCH tanks. So far.

Yes, the top of the tank is K-model, and the bottom of the tank is Sportster - almost. K-models have the carburator on the left side of the bike, and the petcock is in the left rear of the tank. Sportsters have the carburator on the right side of the bike, and the petcock is on the right front of the tank. Look again at the bottom of this tank - the petcock hole is on the LEFT REAR.

There IS some documentation of this tank! Look in the 1957 Spare Parts Catalog, and you will find the metal gas tank connecting line, 62355-52 listed for "52 to Late 56 - All K models", and the 62355-56 listed for "Late 56-Model KH, 57 Sportster". So we know that they were definitely produced in late model year 1958.

My theory is that late in model year 1956, Harley simply ran out of KH tanks, and produced a short run of these bastard tanks, as they had already started stamping the Sportster tank bottoms (at least), and it was easy enough to relocate the petcock hole. They probably made enough to finish out the model year, and some for spare parts. Did they subsequently continue to make these in quantity for "spare parts"? Probably not, as we've only seen or heard of two of them. But we'll never know for sure.

-----
On a slightly different subject, the 1957 and early 1958 Sportsters used a 62375-57 "Gas line to carburator elbow". I remember hearing something about early Sportster air cleaners interfering with the petcocks, and the petcock location or angle being subsequently changed. Unfortunately, my little grey cells are starting to wear out. Anyone know anything about this?
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