HD Part numbers suffix. What do these mean?

[SpiderPig]

Anyone know what the different letters mean at the end of the part numbers? I am looking at replacing a tachometer and am wondering what the difference is between 67348-04D vs. 67348-04B.

[bman7163]

They will start out with the base number 67348-04 during the initial part release. Which in this part # case would be for a 2004 year release. Whenever they do a change in the design or manufacturing process they will add the letter "A" and then proceed down the alpha. It may be a noticeable design change or it may be a process change that the normal public will never even notice.

[SpiderPig]

Thanks for the reply BMAN, So if I understand correctly these two part numbers for these two particular tachometers will work in the same bike?

[dawg]

Originally Posted by SpiderPig

Thanks for the reply BMAN, So if I understand correctly these two part numbers for these two particular tachometers will work in the same bike?

Both would work. Sometimes the suffix can be as simple as a vendor change for the item.

[Ultra89Rider]

In the Harley part numbers they are two groups of Harley numbers. The ones that are three or four numbers are just bolts or screws and are the same type you can get at your local Hardware store. If the bolt or screw is specially made for Harley it will be in the regular part number area. This area has five digits followed by a dash and two numbers. This is sometimes followed by one or more letters.

The first five numbers are the part number it self. This is the part and designate the part itself.
The two numbers that follow are the year the part is introduced. It will fit any year following that has this same number.
If there is a single letter at the end of the two numbers, it is a later version of the same part and will fit and work as the same part from earlier numbers.
If there is two letters following the two number, it designated a color. If a plastic part, the molded color. If a painted part, it is the painted color or design.

If you are looking in a Parts Catalog of the same model Harley and see the same part number, it is the same. But if the two numbers are different in later year books, this means that they part was changed or improved and might fit with minor changes.

If the picture is the same but the part number is complet different, the part is changed and will require major changes to work.

One rule of thumb is look at the parts around the part you are interested in using. If the associated parts are the same, you will not have much of a problem. If the other parts have completely different numbers, you will need major changes to use the same part.

[SpiderPig]

Thanks everyone, that helps explain the process of the manufacturing updates/changes/vendor ect.
I appreciate the clarifications.

[davessworks]

Dealer says HD's switching to a whole new parts numbering system that's more cryptic than the existing one. Won't that be fun.

[dawg]

Originally Posted by davessworks

Dealer says HD's switching to a whole new parts numbering system that's more cryptic than the existing one. Won't that be fun.

Correct.

What will the new part number look like?
The current part number format includes a five digit base number followed by a dash (-), then the model year, for a total of eight characters (plus a suffix, in some cases). The new part number format also has just eight characters: an eight digit base number, no dash, and no model year designation. Therefore, the length of the part numbers will not change.

Here is an example to illustrate the differences:

Example: 12345-99A (Current Format)

Example: 12345000A (New Format)

[SpiderPig]

Ok, now I have another question on the Speedo side. Current Speedo number is 67442-04 in my 06 Ultra and the dealer looked up the part number as a 67349-04A.
I can only assume that this number must have been superseded?

[dawg]

67442-04 is not a valid pn# Where did you find that number?