XLCH primary covers, chrome vs paint?

Was painted (black) always standard & chrome accesory? If you opted for the chrome cover was it included in some "dress up kit"? The parts book says painted covers were available 58-*, but I've never seen a -65 with a painted cover... Any ideas?
Thanks Stefan.

Was painted (black) always standard & chrome accesory? If you opted for the chrome cover was it included in some "dress up kit"? The parts book says painted covers were available 58-*, but I've never seen a -65 with a painted cover... Any ideas?
Thanks Stefan.

OK, This is what is printed in my 1955/1965 K/X parts book;
34949-58 front chain cover (black) 58-*-XLCH
34949-64 front chain cover (chrome) 64-*-XLCH
34591-54 front chain cover 54-56-KH
So obviously the chrome chainguard appeared with the 1964 models

Chris,

I think you're right. The "Harley-Davidson Data Book" (MB-1996) lists 1964 as "First year - Chrome-plated primary chain guard" for the XLCH. Oddly, the factory-published book "The Legend Begins" doesn't mention it and shows an "official" photo of the '64 XLCH with a black primary cover. I can't find a listing for a chrome cover in ANY of the '60s H-D accessory catalogs, which surprises me as I remember seeing them hanging on dealer walls and in showcases during the latter half of the sixties. Guess they just ordered them out of the regular parts book from '64 -on.

CSM

You would think that "The Legend Begins", being a factory publication, would have correct information in it. Sadly the information in it was compiled by two in house employees that know nothing about vintage machines. The just put in the book what they found here and there, obviously without reading what they had in their hands.
Take for instance the 1937 models. They state that there were two standard colors available in 1937, Bronze Brown and Teak Ted. This is the information that was first published for the 1937's in the New Model Announcement . However on the next page they print the 1937 Order Blank which clearly shows Bronze Brown, Teak Red, and Delphine Blue as being the standard colors.
Also the production figures listed are calendar year production, not year model production. For instance for 1956 their figures actually show Jan-Dec 1956 production. This would be the last half of the 1956 models and the first half of the 1957's. The 1942 figures are a real mess.
In the model listing a lot of models are simply not listed.

Anyone know which year the switch was made from two piece to one piece?

Anyone know which year the switch was made from two piece to one piece?

Two piece primary cover???

On the earlier primary covers the round ribbed dome area covering the clutch is spot welded onto the cover beneath it.

The two piece was used until 61 or 62, I believe. I will ask the guru and get back.

The test bike in Cycle World -62...

That would be interesting info. I have seen the covers with the tacked-on "derby cover" at swap meets and wondered where they came from.

CSM

Pretty sure they come without the derby cover tacked on as well - ie just the smooth dome. Perhaps early KR were like this?
NOT to be confused with the bulbous repro item.

The one piece cover was in place by 1963 but more than likely was a running change during 1962.

Hi all,

I have stopped counting all the tin primary variants a long time ago, too many!!!

- smooth with 10 screws and clutch cooling scoop, 52 KR and KRTT prototypes

- smooth with 10 screws, KR and KRTT

- 2 parts with 10 screws, KR and KRTT

Then comes the XLR and the CH, 34 teeth sprocket made the chain foul the top middle screw boss so it was put back a bit on OHV castings:

- 2 parts with 10 screws, with elongated stamping for that middle screw, it could then be drilled differently for KR/KRTT or XLR

- 2 parts with 9 screws, early XLCH

- one piece with 9 screws, middle XLCH, middle stamping still there but undrilled

- one piece with 9 screws, late XLCH, middle stamping deleted

... Not to mention variants as in Black or chrome, all periods... And all of these with just 3 or 4 part numbers!!!

Patrick