1972 frame

[tgarcia]

Thanks everyone for giving me ideas of what I have here, apparently it appears to be an anomaly and a gathering of leftover "on the shelf" parts to create a replacement frame. I will just chalk it up to that and pass it on to someone who wants a cruiser or chopper build as opposed to a proper restore option for a new build.

[Speeding Big Twin]

Eric

No provision for seat post eliminates FLH and the hole crossways thru the neck says it is for one piece tank which eliminates all the bikes that utilize the smaller split tanks.

Jerry.

I don't think no provision for a seat post eliminates FLH. In my 41–84 H-D FL Models parts catalog the latest seat post (plunger) assemblies I see listed are for 81 models. Maybe that is why I see no provision for a seat post on frames made for 82-later models. And the frame we’re talking about appears to have been made in May 83.

As for the hole crossways thru the neck it was visible in the first photo in this thread but it doesn’t necessarily say it is for a one-piece tank. Anybody could drill a hole there in a frame that didn’t originally have it. I myself have done it and with more than one frame.
Eric

[Jerry Wieland]

Why Super Glide frame as opposed to a frame for some other model? Thanks.
Eric

Eric

No provision for seat post eliminates FLH and the hole crossways thru the neck says it is for one piece tank which eliminates all the bikes that utilize the smaller split tanks.

Jerry.

[Speeding Big Twin]

Superglide frame.

Why Super Glide frame as opposed to a frame for some other model? Thanks.
Eric

[Speeding Big Twin]

Thanks for the extra photos. Hard to read the forging number on the front engine mount but it may be 47664-48-Y. To the right of that number there was sometimes a forging hallmark and a forging die number but those two markings may not be on your frame.
In front of the front engine mount I was expecting a thin flat plate welded between the downtubes. It was introduced for 1980 models to accommodate the ignition module assembly but your frame hasn’t got a plate and I can’t see any sign of removal.

Back of the rear engine mount may have forging number 47671-58-Y.

Bracket to accommodate the clutch cable and rubber mount for the front of the oil tank was first welded to the frame about mid/later-80.

Earliest frames I‘ve seen with plates around the top of the seat post tube are some, not all, mid-81 models.

Coil bracket seems to have first been welded to the frame as of late-82 models.

Upper rear forging number is 47645-65-Y as I expected but it’s hard to be certain about the number on the other side of the forging. Maybe 3?

On the left side of the webbing the first character is 2 but I can’t read the second character. Perhaps 4?

I can’t explain why there is no plate across the front downtubes but most features and markings are consistent with a frame made in May 83. The lower R-H rear forging still has me intrigued although I’m not certain how long it was used for as I mentioned above. Maybe the factory still had some of those forgings left over at that stage so they were used before changing to the next style?
Eric

[Jerry Wieland]

Superglide frame.

[dukekleman]

That is Definitely a factory replacement frame. It has production updates on it...

[tgarcia]

This is the best I could get without getting it down

[tgarcia]

[Speeding Big Twin]

On H-D frames the letter in the date code represents month with A for January and B for February etc. The number indicates year depending on the type of frame. On your frame E3 indicates manufacture in May 1983. This would be consistent with the long VIN boss which first appeared about mid-81 as I mentioned above.

Date code E3 is also consistent with the type of lower left rear forging.

The lower R-H rear forging has me intrigued. Its number is 47652-73 which was introduced about mid-73 but I’m not certain how long it was used for. For the first couple of years the forging had no provision for a passenger footpeg but that situation was addressed with a single-hole block welded to the back of the forging from about mid-75 thru 76. The two-hole block welded to the back of your R-H forging was introduced for 77 models along with that bracket for a footpeg.
But was the factory still using that type of R-H forging on frames produced in May 83? Or would the R-H forging have been the type shown below which is similar to what you have on the left. This R-H forging number appears to be 47646-83. Also notice the gusset plate welded to the back of the downtube and forging.







Further investigation may be required. I can’t see any forging ID on your steering head but are there any markings on the other side of it? Perhaps in the webbing?
Any forging ID on the front engine mount and rear engine mount?
Near the front engine mount is there a thin plate between the downtubes?
Any forging ID on top of the seat post area? Or maybe a stamped number? Or is there a plate across that area?

Can you post a photo of the left side of the seat post where the coil would normally be fitted.
Photo of the front mount for the oil tank?

Both upper rear forgings may have 47645-65-Y but do they have any other markings? Thanks.
Eric

[tgarcia]

Ok I see,that makes sense. So sound like the most likely of scenario is it was a replacement. I guess that makes it a good candidate for a rigid back half install.

[joe fxs fxr]

Casting numbers are like part numbers, the dash indicates first year of use. So the frame is 83 or newer based upon the -83 casting number. I don't remember how to decode the date stamp, but I'm sure Eric or someone will respond with the correct answers.

[tgarcia]

Don't know anything about 70s frames so the casting numbers didn't mean anything to me,looks like part numbers. I did see the E3 on the motor mount so I'm guessing that is a model year stamp.

[joe fxs fxr]

The -78 and -83 casting numbers should answer your question. Most likely a replacement frame.

[tgarcia]

Here is the numbers you were asking about