Deciphering Harley's VIN Numbers 1936 - 1964

[panhead_jim]

To follow up on my listing of tank emblems and paint colors, I put together a list of Harley's OHV model numbers from 1936 - 1964. I also included the major distinguishing features for each model.

Deciphering Harley's VIN Numbers 1936 - 1964

[Chris Haynes]

There is never an "S" stamped on the case for a bike with sidecar gearing. The "S" is only used on in house records to keep track of what was made. This is also true for the letter "F" for footshift models.

[MMasa]

There is never an "S" stamped on the case for a bike with sidecar gearing. The "S" is only used on in house records to keep track of what was made. This is also true for the letter "F" for footshift models.

It kind of looks like panhead_jim took care of that detail already Chris.
Mark

[Steve Slocombe]

Dear Chris, export bike 35VDS1371 has the S in the engine number, but it's the only one I know. It's in the Alcazar military museum in Toledo, Spain.

[Chris Haynes]

It kind of looks like panhead_jim took care of that detail already Chris.
Mark

Nope. All the "S" and "F" designations for Knuckles and Pans are still there.

[Chris Haynes]

Dear Chris, export bike 35VDS1371 has the S in the engine number, but it's the only one I know. It's in the Alcazar military museum in Toledo, Spain.

That may be true. But his information is for 1936-1964 "E" & "F" models.

[panhead_jim]

If you read through the posting, you'll see that there are notes included which state that the "s" is not part of the VIN stamping.

[MMasa]

Nope. All the "S" and "F" designations for Knuckles and Pans are still there.

Chris
He has a note under each years model listings stating that the "S" and "F" is not actually stamped into the case. Are you looking at a different web site than me
Mark

[LouieMCman]

Is the info from the "Legend Begins" or does it match it?

[Chris Haynes]

If you read through the posting, you'll see that there are notes included which state that the "s" is not part of the VIN stamping.

I see that now. He shouldn't even mention the "S" or "F" when referring to engine numbers as all it does is confuse. Those letters were only used on paperwork to designate what equipment is on the machine. It is not part of a VIN number.

[MMasa]

I see that now. He shouldn't even mention the "S" or "F" when referring to engine numbers as all it does is confuse. Those letters were only used on paperwork to designate what equipment is on the machine. It is not part of a VIN number.

You're right Chris. He shouldn't have mentioned it in ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM. Less information is always better. To expect someone to actually read AND comprehend something is asking a lot.
Mark

[Panacea]

I noticed in the 57-64 category the FL and FLH are both shown with hand shift. Obviously that's not correct after 52....

[Rubone]

I noticed in the 57-64 category the FL and FLH are both shown with hand shift. Obviously that's not correct after 52....

Both FL and FLH were available with either foot or hand shift throughout the end of Panhead production and hand shift was available on Shovelheads until '79. His info is correct.

[Sargehere]

And Rub's right. Though footshift was introduced in 1952, it wasn't an "instant" total changeover. Through the 'Fifties and into the 'Sixties the percentages of hand to footshift Big Twins sold by the MoCo gradually changed places. You have to remember that most Harley riders had a tendency to stick-with-what-they-knew, which was a lifetime of driving handshift/foot clutch bikes, and that basically, only new riders, and buyers could be expected to walk in off the street and accept foot shifting as "the way it is," and learn the new system from scratch.

The gradual reversal of hand-to-foot was documented somewhere, either here or over on CAIMag, showing the declining numbers of hand shifters sold by the Motor Company for over a decade after 1952. F'rinstance, this is a quote from Chris Haynes, who usually has his facts straight: "Published factory numbers show 1,743 Big Twin hand shifters in 1957 versus 3,873 Big Twin foot shift units." The entire list of hand shift to foot shift numbers shows this gradual transition, until by the '60s it seems, only certain police departments were specifying hand shifters. It was all over when the Torrington ("cow pie") transmission made its debut in 1979 with no provision for hand shifting.

[Panacea]

Thank you Sarge for helping to clear up my confusion! Mike