I'm looking at buying a very nicely rebuilt '64 Sportster (900cc).

The title matches the motor, but there is no serial number on the frame. I was told HD did not stamp the frames in '64.

I'm trying to find out if that is correct or not?

Can anyone confirm?

Thanks,
Oldsch-64

 

I can't say whether it's right or not - but mine (1962 frame, restamped 1973 engine) doesn't have any stampings/Serial #s on the frame.

Hope this helps
JB

 

Thanks very helpful. I just wanted to make sure I was getting the original frame/motor...

 

OldSch-64, Sportsters don’t have a frame number until the 1970 models. However, for most 1960s Sportsters and beginning with the 1962 models, Harley stamped additional original component identifying numbers, aka anti-theft numbers, on the frame steering head and on the lower triple clamp. The additional ID consisted of one capital letter followed by either three or four numbers but the sets of characters won’t necessarily match each other on any given bike.

I'm not sure where the additional ID is located on the lower triple clamp and the characters are small so have a good look. On the frame, the 1969 Sportster example below shows J9+++ located down low on the steering head:





The info below is what I’ve found so far for the 1960s but please note it is meant as a guide only. And you'll see that 1964 could have either B, C or D:

A and B equate to 1962–63
B, C and D equate to 1964
C and D equate to 1965
D, E, F and G equate to 1966–67
H, J, K and L equate to 1968
J, K and L equate to 1969

You mentioned the title matches the motor but was the engine serial number stamped at the Harley factory? And does it comply with the 1960-69 even-odd code? If you’re not sure about the engine number you could post a photo of that number and we could give opinions on it. And if you’re concerned about posting the number on the Internet just cover a couple of the sequential characters.

Also, did you check the crankcase belly numbers? They are on the underside of each case half and should be in a similar format to the following example: 764-1234. Eric

 

Thanks very much for the detailed comments. I hope it matches what you said, as I bought the bike over the weekend! I will check the frame numbers though. The motor to title number starts with 64XLCHnnnnn with 5 subsequent numbers. The seller thought the subsequent numbers was the number of the bike as it was manufactured.

 

The five subsequent numbers represent the sequential production number of the bike. The even-code applied at the time so for an even year such as 1964, when there are five sequential characters then the first two of those five, when read as one number, should constitute an even number—for example, 64XLCH10123.

However, a 1964 Sportster serial number with five characters in the sequential portion isn’t consistent with production figures in The Legend Begins, a Harley publication. But one problem there is that on page 198 Harley states: ‘... this information ... is not to be regarded as totally accurate.’ So it’s possible Harley may have made an error for 1964 production figures in their own book.

Can you post a clear photo of the serial number? Just show most, not all, of it. You could cover a couple of the sequential characters—for example, you could show something like 64XLCH10++3.

And did you check the crankcase numbers (belly numbers) on the underside of each case half? In my previous post I gave an example of the format for the crankcase numbers: 764-1234.

7 is a Harley code number used for Sportsters
64 represents the year the cases were line-bored and/or machined
1234 represents the sequential machining production of the two case halves.

And if the crankcase numbers on each case half match each other completely then that means the two cases were machined together as a matching pair at the factory. Eric

 

Eric,
Here are the numbers from the block. I was wrong, it is a 4 digit number after the 64XLCHxxxx. See the attached pic.

I haven't gotten to the belly numbers yet, but I will.

Thanks for your help!
Brian

 

They did not stamp the frames until 1971.

 

Cheers, Brian. The serial number in the photo you posted is consistent with production figures in The Legend Begins. And it complies with the 1960–69 even-odd code because for an even year when there are four sequential characters then the first of those four should be an even number.

However, there’s something I’m not sure about and I’ve sent you a PM on the other forum you joined. (Tried sending a PM on here but it didn’t work.) Eric

 

Quote from FLYING at post #8: ‘They did not stamp the frames until 1971.’

FLYING, I stated at post #4: ‘Sportsters don’t have a frame number until the 1970 models.’ But it seems you are disagreeing with me because you’re saying they did not stamp the frames until 1971. Have a look at the photo below. I have edited the VIN for obvious reasons but you can clearly see the frame is stamped 4A+++++H0 which identifies it as a 1970 model Sportster frame.

Why did you say they did not stamp the frames until 1971? Where did your information come from? Eric