Correct 56 KHK saddle bracket and seat

[wz507]

I am sorting through parts for a 56 KHK basket and am looking for some help sorting out some saddle brackets and seats that are in the pile. From my parts book I believe the correct KH saddle mount is part# 51902-54. I have different variants of 51910, as shown below. The one that looks correct to me is the left most image (long and narrow) that is part# 51910-52 1ITE, but I see no reference to this in the parts book. Anyway, if anyone could offer their knowledge regarding the correct saddle bracket and seat I’d appreciate it. Also if you know the specific application of any of the saddle brackets or seats please provide this information too. Thank you.

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[hennesse]

Don't confuse "casting numbers" with part numbers. Many parts have casting numbers on them (whether they were actually cast or forged).

The number on the front part of the tee is a "casting number" - of the front part of the tee only. Harley then added different rear sections to make different tee assemblies for different bikes.

Take a look at this posting

Your tee on the left - appears to be an early part# 51902-54 tee, with the casting #51910-52 front section.
Later part# 51902-54 tees (no change in part#) had the casting# 51902-52A front section.
The 51902-54 tees were used on KH and XLs from 1954 to around 1966-ish.
The date when they changed the front section is unknown, but probably around 1959 or 1960.

Your tee in the middle - not sure what it fits - but appears to have the casting #51910-52A front section.
The bottom bracket looks like it was rigidly mounted - maybe a WR or KR racer? Don't know.

Your tee on the right - appears to be a part# 51902-52 tee with the casting #51910-52 front section.
The 51902-52 tee fit a 1952-1953 K.

Your seat on the left - appears to be a part# 52010-52 seat (1952-1953 K)

Your seat on the right - appears to be a part# 52010-54 seat (1954-1956 K/KH, 1957-1966-ish Sportster)
But you should flip it over so we can see the mounting holes.

[EKHKHK56]

Hi. I believe the part number on the T refers only to the cast section. So the T on the left in its entirety is the -54 One listed for 56. The early Ks 52 53 had the wider seat and wider bolt pattern T. The seat on the right is -54 for 1956. Hope this helps. Erik K

[EKHKHK56]

Oh hi Dave. Looks like you posted while I was thinking

[wz507]

Gentlemen, thank you for the timely and useful information. Apologies for not finding that info on my own, but a cursory search of mine did not turn it up, and for not knowing the difference between a part# and a casting#. All in all glad to hear I possess the correct seat bracket.

Per Dave's request for pictures of the seat undersides I offer the following.

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[hennesse]

Yep, that's the correct 54-up seat. Harley Hummer-series seats are the same shape, but different bottom.

In the photo, your 1952-1953 seat looks leather, while the 1954-later seat looks Royalite. One thing I have never been clear on is: When did they switch from leather to Royalite?

Over in this post, we quote Michael Paquette saying "1952 was the official year". I'm guessing here, but I think "official" means "Big Twin". Royalite debuted on the 1955 Hummer, but I think leather was used on the Model 165 for a couple more years. On K's, the 1952-1953 solo seats appear to be leather. Royalite appeared on the K/KH buddy seat during 1955.

What about 1954, 1955, 1956 KH solo seats? Leather or Royalite? Let's hear some opinions!

[JohnF]

I'll check again in a when I get home, think my solo is leather and buddy is royalite.

[thefrenchowl]

I have an NOS -54 KH/Sportster seat covered with leather...

But the -54 KH seat that came with my 54 KHK all these years back was naughahide... I think, but I can't be sure, it was OEM...

Both varieties exist, so it's hard to say which came 1st or 2nd...

The naughahide variety tend to have a very thin foam, while the leather one is deffo with a thicker foam.

Could it be there is an unknown option for leather and that they are indeed concurrent???

Patrick

[hennesse]

Factoid: Early buddy seat

Here's a scan from the 1954 Accessory Catalog. Read carefully what the covering is made of.

The advertising guys may have taken some liberties with the word "New". The buddy seat first appears in the 1953 Spare Parts Catalog (October 1952), but no illustration, and some of the prices are blank. Next we see it in the 1954 Accessories Catalog (no date). Then we see parts listing and illustration in the 1954 Spare Parts Catalog (June 1954). It's possible that the buddy seat was not available until sometime in the 1953 model year - but who knows?

You're not riding a HOG, you're riding a HORSE.

1954 Accessory Catalog

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[Maxcapacity]

Hi Dave, I recently acquired an OE accessory buddy seat and can confirm it is definitely horsehide, or at the very least some pretty thick cowhide.