Honestly can’t remember. I have several FLH’S. I think they’re red but they could be amber. I’ll check later when I get get out to the garage.

 

Also a question about markings on passing lamps.

 

"


"Several" hahaha must be nice

 

TO FL54 = Thanks for the pictures.....is that a 72 FLH? The pictures raise another question.....I am pretty sure 72 FLH did NOT have shaker floorboards....i.e. the rubber floorboard pads are glued directly to the metal....no rubber isolators. Correct?

 

Do you have a factory parts book?

 

All I can offer is that 1970 had the mats direct to board, cannot comment on 1972.

 

I do have the factory parts book.....but for those that understand how Harley writes those books, there is often some interpretion required. As years progress, Harley edits those books to inlude later year models, if they deem that a part can be used on prior years. Often times, as in the case of floorboards, in the Parts manual I have, show both types of floorboards. As we all know, the last digits in a Harley part number is the year the part was introduced. But the problem is that when they show both......that means both would work. It does not necessarily identify what the bike came out with when it was on the showroom floor.

I do believe, after the research I have done, is that a 1972 FLH had the fixed floorboard pads on the showroom floor, versus the isolator type pads that are currently on my bike.

It is obvious that my 1972 FLH has had many parts changed....to the point I wonder if this bike was in an accident. The gas tanks are NOT original, because they do not have the old style petcock fitting. Clearly the front fender tip is aftermarket, and I think the two front passing lamps are aftermarket. BUT...the rear fendertip is an original ACME part....thus the damage in the possible accident was the front end of the bike....naturally. On the inside of the front fender, I see dents that we see when struts over-collapse....but on the outside is perfect...so BONDO has been applied. A brand new aftermarket front brake caliper is installed.....do calipers from 1972 really need replaced from wear?? The is a chome aftermarket primary cover installed.....I will be looking for an original aluminum cover.

The frame appears to be straight, without damage,so its not the end of the world for me that the above parts are not original. It does slightly irritate me that the son of the owner failed to tell the truth when I asked him if the bike was ever in an accident...which he would most likely be aware of. But telling lies when selling some is the way of the world for many...not me.

 

Hey Shovels, good natured ribbing is part of this forum and makes it enjoyable. It’s not all about compression ratios etc. The guys involved are two of the most knowledgeable here so you need to roll with it.
My bike is a’72 and I believe it has the isolated footboards. It’s 0440 here now so I’ll check later and get back. This bike found me a few years ago and I bought it from an older guy who’s Dad bought it new. I think it’s mostly stock but can’t swear to it. If your bike has an outer primary with a removable derby cover, I wouldn’t replace it with a solid aluminum one. It makes clutch adjustment so much easier. Unless you’re going for a show bike of course.

 

The solid primary will not work on the 70 up as they changed the location length of the starter drive

we restored a 1971 amca judged bike when they opened the book on AMF to be judged as a classic 97.9 it was scored and they took points for this - seat vinyl was from the incorrect period in history one muffler clamp the bolt was installed in the wrong direction - and the perfect oem original speedo was not restored so points came off the original part

if your going that way you will be disappointed - but that was east coast and they are very very fussy - NO one in the AMCA has ever gotten 100 percent

 

Thanks John for clarification. I still have a solid primary on my ‘69. I wouldn’t change it but it is a PITA when you have to adjust the clutch. On the other hand, if it had an after market primary with a derby cover, I wouldn’t change that either.