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1952 K-model shift lever

A repop chrome lever costs 22 bucks. pdf version
I expected it would be easy to find the missing shift lever for my 1952 K-model engine. The problem is that the lever needed to have splines in the hole.

Later models like my 1962 Sportster have a smooth shaft. Harley may have changed it to allow finer positioning on the lever to your foot. Or maybe the splined units would bend the shaft when you drop the bike. It certainly is cheaper to not put in the splines.

This unit is chrome, it is supposed to be cadmium plated. The seller said this was a new reproduction. I don't think Harley ever sold chrome levers.		 1952_K-model_shift_lever

The first two years of the K-model take a shift lever that has splines where the shaft goes. This is the same as the lever used in the WL 45-inch flathead.

Sportster_shift_levers_side

I dug into my personal stash and found three early levers but none had splines. The more silvery bluish finish on the bottom lever makes me think it is zinc-plated, not cadmium, like the middle one. I am not sure if Harley switched to zinc or if this is an aftermarket lever. The top one look genuine, and the middle one still has the tag, so it is genuine.
Bottom of first column move down to the left
Aftermarket-shift-lever

You can also find other aftermarket levers that don't have the spline. But note how this one kicks out closer to the shaft and then is straight all the way to where the rubber peg goes.

1952_K-model_shift_lever-manual

That got me to dig out my 1952 K-model rider's handbook. Here is a side view, cropped and low-res since this is Harley Davidson copyrighted material. Its hard to see the lever in this view.

1952_K-model_shift_lever-manual-top

But this top view clearly shows that the kick-out is closer to the peg than it is to the shaft. Same deal, low res and partial pic since this is Harley Davidson copyrighted material.
move up a little to the right move down to the left
Sportster_shift_levers_peg_hole

On the three levers in my stash, the peg hole are not threaded, but they do look different. You can really see the shinier plaing on teh bottom lever.

Sportster_shift_levers_bot
Here is a side view of the levers.

Sportster_shift_levers_no_spline_2
Here is the shaft end of the two cadmium plated levers.
move up a little to the right move down to the left
Sportster_shift_levers_no_spline
Here are the shaft ends of one lever that looks zinc-plated and one lever that   looks cad-plated. I think when the repop people say CAD it means "zinc".
Date Description Cost Shipping Total
Thursday, March 15, 2012 Sprocket cover $189.49 $11.35 $200.84
Wednesday, March 21, 2012 Engine, uncrating $2,500.00 $464.56 $2,964.56
Friday, March 23, 2012 Rolling chassis, uncrating $3,500.00 $669.00 $4,169.00
Sunday, March 25, 2012 Parts manual $30.00 $0.00 $30.00
Sunday, March 25, 2012 1954 Gas tank $500.00 $25.00 $525.00
Tuesday, March 27, 2012 Top motor mount $56.00 $12.00 $68.00
Thursday, March 29, 2012 Shock covers, top $102.50 $6.50 $109.00
Sunday, April 01, 2012 Battery carrier $39.99 $5.30 $45.29
Wednesday, April 04, 2012 Air filter backing plate $77.55 $15.00 $92.55
Saturday, April 07, 2012 1952 Gas tank $168.50 $28.00 $196.50
Saturday, April 07, 2012 Shift lever $22.38 $0.00 $22.38
$7,186.41 $1,236.71 $8,423.12
Bottom of first column This is the end.


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Bottom of first column This is the end.