harleyKmodel

Hi all,
What tool/wrench do you recommend for tightening/loosening KH Lower Valve/Tappet Covers? I found a Harley tool, 94501-52, Valve Cover and Tappet Wrench, listed in Shop Dope 404, that says "Fits K Models", but I haven't found a source for it. I have a flat/thin 32 mm open end wrench that fits the hex on the covers, but is nearly impossible to get on the hex of the covers, as it runs into the other cover, isn't bent to reach over the magneto, or on the front exhaust cover, runs into the generator. I hoping you can recommend an alternate tool that has worked for you, or a source for the Harley tool if that has work for you.
Thanks, Dennis

Proto makes a 1-3/8” service wrench that will work well for your need. You’ll need to tune it up a bit to make it fit the tighter spots. They also make a 2-1/8" wrench that fits the manifold nuts well.

Hi,
Thanks for the quick reply. As you suggest, the best approach is to modify a wrench to reduce the width of the wrench head to increase the clearance between the wrench head and the surrounding materials. A comment I have is that my K must have 18255-52A Lower Valve/Tappet Covers, which have a 1-1/4" hex compared to the 18255-52 covers that I assume have the larger 1-3/8" hex. The parts books list that the 18255-52 cover was replaced by the 18255-52A cover. From the relatively pristine condition and black finish of my lower covers, I'm assuming my brother used reproduction covers when he built up this engine. I found some lower covers in his parts stash that must have been original equipment, they also have the 1-1/4" hex, but have stains and scars on them.
Thanks, Dennis

BigDen wrote:A comment I have is that my K must have 18255-52A Lower Valve/Tappet Covers, which have a 1-1/4" hex compared to the 18255-52 covers that I assume have the larger 1-3/8" hex. The parts books list that the 18255-52 cover was replaced by the 18255-52A cover.

The full hex 1-1/4" -52 cover was the early version and the 1-3/8" -52A with the arc between the hex flats (as shown above) is the later cover.

Hi,

Thanks for the clarification. I thought the 1-1/4" hex was the -52A version as I found this Colony set that says it is reproduction of 18255-52A covers and they look like they are the 1-1/4" hex version, and the fact that the covers on my engine looked new. But I looked at photos in the gallery section, and see on Glenn Bator 52K right engine photo that it has the full hex covers, and the notes on the Harley Museum 1954 KH say it has Valve covers – 8 flats – 1-3/8". Shows that you can't always count on reproduction parts being correct, or correctly identified. I looked further at my brother's used parts stash and found examples of both versions of covers, the first one I pulled out was the full hex version.

Again, thanks for helping as I sort through getting my brother's K Model on the road. I'm sure I will have more questions for you experts.
Dennis

BigDen wrote:I looked at photos in the gallery section, and see on Glenn Bator 52K right engine photo that it has the full hex covers, and the notes on the Harley Museum 1954 KH say it has Valve covers – 8 flats – 1-3/8".

To keep us on the straight and narrow here, the notes on the '54 museum bike suggesting it has "Valve covers – 8 flats – 1-3/8", is correct on wrench size, but incorrect (typo error) on "flats", as all the K valve covers are hexagonal 6-flat covers. You can clearly see in the image above that there are only 2-flats between the wrench engagement. I don't mean to be excessively anal here, but want to save some poor soul out there from hunting for the 8-flat 1-3/8" unicorn of K model valve covers.

I'm the one that wrote the notes on the 1954 KH museum bike. The 8 flat note on the lower valve covers is a typo and is incorrect. My Bad! Everything that wz507 says is correct.
Stan

Hi All,

I want to close the loop on my post, and thank WZ507 and Stan for their replies. Here are photos of the 32 mm (1.260") wrench after I modified it as suggested by WZ507, and the black Valve Spring Covers on the engine with the older style 1-1/4" hex. The modified wrench works perfectly for getting the covers off and back on.




Dennis

Quick question, what year was the change in the covers?
Thanks, Paul

I just took a piece of 1/4” X 2” flat steel and machined one. Once you know the shape required for your situation it goes pretty easy using a rotary table. Also made one for the manifold nuts while making the valve cover wrench. Works fine, but I don’t have a mag on my 54 KH.