Vin Number issue
#11
11-22-2011, 07:01 PM
Road Captain
Tony, welcome to the forum. Belly numbers are sometimes also called crankcase numbers, crankcase production numbers, or confidential numbers. In this instance, if the engine is really a 1972 model, you should be able to find the belly numbers on the underside of each of the crankcase halves near the outer edges and somewhat toward the front. And I would expect them to be in a format similar to the following example: 172-1234(5).
The first character (1) is a code number and indicates the engine is a 74 cubic inch overhead valve (OHV) design. The next two characters (72) indicate the year the crankcases were line-bored (or machined). The remaining four or five characters represent the sequential machining production of the crankcase halves. If the two sets of numbers match each other completely then that means the two case halves were machined together as a matching pair at the Harley factory, providing of course that the numbers are authentic.
You mentioned that the owner has the ID papers all in order, and he says he bought the bike from a police auction? What is the VIN on the papers? And apart from the missing first character in the frame VIN, does the VIN on the papers match the VIN on the frame?
Have you looked at the VIN on the engine? It should be stamped at the front of the right-hand case and there may be a five-pointed star at each end of the VIN.
As indicated above, if the VIN started with 9D and ends with H2 then that wouldn’t make any sense at this stage because 9D indicates an FXE-1200 and they weren’t made for 1972. The FXE was made as early as 1974 and there is some debate over whether or not there were some made as 1973 models but they were not manufactured prior to that.
Also, a 72 model Shovelhead would have originally had a round-tube swingarm and a hydraulic drum brake at the rear. If it hasn't, then ask the seller for evidence that those things were changed.
You asked is it true that for 79 models the engine VIN didn't match the frame. It seems there were two ways of numbering the 1979 models. Some were done in the same fashion as 1970–78 but some weren’t. If you do a Google search for something called The 1979 Exception, you’ll be able to read a bit about it although I can’t guarantee every word you read on some of those websites will be accurate.
Questions: Is the VIN an authentic Harley stamping? If the seller really bought the bike from a police auction then why is that first character missing from the frame VIN? What is his explanation regarding that missing character?
I realise it may take you a while to find another bike but you may be better off passing on this one and buying one without any questions hanging over the VIN.
Anyway, please let us know what you find out because I’m curious to hear what the real story is and the info may come in handy for future reference for others.
Eric
The first character (1) is a code number and indicates the engine is a 74 cubic inch overhead valve (OHV) design. The next two characters (72) indicate the year the crankcases were line-bored (or machined). The remaining four or five characters represent the sequential machining production of the crankcase halves. If the two sets of numbers match each other completely then that means the two case halves were machined together as a matching pair at the Harley factory, providing of course that the numbers are authentic.
You mentioned that the owner has the ID papers all in order, and he says he bought the bike from a police auction? What is the VIN on the papers? And apart from the missing first character in the frame VIN, does the VIN on the papers match the VIN on the frame?
Have you looked at the VIN on the engine? It should be stamped at the front of the right-hand case and there may be a five-pointed star at each end of the VIN.
As indicated above, if the VIN started with 9D and ends with H2 then that wouldn’t make any sense at this stage because 9D indicates an FXE-1200 and they weren’t made for 1972. The FXE was made as early as 1974 and there is some debate over whether or not there were some made as 1973 models but they were not manufactured prior to that.
Also, a 72 model Shovelhead would have originally had a round-tube swingarm and a hydraulic drum brake at the rear. If it hasn't, then ask the seller for evidence that those things were changed.
You asked is it true that for 79 models the engine VIN didn't match the frame. It seems there were two ways of numbering the 1979 models. Some were done in the same fashion as 1970–78 but some weren’t. If you do a Google search for something called The 1979 Exception, you’ll be able to read a bit about it although I can’t guarantee every word you read on some of those websites will be accurate.
Questions: Is the VIN an authentic Harley stamping? If the seller really bought the bike from a police auction then why is that first character missing from the frame VIN? What is his explanation regarding that missing character?
I realise it may take you a while to find another bike but you may be better off passing on this one and buying one without any questions hanging over the VIN.
Anyway, please let us know what you find out because I’m curious to hear what the real story is and the info may come in handy for future reference for others.
Eric
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