1952 K Valve Covers

Production K Models

1952 K Valve Covers

Postby hennesse » Wed May 30, 2018 11:09 pm

I was speaking with Erik in Alaska tonight about KR Double Valve Spring Covers, an esoteric subject, and the conversation naturally steered itself to the production bike versions. Erik mentioned something about the early production bikes having 4-flat lower covers, and the later ones having "more flats".

I looked at the bikes in our Gallery section, and one of the 1952 Ks has the 4-flat bottom covers. The rest of the 1952s and 1953s have the 6-flat covers.

valve-covers0.jpg
Look at the front exhaust - clearly a 4-flat cover.
valve-covers0.jpg (39.24 KiB) Viewed 13664 times

valve-covers1.jpg
Clearly 6-flat covers.
valve-covers1.jpg (49.01 KiB) Viewed 13664 times

I looked at the 1953 Spare Parts Catalog (date October 15, 1952, the beginning of the 1953 model year), and it shows p/n 18255-52, but the illustration shows a 6-flat lower cover. The 1954 Spare Parts Catalog shows p/n 18255-52A, and the same 6-flat illustration.

valve-covers2.jpg
Spare Parts Catalogs
Both illustrations appear to show the same 6-flat versions.
valve-covers2.jpg (12.29 KiB) Viewed 13664 times

Aye, there's the rub... The above suggests that the 4-flat covers were only used during 1952, perhaps only early 1952.

Do you have any insights into when the 4-flat covers were used? Or better photos?
Enquiring minds want to know!
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Re: 1952 K Valve Covers

Postby wz507 » Thu May 31, 2018 12:17 am

Perhaps there were 4 flat covers, but I don’t believe we are looking at any here in the subject pictures. Both covers shown in the images from the forum are 6 sided covers. The one suggested to be a 4 flat cover has the 2 flats on the front, has the same 2 flats on the back, and has 2 flats on the sides that you cannot see in the image.

Early and late K valve covers.jpg
Early and late K valve covers.jpg (128.73 KiB) Viewed 13653 times
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Re: 1952 K Valve Covers

Postby starcain » Thu May 31, 2018 7:01 am

4 flats? Whaaaaaaaaat?? Both 18255-52 and 18255-52A have 6 flats but in different versions. Real life observations of motors through the years would indicate that the 52A version started in 1954 with the introduction of the KH. The pictures are of a known original 1953 KK. It still has the early 52 version of the valve cover. Also, I know there has been some discussion in the past about tappet block screws as in what years used straight slot, phillips head or allen head screws. The closeup picture of the valve covers shows that this original 1953 had straight slot tappet block screws. I believe phillips head screws were only used in 1952. Allen heads were definitely used often in 1954 and probably some in other years?
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1953 KK valve covers.jpg
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Re: 1952 K Valve Covers

Postby hennesse » Thu May 31, 2018 11:59 am

OK, I was totally confused (you knew that).

So the covers with flats that look like a regular nut are the early ones (-52 used on 1952-1953), and the "funny flats" ones are later (-52A used on 1954-1956). Do I have it correct? wz507 - what size wrench do you use on each one?

OK, now I'm gonna throw some wrenches into the works.

(Wrench #1) Here's Jim Garrett's original paint 54 KH 1395 - from the Gallery section. It has the early covers. So the changeover was sometime in early 1954? Note the allen head tappet block screws.

Capture.JPG
Jim Garrett's original paint 54 KH 1395
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(Wrench #2) The Harley Museum bike (also in the Gallery) - Stan's note #10 says: Valve covers – 8 flats – 1-3/8"
Unfortunately, the plexiglass cover over the bike made the photos a little blurry - I can't tell which covers are on it.

Maybe that's what Erik was talking about with "more flats".
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Re: 1952 K Valve Covers

Postby wz507 » Thu May 31, 2018 12:32 pm

hennesse wrote:So the covers with flats that look like a regular nut are the early ones (-52 used on 1952-1953), and the "funny flats" ones are later (-52A used on 1954-1956). Do I have it correct? wz507 - what size wrench do you use on each one?


The regular nut style are 1-1/4" and the funny flats are 1-3/8".

Regarding the 8-flat valve covers on the museum bike, they look exactly like all the others to my eye, i.e., 6-flat. I'm betting on a typo in Stan's description.
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Re: 1952 K Valve Covers

Postby starcain » Thu May 31, 2018 12:49 pm

OK, so I made those notes on the 1954 museum bike 32 years ago in 1986. It is quite possible that I hadn't learned how to count yet or it's a typo LOL. I don't have a 52A cover in my possession to check but I'm thinking Kurt can probably count and he says 6 flats so it must be so. Good point Dave on Jim's '54 having the early style covers. My '54 KH also came with the early covers and it was serial # 1798. The 1954 KH museum bike for sure has the 52A later style covers so they may have just been using up the early ones on some of the 1954's until they were gone. The early 52 style cover takes a 1 1/4" wrench. If that part of my note is correct on the museum bike , the 52A cover takes a 1 3/8" wrench. Hope to hear from Kurt or someone if that is correct
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Re: 1952 K Valve Covers

Postby starcain » Thu May 31, 2018 12:53 pm

Thanks Kurt, You got my question answered before I got the question posted.
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Didn't Read The Directions

Postby hennesse » Thu May 31, 2018 3:54 pm

I think we've got the production valve covers nailed down now. But...

While browsing the Gallery section, I stumbled upon this 1953 KRTT, whose owner didn't read the directions.

krtt-1953.jpg
From the Gallery section
krtt-1953.jpg (38.01 KiB) Viewed 13582 times


The KR Double Valve Spring Conversion kit didn't appear until 1955 - two year's after this bikes born-on date. But the racer-guys would gladly drop their weekly paychecks on the latest and greatest way to cut their time by 1/10th of a second.

special-base-nut.jpg
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Re: 1952 K Valve Covers

Postby EKHKHK56 » Thu May 31, 2018 4:54 pm

Almost covered this. There are long and short upper covers. Short for K longer for KH Jugs which are 3/4" taller. However looking at 20 something K Jugs and some have short, some have long Covers. No reason I can tell. I will look closely at my 6 sided covers and see if any visable difference between the -52 & -53 6 sided. The hex 6 side Repops are excellent. Unfortunately no 8 sided Repops, just lots of covers plumbers have gotton to. 8-)
:evil: My 54 has the Allen tappet block screws, yes good call. Erik
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Re: 1952 K Valve Covers

Postby hennesse » Thu May 31, 2018 6:45 pm

EKHKHK56 wrote:Almost covered this. There are long and short upper covers. Short for K longer for KH Jugs which are 3/4" taller.


Erik, can you measure the lengths of the uppers? Handy thing to know when you're at a swap meet...
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