1955 Hummer

"Heretofore, Harley-Davidson models have been designated by letters and by piston displacement in cubic inches or cubic centimeters. In bringing out this new model, it was decided to give it a name. [...] The more we use this name, the better we like it. We hope you, too, will like it", says the February 1955 Dealer News Bulletin.

Serious students of H-D history might argue that the 1919 W - Sport Model really deserves the distinction of being the first model with a name, but the Hummer was the first model to have its name proudly displayed on the gas tank.

Hummer is Dean Hummer's surname. Why does this model bear his name? Read more about Dean and the story of the Hummer on our History page.

The Hummer has no speedometer. No front brake. A squeeze-bulb horn. A magneto powers both the spark plug and the lights, hence there is no battery. There's no fork panel behind the headlight. If you're guessing that this is an economy model, you're absolutely correct.

The Hummer's B engine was completely different from the old 125cc S engine and the 165cc ST engine. The Bendix magneto required a complete recasting of the engine cases. The electrical system changed completely. The 1955-1957 Hummer had two coils in the magneto - one which directly supplied juice to the spark plug (no external coil), and the other supplied juice to the lights. The magneto innards changed in 1958.

The frame for the 1955-1957 Hummer is all new. There is no provision for an external coil. The footpeg mounting shaft is now an integral part of the cross-tube. There is no need for the mounting tabs for an electric horn, or for the now optional toolbox. A "U"-shaped mounting bracket is needed to mount toolbox. See the Frames chapter.

A Tillotson carburator replaced the L&L carb previously used. The carburator covers used on the Model 165 disappeared. The fuel line is now rubber, and the fuel valve changed to a hose barb on the bottom instead of a screw-on connection.

Since there was no front brake, the front hub lost it's brake drum. And the rear hub changed too. Tires went from 3.50 x 19 to 3.50 x 18 (but not on the 1955 Model 165).

More to come soon...

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