JD year identification

[Randy STL]

Welocme to the JD club!

Rear hub should have "splines" on each side of the body. One for sprocket, the other for break drum.

Frame years can also be narrowed by if there is or is not an earth ground screw on rear fender brace, or if the rear legs have reinforcing like the front down tube.
Sand paint down (don't grind) just behind the last tank screw for 2X F number.

Info provide by Tommo in an older post...
The easiest way to identify a 1925 frame is by the 5/16 dia rear wheel chain adjusters.
All 26-29 frames have 3/8 dia chain adjusters.
All the 1926 on frames have the said 3/8 adjusters but the 1926 and 27 frames do not have the strengthening sleeves that the 28/29 frames have.
28/29 frames have strengthening sleeves at the top and bottom of the seat tube and on the top frame rails just in front of the rear wheel castings.
All 26-29 frames will interchange with one another and I do know of instances where 26/27 frames have been disguised as 28/29 frames by the sweating on of dummy sleeves.
There are several other small things that give these forgeries away like the fact that the earth screw tapping in the 26/27/28 frames is not used on the 29 frame so if someone claims to have a 29 frame and it is tapped in the centre of the rear mudguard mount casting for a 10-32 screw it is not a genuine 29 frame.

Randy Hassler
#68 2012 Cannonball

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SS850543.jpg Corbin hub

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PicsSS850545.jpgSS850541.jpgSS850542.jpg
What are these wheels? Looks like a rare front with brake? Raer is a Corbin hub but no brake drum so racer or does the drum mount somehow?

[wyatt emp]

It's a mutt. Cant find a frame # under all the paint. The gear side case is a 26 and the sproket side is a 27, so I guess motor parts from 26 to 28 will all fit?

[MMasa]

That's correct if they are 1925-29 cases. If they are pre-25 then it will be a letter and a single number then a space and 2-3 additional numbers.
Mark Masa

On the bottom of the cases, along the edge just behind the centerline. The first two digits will identify the year, the sequence behind is an internal factory code and will be close but not the same as the VIN number.
Robbie

[Rubone]

On the bottom of the cases, along the edge just behind the centerline. The first two digits will identify the year, the sequence behind is an internal factory code and will be close but not the same as the VIN number.
Robbie

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Where do I find the line bore numbers?

[MMasa]

What are the line bore numbers? They start with the two digit year of what the VIN should. It is a 1925-29 style of frame, but there are differences from year to year and your pics are just not good enough to see any of the details.
Post some better pics and we can tell you EXACTLY what you have there.
Mark Masa

Just bought a JD project but do not know what year it is. Where is the frame # located? I have a lower end twin motor and the boss where the S/N usualy is is blank. It has not been ground off and looks like there was never a number there. Has correct HD markings on right case. Has straight gear housing so probably generatot model? and has outside oil pump mount. Holes in conecting rods. Left case marked "2-25" in raised numerals.

[MMasa]

Sargehere
That's not exactly correct. J model frames had serial numbers stamped into them from 1917 thru 1927. On 17-24 models it is located on the rear tank mount strip located between the seat post and the seat bar front mount. This is a soldered on strip an is often missing. Starting in 1925 the number was stamped directly into the top frame tube in the same area, usually on the top left side. In both cases, the format was always (two digit year)F(sequential serial number). For example, a 1926 may be stamped 26F1234. The serial number did not match, but is usually close to (within several hundred) the motor VIN. The same stands true for the S/N on the trans. It was somewhat close to,but did not match the VIN. The numbering of frames and gearboxes stoped in 1928.
Mark Masa

Yeah, it's 1925 & later frame (the year they changed) But what frame numbers? Casting numbers? -25 cast numbers will just tell you what the shape of the frame told you. There were no stamped VIN numbers on the frames in those days, motor only.

[Sargehere]

Yeah, it's 1925 & later frame (the year they changed) But what frame numbers? Casting numbers? -25 cast numbers will just tell you what the shape of the frame told you. There were no stamped VIN numbers on the frames in those days, motor only.

[wyatt emp]

I know OD green was an original color but were any others available at the time?

[rwm]

i was being a wise ass with the photos. yes 28 motor parts will fit. looks like the frame has so much paint that you will never see the frame #'s.

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$(KGrHqF,!pcF!IHo)wFuBQCtGjBP9Q~~60_57.jpg$(KGrHqJ,!o!E-z40imwoBQCtGOi,eQ~~60_57.jpg Photos attached

[wyatt emp]

WHere did you see photos? Are you the guy that make repo tanks I have been talking to?

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Is black an original color?