Rear Wheel and Rear Wheel Brake

Significant Changes from 1952 - 1969

1953 - 18" wheels became optional. See, Wheels and Tires

1954 - New Brakes. See, Brakes

1954 - New Sprocket (49 tooth) at 54 KH1689. See, Sprockets

1955 - New Rear Hub and axle sleeve.

1956 - Needle bearing in hub brake side.

1955 - 19" wheels no longer furnished. See, Wheels and Tires

1957 - Sprocket returns to 51 tooth. See, Sprockets

1958 (late) - Ball bearing in hub brake side

1960 - Aluminum rims optional. See, Wheels and Tires

1963 - Bearing and spacer changes

1966 - New Rear hub

1967 - Stop added on brake rod for brake light switch

Rear Hub

The 41018-52 Rear Wheel Hub only, used in 1952-1954, was a poor design. The brake-side flange is held to the central portion of the hub with four welds, each about an inch long. Repeated jack-rabbit starts tend to twist the flange around the hub center. The four welds were insufficient for the job. You may find these hubs with the entire circle welded - usually because the original welds broke, and the hub has been repaired.

41018-52

41018-52 - Four Welds

In 1955, perhaps in late 1954, the hub was replaced with the 41018-55 Rear Wheel Hub only. The -55 verion was well-designed, and this hub, with some changes, served through 1969, and into the 1970s. This hub inherited the 9010 Rear wheel hub bearing (brake side) Ball bearing from the -52 hub.

41018-55

In 1956, the drum side bearing was changed from a 9010 Rear wheel hub bearing (brake side) Ball bearing to a 9011 Rear wheel hub needle bearing kit. The reason for this change is unknown, but it didn't work out too well. In late 1958, the change was reversed, and the 9010 was re-instituted.

Then in 1963, the 9010 Rear wheel hub bearing (brake side) double row ball bearing was changed to a combination of a 9009 (single shield) and 9008 bearings - both being single row ball bearings. This was a winning combination that was used through the 1970s.

The 1963, 1965 and 1967 Parts Catalogs say that the 41226-52 Grease Retainer was NOT USED on 1963 and later. (It is shown in the illustration below) IS THIS CORRECT?

In 1966, the hub was changed to 41018-66 Rear wheel hub only. The brake drum side flange on the -66 hub is thicker than the -55. The -66 hub requires longer bolts - 3970B BOLT, wheel mounting, 5/16-24 x 1 hex. hd. replaced the 3971 Brake shell to spoke flange screw (5/16-24x3/4) which was used from 1952 to 1965. We hope to have comparative photos/measurements of the -55 and -66 hubs soon.

1955 to 1969 Hub

Year	Hub only	Hub complete	Left Bearing	Right Bearing
1955	41018-55	41017-55	9008	9010
1956 to Early-1958	41018-55	41017-55A	9008	9011
Late-1958 to 1962	41018-55	41017-55B*	9008	9010
1963 to 1965	41018-55	41017-55B*	9008	9009 + 9008
1966 to 1969	41018-66	41017-55C	9008	9009 + 9008

Note that in 1967, Harley stopped selling the 41018-55 Rear Wheel Hub only. Instead, you had to buy the 41017-55C Rear Wheel Hub, complete which inclded the -66 hub.

Rear Axle Sleeve

The Spare Parts Catalogs list two sleeves (“spacers”) being used during the period from 1952 through 1969: the 41600-52, used on 1952 to 1954, and 41600-55, used from 1955 to 1969 (and later). The first mention of the -55 sleeve, and the -55 hub, is in the 1955 Supplement. All the Parts Catalogs show the -52 sleeve in the illustration - Harley just copied the illustration from year to year.

Several examples of 1954 KHs exhibit a third spacer that was used only during 1954 - along with the -52 hub. This “interim” spacer looks like the -55, but it is longer, about the same as the -52. Two slightly different examples exist. Version 1 has two equal width “flanges”, while version 2 has one thick and one thin flange.

Jerry Raino's Sleeve Collection	A = 41600-52 B = Interim Version 2 C = 41600-55
41600-52	41600-52 Stan Diener's Restored 53 KK
Interim Sleeve - Version 1	Interim Version 1 Jim Garrett's Original Paint 54 KH 1395
Interim Sleeve - Version 1	Interim Version 1 Jim Garrett's Restored 54 KH 1629
Interim Sleeve - Version 2	Interim Version 2 Dave Hennessey's Restored 54 KH 2189
41600-55	41600-55 Roger Meinke's Original Paint 1956 KHK

41600-xx Sleeve Measurements
Sleeve	Overall Width	Left Flange Width	Left Flange Diameter	Right Flange Width	Right Flange Diameter
41600-52	2.13	.20	1.25	.01	1.0
Interim 1	2.08	.17	1.25	.17	1.25
Interim 2	2.07	.21	1.25	.17	1.25
41600-55	1.91	.23	1.25	.23	1.25

Rear Brake Rod

In 1967, the brake light switch was moved to the right side of the bike. To actuate it, an adjustable Stop was attached to the brake rod. And the brake rod itself changed from the 42252-52 Brake Rod to the 42253-67 Brake Rod. The difference, other than finish, is not known at this time.

Stop for Brake Light Switch

Hiding Behind Passenger Peg