I have some projects going on with the bike and while searching the world wide web I came across a vin number decoder if that's the right term. My vin doesn't match anything on there so the question is is there a reputable site to decode all of this or would it be better to take the number to the dealership? I've been told it was rebuilt at one time so I took the numbers off the jugs in case they've been changed and came up empty handed.

 

First off your vin is on the neck of your bike not the jugs and the left case has a partial vin.
If your cases are aftermarket then the numbers won't match your vin.

 

Click on For Owners link on Harley's website. It will give you an option to enter the vin.

It's been a few years since I messed with that so I am not sure if it has changed.

 

Yes the left case vin is partial and I got the complete vin off the downtube. Decoding it I got bits and pieces of info online but I was only wondering if there was a better way to get it all in at once. I know the numbers on the jugs have nothing to do with the vin, I probably didn't explain myself right. I know enough to be dangerous when it comes to being mechanically minded but am by no means a mechanic. Which brought about my curiosity about the numbers on the jugs. At the risk of sounding like a total dumb *** what will those numbers tell me?

 

Without seeing exactly was you are talking about I'm gonna hazard a guess and say they are the OEM part number.
Most parts on your bike have the part number somewhere on them.

 

[QUOTE=texashillcountry;17923206]Without seeing exactly was you are talking about I'm gonna hazard a guess and say they are the OEM part number.
Most parts on your bike have the part number somewhere on

If it's nothing more than a part number that's fine. At the base of both of them on the right side it says 16584-83.

 

Here's a link to the owners manual. Page3 has a VIN decoder
https://serviceinfo.harley-davidson....+owners+manual

 

That's a part number.
A quick google search reveled this
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Harley-Davi...-/142344691097

 

I'm obviously over thinking dumb ****. No problem, I know now. So moving along I found that it's got a new ignition module so I'll run the part number tomorrow to see what it is. A new coil is in order seeing as the new plug wires I put on are sloppy as hell. Tomorrow I'm going to do a compression test to see where I'm at. A search here pointed me in the right direction on how to do that. The vin info I found says it's a 1988 shrine bike made in York PA. Think that's all I really need to know.

 

Compression on the rear cyl is 112, front is 110. The wet test made no discernable difference. I did this after I ran the engine for 15 minutes. Assuming I did this correctly I can make the deduction that it's ok.