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I would like to find a set of NOS original caps....which mostly likely will be around $40.....so if I could get $40 for these, plus shipping, it would work for me. Let me know with PM if interested.
Does anyone here really know what a 1972 FLH would look like and be equipped with on the showroom floor of a Harley dealership in late 1971? Were they all equipped exactly the same? Did they all have fairings, bags, tour packs,....bumpers? Was there options that some bikes had and others did not? Today.....on a Harley showroom floor, every model is very much the same except for colors. In 2004 when I bought my Road King new, I ordered it from the dealer with a carb instead of fuel injection,...as well as the color black, but otherwise it was equipped just like every other Harley Road King....windshield, NO bumpers, no crash bars, no tour pack, seats were all the same, etc.
I have a number of books on Harleys, but none that really identify what a 72 FLH would look like on the showroom floor. I know that as always, Harley produces tons of accessories in their catalog, and AFTER the bike was bought, owners fluff them up with doo dads, etc.....but I want to know what the bike was equipped with BEFORE the owner fluffed it up. Looking for information from those who actually know, and possibly were there in late 71 who saw the bikes on the floor.
I bought a NOS owner's manual for my 72, and it has pics of each side of the bike in it as well as a few others you may find helpful
My 1972 stock original FLH.
Lots of pictures if you need to see them. It's always interesting to me that the rear turn signal mounts are crooked to the saddlebag guards. I spent a couple of days straightening these out. Even the holes drilled in the rear fender were off.
Sad day when I let her go a year ago, cause I just couldn't ride her any more. Even had the Bendix carb, which worked perfectly.
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My 1972 stock original FLH.
Lots of pictures if you need to see them. It's always interesting to me that the rear turn signal mounts are crooked to the saddlebag guards. I spent a couple of days straightening these out. Even the holes drilled in the rear fender were off.
Sad day when I let her go a year ago, cause I just couldn't ride her any more. Even had the Bendix carb, which worked perfectly.
I would love to see lots of pictures of your bike. I see you have the Electraglide emblem on the front fender, which I don't think was installed in 1972,....BUT,....it should have been. They were Electraglides before 72, and later on they were Electraglides. Not sure why Harley stopped using it for a period. I probably am going to remove the front reflector and install the emblem. Looks way better than a square yellow reflector and the word "Electraglide" is iconic and this is certainly an Electraglide.
My bike was built in August of 1972, so a very late serial number near the end of the 72's. The FLH lower front fender trim is not correct either,...but it is nice, and it is an FLH....so not wrong. I like the ribbed version, as it matches the pattern of the air cleaner insert., but find a nice one is tough. Mine has three holes drilled in it from the accessory mudflap....so I intend to work on filling and hiding those holes, because otherwise its in good condition.
I ordered a black Corbin Gentry Police Deluxe solo seat, so thats the first purchase for the bike. Been working on my Corvette engine, ......so the Shovel is taking second place right now.
Last edited by Shovels & Vettes; Jul 28, 2024 at 07:05 PM.
Finally I have got around to working on this Shovel, and its pretty much fully disassembled......the seller told me the bike was never wrecked, and never repainted, but I am finding signs this is not true. So....I have some questions.
- Did the original fuel tanks on a 1972 FLH have a female or male fitting for the fuel petcock? What is currently in the fuel tank is a later model type fuel petcock that fits to a MALE fitting. But what I see in the parts manual and other reseach shows that the correct petcock for a 1972 FLH would have a FEMALE fitting in the tank for the male threads on the petcock to thread into the tank.????
- Did 1972 FLH front passing lamps have any markings on the back side......like the GUIDE symbols,, ....mine have NO markings at all on the back of the light shell...making me think these are aftermarket.
- The front fender tip trim is definitely an aftermarket piece......which raises questiosn as to why.
- Looking on the inside of the front fender, I see that it had some dents from the forks collapsing....but on the outside its perfect....leads me to believe it was repainted.
I have the engine and transmission out of the frame....... I will add some pictures soon.
Looks like I will be doing a complete restoration.
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