Table of Contents
This is an old revision of the document!
IH: Engine Mechanicals - Sub-01F
Ironhead Transmission Sprocket Cover Pics
Sprocket Cover Part Numbers
All part numbers were gathered from period specific Sportster parts catalogs from 1957-1985 including supplement and updated catalogs.
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Year Model | Part Number | For Kickstart? | Casting Number | Notes |
1952-E1954 K Models | 34876-52 1) | Yes | 34874-52 | |
Additional notes | It is believed the MoCo made a running change in mid 1954 when they changed worm gears. 2) The sprocket covers were sold as “complete”. So the new worm gear should have been installed in a new cover part#. |
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L1954-1956 K Models | 34876-52A 3) 4) | Yes | 34874-52 | Replaced by 34876-52B (1957) Replaced by 34876-57 (1958) Used 34876-52A (1959-on) |
1957 XL | 34876-52B 5) | Yes | Replaced by 34876-57 (1958) Replaced by 34872-57A (1970) 6) |
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Additional notes | See Pic section below. | |||
1958-1962 XL/XLH/XLC/XLCH | 34876-57 7) | Yes | 34874-52A | Replaced by 34872-57 (1963) Replaced by 34872-57A (1970) 8) |
1963-1966 XLH/XLCH and 1967 XLCH | 34872-57 9) 34872-57A | Yes | 34874-52A 74-52 | Replaced by 34872-57A For 1967 XLCH only (1968) 10) For all models (1970) |
1967 XLH | 34871-67 11) | Yes | Replaced by 34871-67A (1969) Replaced by 34871-67B (1970) |
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1967-1970 XLH | 34871-67B 12) | Yes | 79-67B | Offered in 1971 |
1968-1969 XLH | 34869-68 13) | No | ||
1968-1969 XLCH | 34872-57A 14) | Yes | 74-52 | |
1970 XLH | 34869-70 15) | No | 79-67B | |
1970 XLCH | 34872-70 16) | Yes | ||
1971-1972 XLH | 34870-71 17) | No | 34879-71 | Polished. |
1971-1972 XLH | 34871-71 18) | Yes | 34879-71 | Polished |
1971-1972 XLCH | 34872-71 19) | Yes | 34879-71 | Polished. Replaced by 34872-71 (1975) |
1973 XLH | 34870-73 20) | No | 34879-71 | Black. Kick cover 34871-71 (offered 1976) |
1973 XLCH | 34872-73 21) | Yes | Black | |
1974 XLH | 34870-71 22) | No | 34879-71 | Polished. Kick cover 34871-71 (offered 1976) |
1974 XLCH | 34872-71 23) | Yes | Polished | |
1975-1976 XLH | 34868-75 24) | No | 34879-71 | Kick cover 34871-71 (offered 1976) |
1975-1976 XLCH | 34896-75 25) | Yes | 34879-71 | |
1977-1978 XL/XLH | 34870-75 34870-75A | No | 34879-75 or 34876-75 34876-75A | Outer cover Replaced by 34870-75A (-78A cat) |
1977-1978 XLCH | 34872-75 | Yes | 34879-75 | Outer cover |
1977-1978 XL/XLCH | 34893-75 | N/A | Inner cover | |
1979 XLH | 34863-79 26) | No | 34879-79A | Outer cover |
E1979 XLCH | 34872-79 27) | Yes | 34879-79A | Polished outer cover |
1979 XLS | 34870-79 28) | No | 34879-79A | Outer cover |
1979 XLH/XLCH/XLS | 34899-79 29) | No | None | Inner cover |
1980 XLH | 34911-80 30) | No | Polished cover. Replaced by 34918-81 (1983) |
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1980 XLS | 34912-80 31) | No | Black cover. Replaced by 34915-81 (1982) Replaced by 34915-81A (1984) |
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E1981-1982 XL | 34918-81 32) | No | Polished cover. Replaced by 34918-81A (1984) |
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L1981-1985 XL | 34911-81 33) | No | Polished cover. Replaced by 34918-81A (1985) |
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E1981 XLS | 34915-81 34) | No | Vivid black cover. Replaced by 34915-81A (1985) |
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L1981-1982 XLS | 34912-81 35) | No | Black cover | |
1983-1984 XLS | 34911-81 36) | No | Polished cover | |
1983-E1984 XLX | 34908-83 37) | No | Aluminum finish cover | |
L1984-1985 XLX | 34908-83A 38) | No | Painted cover |
1957 XL Cover
Cover part# change between 1957 and 1958:
Cover (34876-52B) shows up for the first time in the -57 parts catalog for 1957 XLs and replacement for all 1952-1956 K Models.
However, the -58 parts supplement catalog labels the -52B cover as “not used, Replaced by 34876-57”.
And the -58 catalog also shows the 34876-52A cover as replacement for K Models, not the -52B cover.
1957-1962 XL/XLH/XLC/XLCH Cover
Sprocket Cover part# (34876-57), with kickstarter. The casting number is (34874-52A).
Visual changes:
The angle of the worm gear grease (zerk) fitting changed to (angled forward 1:00) as opposed to the vertical position on the K Model covers.
The grease fitting is threaded into the boss.
Also the grease (zerk) fitting position for the kick starter crankshaft was moved to the (9:00) position.
A boss is cast into the cover at the (9:00) position as extra strength for the grease fitting which is pressed in.
The pin stop for the worm gear is simply pressed into a hole drilled through the cover at an angle.
The center cavity under the bar on the cam cover side resembles the back side of an arrow.
1963-1966 XLH/XLCH, 1967 XLCH
Sprocket Cover part# (34872-57), with kickstarter. The casting number is (34874-52A).
Visual changes:
The grease (zerk) fitting position for the kick starter crankshaft was moved to the forward side of the bushing hole (1:00).
A long angled boss was added off the crankshaft bushing bore for the new grease fitting location.
The 1962-previous boss is still present at the (9:00) position but it is not drilled out for a fitting.
1970 XLH Cover
Sprocket Cover (34869-70), without kick starter.
Click on a pic to enlarge
Additional pics
1967-1970 XLH (replacement) Cover
Sprocket Cover (34871-67B), with kickstarter. This cover was sold in 1971 as a replacement for 1967-1970 XLH models.
Click on a pic to enlarge 47)
1971-1972 XLH, 1974 XLH Cover
Sprocket Cover (34870-71), polished, without kick starter.
Click on a pic to enlarge 48)
1973 XLH Cover
Sprocket Cover (34870-73), black, without kick starter.
Click on a pic to enlarge 49)
1975-1976 XLH Cover
Sprocket Cover (34868-75), polished, without kick starter.
Click on a pic to enlarge: 50)
1977-1978 XL/XLH Cover
Original Outer Sprocket Cover (34870-75) for 1977-1978 XL/XLH, polished, without kick starter.
Click on a pic to enlarge: 51)
Replacement Outer Sprocket Cover (34870-75A) for 1977-1978 XL-XLH, polished, without kick starter. 52)
1979 XLH
Outer Sprocket Cover(34863-79), polished, without kickstarter.
Click on a pic to enlarge: 53)
1979 XLCH Cover
Outer Sprocket Cover (34872-79), polished, with kichstarter.
Click on a pic to enlarge: 54)
1979 XLS Cover
Original Outer Sprocket Cover(34870-79), factory painted silver, without kickstarter.
Click on a pic to enlarge: 55)
1979 XLH-XLCH-XLS Inner Sprocket Cover
An Inner Sprocket Cover (34899-79) was used for all 1979 model Sportsters.
The pic below is of a used inner cover. 56) 57)