Are there big differences between different years of Fat Boys?

[tester]

I've got an E3 Fatboy (1959?). With so much talk on Fat Boys, I'm wondering were there any differences from year to year?

From what I'm reading, some people seem to lend a preference to certain years, but I don't have any idea why.

[murchmb]

I believe the first few year's models could be disassembled. Later models could not.

[AaronX]

+1 murchmb is correct. Code D and E fatboys use a threaded screw type end cap which can be easily removed to disassemble the razor. Later year fat boys use a crimped end which cannot be removed without damaging it beyond future use.

[tester]

So they should all shave the same?

[AaronX]

I believe so.

[Mr.K]

want the year razor in which they were born. Thus, demand for certain years.

[shanman]

Dredging up an old thread to add an observation for that rod cap under the tension knob.
I own a pair of E3 fatboys- third quarter of 59'. One has the screw type end cap with the two small notches that an escutcheon tool could index into for removal. The other has the crimped cap with no notches at all. Perhaps this is a clue to when the tooling was changed for these razors.

[GreekGuy]

The cap on the F & G models can be removed, but not replaced while keeping it looking like new. IE, you can tell it has been removed and replaced

Another difference is that the D and E models have a metal disk in the handle that holds the connecting rod in place to open/close the doors, while the F and G models used a hard plastic disk of a slightly different shape

[alex2363]

this......Hopefully the razor you want to take apart looks like the one on the end below. Notice the two little indents on either side of the disk which holds it together.

[alex2363]

not this....If, unfortunately, the razor looks like the one immediately below, you won't be able to take it apart without damaging it or causing you to have to make a new end cap. It's not difficult to do that...a few minutes at the lathe and some time with a die and tap, but unless you have those kind of tools, you can't really get it back together after you take it apart. The end cap is pressed on the shaft. If you did want to take it off, you could drill to small holes on either side of the shaft and reach in with a stout wire and pull it off. After that the directions should be the same.

[Mojo88]

I have had several from each year and found the D model seems to be the best shaver for me.

I know they are all assembly line razors, but the D seems to shave smoother. I have made sure the blade gap is the same in all models and measured it. There is a thread on under and over clocked fatboys and I have researched that.

There have been a couple threads on this before and some people do notice a difference.

[the beav]

The D1 is the only quarter of the "red dot" fatboy.

[GreekGuy]

I personally think there is zero difference between the shave quality of the different years. The design is essentially the same. Any change in weight is negligible. But hey, as they say, YMMV