1939 Resto Value
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,373
Likes: 30,583
From: Pennsylvania
it’s hard to read in this photo but it says DRF105713, and the seller tells me he bought it from someone in California. He couldn’t tell me anything about the person on who built it
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 691
Likes: 390
From: Western Australia
Hi Nathaniel and welcome to the forum. I received the PM.
I do not know for certain what DRF stands for. Some say Department Registry File while others say Department Registered Frame and a while ago I ran across a third possibility but I didn’t record it and I don’t remember what it was. But apparently DRF numbers were issued by the California DMV.
On the number boss there appears to be some extra marking but I can’t tell for certain what it is. I doubt the DMV would stamp a DRF number over an existing serial number but an extremely clear close-up may help us try to work out what’s going on. If some sort of ID was already on the number boss it is more likely that the DMV would stamp the DRF number to one side or the other of the boss and I have examples of it in my photo collection.
Personally I’d rather buy a bike with a factory-stamped serial number but if you want that one you could try contacting the Nevada DMV to see if they can explain why the title says 1939 and you could also try contacting the DMV in California because that’s where the DRF number may have originated.
The engine may have crankcase production numbers which are also known as line-bore numbers, confidential numbers or belly numbers (BNs) and I’m wondering if the BNs are from 39? If so someone may have told the DMV the engine was 1939 and perhaps that could explain the title? If you’re not familiar with BNs you may find them stamped under each crankcase half near the outer edges and somewhat toward the front. For example 39-1234. But regardless of what they are, if the BNs match each other completely, and if they are authentic, it means the case halves were machined together as a matching pair at the factory. But anything could have happened over the years and some engines end up with mismatched cases.
There’s also another possibility but the outer primary cover would need to be removed. Then you may find casting number 112-392 on the left case. That casting number first appeared for 39 models so someone may have thought the engine was a 1939 model judging by that casting number? Near the casting number you may find a casting date code which indicates the month and year the left case was cast.
Under the trans case filler spout you may find casting number 121-41 which first appeared for 41 models. And there may also be other casting ID next to it.
Eric
I do not know for certain what DRF stands for. Some say Department Registry File while others say Department Registered Frame and a while ago I ran across a third possibility but I didn’t record it and I don’t remember what it was. But apparently DRF numbers were issued by the California DMV.
On the number boss there appears to be some extra marking but I can’t tell for certain what it is. I doubt the DMV would stamp a DRF number over an existing serial number but an extremely clear close-up may help us try to work out what’s going on. If some sort of ID was already on the number boss it is more likely that the DMV would stamp the DRF number to one side or the other of the boss and I have examples of it in my photo collection.
Personally I’d rather buy a bike with a factory-stamped serial number but if you want that one you could try contacting the Nevada DMV to see if they can explain why the title says 1939 and you could also try contacting the DMV in California because that’s where the DRF number may have originated.
The engine may have crankcase production numbers which are also known as line-bore numbers, confidential numbers or belly numbers (BNs) and I’m wondering if the BNs are from 39? If so someone may have told the DMV the engine was 1939 and perhaps that could explain the title? If you’re not familiar with BNs you may find them stamped under each crankcase half near the outer edges and somewhat toward the front. For example 39-1234. But regardless of what they are, if the BNs match each other completely, and if they are authentic, it means the case halves were machined together as a matching pair at the factory. But anything could have happened over the years and some engines end up with mismatched cases.
There’s also another possibility but the outer primary cover would need to be removed. Then you may find casting number 112-392 on the left case. That casting number first appeared for 39 models so someone may have thought the engine was a 1939 model judging by that casting number? Near the casting number you may find a casting date code which indicates the month and year the left case was cast.
Under the trans case filler spout you may find casting number 121-41 which first appeared for 41 models. And there may also be other casting ID next to it.
Eric
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 9,455
Likes: 7,712
From: Long Island, New York
Lots and lots of reproduction parts, terrible VIN and mixed year parts.
Walk away, again much better bikes out there with HD VIN #'s for $15-18k, you do not need that mess. Good luck.
Walk away, again much better bikes out there with HD VIN #'s for $15-18k, you do not need that mess. Good luck.
