1968 flh

[yjamest]

I have a 69 flh with a 5 diget serial number i was told it was one the last orig hd sold due to this number anyone know if this is to be true

[Chris Haynes]

AMF merged with H-D in January 1969. So a late 1969 would be an 100% AMF bike.

[yjamest]

a m f bought hd in nov of 1968 the 69 model years were built prior to this the bike was sold in 69 by ad farrow in columbus it was built prior to the take over but the 69 model years are still orig hd the 1970 was the first model yr under the badge

[Bobber59]

1970....First year under the badge, that is correct BUT as Chris states, the late '69 models, although built with remaining HD stock components WERE STILL 100% AMF, not original HD; HD ceased to be an entity when they were bought out by AMF, technically speaking at least. At least this is how I understand it and many '69 model owners don't like to hear it that way....

Bobber59

[Chris Haynes]

AMF did not buy out H-D. It was a corporate merger. This merger was completed in January 1969.

[Bobber59]

Corporate merger, true..and I did say "Technically Speaking" did I not...but who owned the majority of shares? AMF! That's why HD found it "necessary" to fly under the "AMF" banner and NOT chose to remain just "Harley Davidson".

Bobber59

[Chris Haynes]

The way the merger worked was that AMF took over all the H-D stock. The H-D stock holders then received AMF stock in its place. This effectively made AMF the owner of The Motor Company. Rodney Gott, from AMF, became the CEO of Harley Davidson.

[Bobber59]

Put that subject to rest....very nicely at that, Chris!

Bobber59

[Neil74]

What would the cut off number be from early to late? If 4 digits after FLH is it all Harley?

[Chris Haynes]

Published production figures for 1969 year model are 7,300 Big Twins. That is four digits. 11 months of production because of model changeover and Christmas Holidays make it about 633 Big Twins a month. Take into consideration the Odd/Even numbering system in use at the time.
This is from the 1971 CHP handbook on identifying stolen motorcycles.
7. Another investigative aid which can be
quite helpful in determining the authenticity
of a Harley-Davidson engine
number is found in coding. Beginning in
the model year 1962 and continuing to the
present, the first numeric digit of the
sequential production number, (the first
number following the model designator),
will be an even number for even number
years and an odd number for odd number
years. To carry this a step further,
if the sequential production number
contains five rather than four numbers,
the first tow numbers will be an even
number for even number years and odd if
for an odd numbered year.
a. Examples:
(1) 62FLH2439
(2) 65XLCH1692
(3) 66FLI0562
(4) 61XLH1923

[BigLakeBob]

Chris,
Considering the odd/even system, wouldn't 7300 take it to double digits. 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, possible 13 being the 1st number or numbers in the serial # after FL or FLH? All the even numbers have to be skipped, correct? I have a 69 with original #'s and it is 69FL114__ and if I remember (it's been a while) but the tag inside the case I think was either J or K 9 this would make it late in the year. I also have a 62 that has a double digit 1st set of numbers 62FL120__ and this motor came with the heads that had a port for outside oilers but not drilled yet, so I would think this was also a late year model getting ready for the 63 oiling change, I forget what the tag inside the cases said. But isn't it possible to have a late year model with double digits since odd/even system had to skip?
BigLakeBob

[Chris Haynes]

Chris,
Considering the odd/even system, wouldn't 7300 take it to double digits. 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, possible 13 being the 1st number or numbers in the serial # after FL or FLH? All the even numbers have to be skipped, correct? I have a 69 with original #'s and it is 69FL114__ and if I remember (it's been a while) but the tag inside the case I think was either J or K 9 this would make it late in the year. I also have a 62 that has a double digit 1st set of numbers 62FL120__ and this motor came with the heads that had a port for outside oilers but not drilled yet, so I would think this was also a late year model getting ready for the 63 oiling change, I forget what the tag inside the cases said. But isn't it possible to have a late year model with double digits since odd/even system had to skip?
BigLakeBob

Of course.

[yjamest]

the serial number is 69flh13964 i know this number to be right because i have a copy of the orig title it is a generator bottom ass date not shure of it was when the bike was sold the dealer would call back to hd for the serial number was the way it was explained to me