I bought a Shovel with S&S cases, so the only paperwork I have is the S&S statement of origin, which doesn't help me with the year of the remainder of the motor. Is there an easy way to determine the year of the motor? I see that many of the parts I'm looking into distinguish between earlier and later model shovels... I notice there are VIN numbers on the bottom of the cylinders, would that work? Is there some other easy visual identifying mark to decipher??

 

If the frame is stock, it will have a VIN on it is 1970+.
It and the VIN on the case are the only ones Harley puts on the bike.

 

Thanks - but its an aftermarket rigid frame.

By the way, its not a generator style motor, its got the cone syle...just wondering if there is some visual distinguishing characteristic on the rocker boxes, head, anythying to look for??

 

maybe can help you that earlier and later shovels has different numbers of events,12 for the olds one and 13 for the laters one..not sure about the number but sure that is one more in the lates(1978-1984)

 

Sounds like it's too heavily modified to rely on factory changes to determine internal part ages. Apart from buying a service manual and comparing individual specs for factory changes, you just have a Shovel.

 

What does it have for an ignition system?

 

It currently has points, but I'm not sure if it originally had points or not. I have not torn into the ignition yet. In any event, I certainly plan to run an electronic ignition.

 

There should be a date stamp on/in the tranny (if original) and what style tranny top?
In late 79 they swithched from the tranny top that looks like a drum on its side to one that is like a short one standing on end.

Non-stock frame and motor make it hard.
Maybe the speedometer style? Instrament light style (3 light or 5)?

 

If it has and aftermarket frame and S&S cases, you don't have a Harley. It would be considered a composite. You can't specifically date the engine based on a couple of possibly original parts. You stated it is a cone engine so it would be between 70 and 85. But that would only be the style of the engine. The certificate of origin should have a date on it and that would be the year of the engine. But if you still want to identify what is was modeled around, then count the number of fins on the cylinders. If it has 10 then it would most likely be a 1200 and styled around 70-E78 1200 shovel. If it has 9, then it is likely to be a 1340 or L78-84. The 1340's had thicker cylinder base flanges and the lower fin was removed to make run for the base nuts. If the heads are stock Harley heads then you can check the intake seals to help identify them. If they have o-rings they fall into the 66-E78 style heads and if they use the "rubber band" seals they are L78-84 style heads.

The transmission either has the cow patty top or a rachet top. They went to cow patty tops in L78.

 

Yes, you can identify what year the motor is by the numbers on the cylinders. 1971-1980 has a nine digit number, the last digit represents the year. 1971-H1, 1972-H2, 1973-H3 and so on, 1980-J0

Example: I have a 1976 FXE-1200 (9D 1XXXX H6). 9D makes it an FXE-1200, H6 makes it a 1976

1981-1984 will have a number such as AAKE 010000 or BFKB 010000. The 4th digit represents the year. B-1981, C-1982, D-1983, E-1984. If the first digit is an A it came out of an FLH. If it's a B it came out of an FX.

Example: AAK-E- 010000 would be a 1984 FLH model
BFK-B- 010000 would be a 1981 FX model

Hope that helps and I hope I didn't just confuse the hell out of you! : )