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#Help me decode my vin number how to#
#Help me decode my vin number serial numbers#
#Help me decode my vin number code#
#Help me decode my vin number series#

The UH is simply a larger displacement version of the base motor, bumping the cubic inches up to 80” and keeping the medium compression heads. Based off that motor, Harley built three slightly different versions which are designated the UH, the UL and the ULH.

#Help me decode my vin number series#

For example, a standard U series motor is 74” with medium compression heads. These can indicate a special model (like A for Army or R for factory racer), but usually tells something about the engine’s performance in comparison to the base motor.

#Help me decode my vin number code#

1936 – 1984 Big Twin Motor Production DatesĪny letters after the engine code tell more specifics about the motor. Hence you really need to know the date ranges for the different types of early overhead valve motors, so you know that a set of 1947 EL cases go to a knucklehead while a set of 1948 EL cases go to a panhead. While Harley did a great job of assigning different letter designations to each variety of side valve motor, they started to overlap when they switched to overhead valve motors for their big twin models. There was also one other horizontally opposed two-cylinder motor built in 1942 and was designated by the letters XA. Note that prior to 1935, Harley also produced a variety of single cylinder models under engine codes A, B and C as well as two horizontally opposed two-cylinder motors under engine codes WJ and WF. Below is a list of Engine Codes for Harley V-twin motors built by Harley from 1920 until 1969. The first letter, often referred to as the engine code, designates the type of motor originally installed at the factory. 1964 Harley-Davidson FLH VIN number on Motorįurther breaking down the VIN number, we find that the bulk of the information about an individual motorcycle is contained within the letters following the production date. the last four or five digits specified the production numberįigure 1.

the next one to four letters specified the model.

the first two digits specified the production year.

Through 1969, Harley VIN numbers consisted of a combination 8 to 11 numbers and letters with the following arrangement: Jumping back to the 1920’s we see Harley standardizing on a very straightforward format for their VIN numbers. Harley-Davidson VIN Numbers Prior to 1970 In 1981, when Harley switched to the new 17-digit VIN standard, they stopped stamping a matching VIN on the motor and began using a truncated version of the VIN on the motor which still allowed for matching the motor to the frame but only used 10-digits. From 1970 - 1980, Harley continued to stamp a matching VIN on the motor (except for early 1979 models), so that the motor could be matched to the frame. Starting in 1970, The official VIN location moved to the frame neck, and it has remained in that location ever since. It is important to note that the VIN number was not stamped on the frame on these early models and that any numbers found on the frame are casting numbers that were identical on every frame of the same model/year. It will be hand stamped on the left side motor case, just under the cylinders on a raised boss. If you are looking at a 1969 or older machine, the VIN number is only going to be located on the motor.

#Help me decode my vin number how to#

Locating the VIN on a Harley-Davidson Motorcycleīefore we get into the details of how to decode these VIN numbers, let’s start out with where to find them. The last change came in 1981, when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration mandated that all vehicle manufacturers adopt a 17-digit VIN and Harley switched to this new standard which they still use today. For the 1970 model year, Harley revamped their VIN numbers and for a brief ten-year period used this different arrangement. At that point Harley began using an easily decipherable string of numbers and letters that saw continued use until 1969.

#Help me decode my vin number serial numbers#

From the very beginning, Harley has been stamping their engines with unique serial numbers, but these early serial numbers didn’t conform to any real standard until the 1920’s. Whether you are scouring the country for rare motorcycles, or you just want to know some basic information about a bike you saw in a parking lot, understanding how Harley-Davidson formats their vehicle identification numbers (commonly referred to as VIN numbers) will give you the 411 on exactly what type of Harley you are looking at.