Wheel Sprockets

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Wheel Sprockets

Postby JerrryR » Mon Sep 08, 2014 11:30 am

Hi,
I made an assumption about rear wheel sprockets that now I am questioning. My “Table” on Sprockets assumes that the PBs were in error and omitted the 51 tooth sprocket for use in 54 from the first up to and including VIN 1688. This is what is reflected in the 57 and later Parts Books. All the Parts Books are consistent with showing the trans mainshaft sprocket being 22 tooth from the first 54 up to and including VIN 1688. So the question becomes did the 54 K up to and including VIN 1688 come stock with a 49 tooth wheel sprocket like the 54 & 56 parts Books reflect or did it come with a 51 tooth and was an omission in the 54 & 56 parts books and corrected in the 57 and later editions? If it matters for purposes of this discussion , if in fact all 54s came with the 49 tooth wheel sprocket it would have the same wheel to trans sprocket ratio as the 56Ks. Anybody got a for sure original 54K pre 1689 VIN they can count the teeth on? As far as the tires go for the 54, “The Legend Begins” shows the 54 as the last year with the 19s being standard equipment with the 18s as optional? The mysteries continue. Thanks for any light you can shed on this.
Jerry R

54PB:
35205-52______Transmission Mainshaft Sprocket—21 tooth_______________52 & 53-Model K & KK, 54-Model KH from Motor no. 1689 up
35205-54______Transmission Mainshaft Sprocket—22 tooth_______________54-Model KH to Motor No.1688 incl.
41471-30______Rear wheel sprocket__________________________________52 & 53 K & Model KK
41473-54______Rear wheel sprocket__________________________________54-Model KH

56PB:
35205-52______Transmission Mainshaft Sprocket (Replaced by 35205-52A)
35205-52A_____Transmission Mainshaft Sprocket—21 tooth_______________52 & 53-Model K & KK, 54 & 55-Model KH from Motor no. 1689 up
35205-54______Transmission Mainshaft Sprocket—22 tooth_______________54-Model KH to Motor No.1688 incl., 56-Model KH
41471-30______Rear wheel sprocket__________________________________52 & 53 K & Model KK
41473-54______Rear wheel sprocket__________________________________54 to 56

57PB:
35205-52A_____Transmission Mainshaft Sprocket—21 tooth_______________52 & 53-Model K & KK, 54 & 55-Model KH from Motor no. 1689 up, 57 Sportster
35205-54______Transmission Mainshaft Sprocket—22 tooth_______________54-Model KH to Motor No.1688 incl., 56-Model KH
41471-30______Rear wheel sprocket---51 Tooth_________________________52 & 53 K & Model KK, 57 Sportster
41473-54______Rear wheel sprocket---49 Tooth_________________________54 to 56 Model KH from motor number 1689 up

59PB:
35198-52______Transmission Mainshaft Sprocket—20T____________________59 –Sportster CH
35205-52A_____Transmission Mainshaft Sprocket—21T____________________52 & 53-Model K & KK, 54 & 55-Model KH from Motor no. 1689 up, 57 to 59 All Sportsters except 59-CH
35205-54______Transmission Mainshaft Sprocket—22T____________________54-KH ( below engine no. 54KH-1689); 56-KH
41471-30______Rear wheel sprocket---51 Tooth_________________________52 & 53 K & Model KK, 57 to 59-All Sportster
41473-54______Rear wheel sprocket---49 Tooth_________________________54 to 56 Model KH from motor number 1689 up

63PB:
35197-52______Transmission Sprocket—19T____________________________53 to 56—K, KH
35198-52______Transmission Sprocket—20T____________________________59 to *--XLCH
35205-52A_____Transmission Sprocket—21T____________________________53-K; 54 & 55—KH (above engine no. 54KH-1689); 57 & 58XL, XLH, XLCH; 59XLH; 60 to *--XLH, XLCH
35205-54______Transmission Sprocket—22T____________________________54-KH ( below engine no. 54KH-1689); 56-KH
41471-30______Rear wheel sprocket---51 Tooth_________________________ 53 K & Model KK, 57 to *--XL, XLH, XLCH
41473-54______Rear wheel sprocket---49 Tooth_________________________54 to 56 Model KH (above engine no. 54KH-1689)
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Re: Wheel Sprockets

Postby dr dick » Thu Sep 11, 2014 12:02 am

this is the way i thought it went
52-53.... 21/51
e54 .... 22/51
L54-55....21/49
56 .....22/49
im pretty sure thats the factory fitments.
ya gotta watch the parts books, as we know the line that differentiates was fitted at the factory vs what can be fitted in the field can get pretty blured at times.
look at the 19t front sprocket in the -63 catalog for example.
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Re: Wheel Sprockets

Postby hennesse » Fri Sep 12, 2014 1:23 pm

Hey guys,

I created a new Sprockets page in the "Technical" section. I've mostly just recapped Jerry's research, but I modified the table to show which transmission sprockets came stock from the factory, instead of what was available as spare parts.

I've left the early 1954 rear wheel sprocket as a continuing mystery. Maybe one day we can solve it.

Please take a look, and make sure I've got everything correctly.

Dave
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Re: Wheel Sprockets

Postby John R » Fri Sep 12, 2014 4:26 pm

The KH Rider's Hand Book 99464-55 states 22/49. It suggests that whatever the case with the early KHs that this was the settled gearing in '55, though could readily be changed after that date. So for '55 at least I promote 22!

What may be informative is a copy of order blanks for 54, 55 and 56. When ordering a Big-Twin you could specify different gearing - maybe with K series too.
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Re: Wheel Sprockets

Postby hennesse » Fri Sep 12, 2014 8:54 pm

John R wrote:The KH Rider's Hand Book 99464-55 states 22/49. It suggests that whatever the case with the early KHs that this was the settled gearing in '55, though could readily be changed after that date. So for '55 at least I promote 22!

John,

This contradicts what is shown in the 1956 Parts Book, so I think we need to consider the 1955 transmission sprocket another "mystery", so I changed the Sprockets page accordingly.

I just added a table listing what's shown in the Rider Handbooks - for the K and KH years.

I just looked at the 1954 KH Rider Handbook, and it shows 22/49. The 22 agrees with the all parts books. The 49 agrees with the 1954 and 1956 parts books, but disagrees with the 1957 and later parts books. Aw, Jeez, this gets murkier and murkier.

John: to complete the 1955 table entry, what are the motor and clutch numbers shown in your handbook?

WHO HAS A 1956 RIDER HANDBOOK ?? What are the four sprocket numbers shown on one of the opening pages?


John R wrote:What may be informative is a copy of order blanks for 54, 55 and 56. When ordering a Big-Twin you could specify different gearing - maybe with K series too.

The Season Order Blanks in The Legend Begins show optional Police and Sidecar gearing for Big-Twin, but do not give teeth numbers. The Ks and XLs don't have these options. The order blanks in TLB stop at 1957.
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Re: Wheel Sprockets

Postby John R » Wed Sep 17, 2014 5:59 am

Dave's right, the '56 parts book differs from the '55 handbook 99464-55. My understanding is that there was only one KH handbook though available in a later reprint, so no '54 or '56 versions, but Dave has a '54! Is this a new discovery?

My '55 states 30 and 59 for engine clutch - common to all Ks, all years, I believe.

Whatever the books say, I'd recommend lower gearing if you spend most of your time at moderate speed and higher if you spend most of your time at speed. Tall gearing can be lumpy in town.
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Re: Wheel Sprockets

Postby hennesse » Wed Sep 17, 2014 11:37 am

John R wrote:My understanding is that there was only one KH handbook though available in a later reprint, so no '54 or '56 versions, but Dave has a '54! Is this a new discovery?


No, it's a new stupidity. When I got my big 1950-1957 book from the Harley dealer, I immediately put yellow stickies on the first page of the different sections. I marked the KH section "1954 KH" - but it is not. It doesn't have a part number or date, but it does show the timing mark position for the KHK, so it can't be a 1954. It must be a 1955. Darn, now I've got to amend the Technical:Sprockets page, although it doesn't really change things. Sorry for the misleading information.

Harley doesn't advertise their "Antique Literature" much anymore - these first offered back in 1993 - but most of them are still available through your local Harley dealer. Here's the list of Antique Literature. The 1950-1957 book has Rider Handbooks: K, KH, and 1957 XL; and a 1957 XL Spare Parts Catalog. It also has Hummer and 45/Big Twin sections. Pretty good deal for $45.
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Re: Wheel Sprockets

Postby 55khkjoe » Wed Sep 17, 2014 11:48 am

Dave, I have the same book. It is a 55 riders hand book in it also there were 54 KHKs.
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Re: Wheel Sprockets

Postby hennesse » Wed Sep 17, 2014 9:52 pm

55khkjoe wrote:...also there were 54 KHKs.


Joe,
The 1955 and 1956 Season Order Blanks (SOB) list the "KHK Special Speed Kit Installed in 5x KH - $68.00", but the 1954 SOB does not.
Was the 1954 KHK a mid-year thing?
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Re: Wheel Sprockets

Postby 55khkjoe » Thu Sep 18, 2014 10:21 am

Contact Jerry, he owns a 54 KHK. He can answer this.
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