Well I have a fld switchback which should have a chrome/silver engine but mines black either someone spent Alot of money swapping cases or it a different motor. Just want to make sure it's a 103.

I know bikes vin can be broken down to get some. Info can much be done with bikes engine number?

Would hd be able to look it up

 

This is from HD: https://serviceinfo.harley-davidson....cle/lookupForm

There are lots of Vin decoders on line. Just Google "Harley VIN decoder."

Pics might help.

 

Look at the 7th digit of the VIN.
4=96"
M=103"

 

Of course the VIN does not mean a lot if someone has made their own changes. At least it will tell you if the engine matches the bike and and what it started out as.

 

Bike should be a 103 chrome engine.

​​​​​​But clearly its black just want to make sure it's not a 96" was hoping first few engine number could tell me it's size or similar or motor physically looks different.

 

What year is it? Other than badging the different size twin cams all look the same from the outside.

 

Do a search on this forum, it was a "thing" to paint the silver motors black a couple of years ago. Maybe that is all that is going on with your bike, an external cosmetic change. Takes time to mask the motor off, but lots of threads on here with pictures done by people with a lot of patience. Good luck.

 

If it was painted in frame you should see that with a close inspection. Does the engine serial number match with Frame VIN ? That is the first step. Find a shop with a dyno have them just run it to check Torque and HP. Not expensive for that . It will in a short time will tell you if it has had mods.

 

Entirely possible that the engine in your bike is the original. The Switchback came from the factory with a black engine block, transmission, cylinders and heads, which is what your bike has. The cylinders and heads also having the silver edges like on your bike. The difference is that your bike has black covers where the stock one has silver: cam cover, transmission cover, rocker box covers, and I'm assuming the primary drive cover. It's entirely possible that the previous owner swapped them out, and like I said, it's still the original engine, only with different covers.

My Street Bob came with all black covers on the engine, and currently it has chrome ones, as I swapped them out because I liked the look. I sold the original black covers. For all I know they're on your bike right now.


edit: Is QLD Queensland Australia? Maybe the overseas Harleys came with different trim packages?