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Old Jan 13, 2010 | 03:39 AM
  #1  
screw loose's Avatar
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Hi guys I'm new here and not real familiar with ironheads but wanted to get a 60's/70's sporty to restore. Got one in a long involved trade on craigslist. My sled for what was supposed to be a '72 that looked restorable in the pic I saw of it.
Well ... as it goes sometimes looks like I ended up with an assembled basket case. I made the trade sight unseen (yeah I know) but it was because of the disance.
The title says 1972 Harley Davidson # 560020132 ... ok no H in the number. That's the number on the engine case. (after market?) The frame # 3A20582H5. That number is not on the title. Called MI Sec of State. They tell me to get the cops to check it out. Cops tell me the frame is a '75 and it and the motor numbers are clean and no problems. So now I've got a '75 with a ?? motor and XLS forks that I don't think were available till '78. I THINK the pic is attached and was wondering if anyone can tell me what motor I have so I can get proper parts for it.
I apologize for the long post but wanted to get as much info in there as I could.
Thanks for any help and from what I've read on here you guys know your stuff!
 
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Old Jan 13, 2010 | 04:17 AM
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any chance on getting the title for the frame? in some states it a real chore to explain to the cops when your numbers dont match along side of the road when they pull you over
 
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Old Jan 13, 2010 | 09:11 AM
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Neither the engine or frame are from a 72'. The frame is a 75 XLH. Someone else will have to chime in about the engine. I am not familiar with the numbers on that. The original bike had the same numbers on the engine and the frame. By the way your bike is a left hand shift. That in itself dates it past 74'. Not much help but all I gots.
 
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Old Jan 13, 2010 | 10:02 AM
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Originally Posted by screw loose
Hi guys I'm new here and not real familiar with ironheads but wanted to get a 60's/70's sporty to restore. Got one in a long involved trade on craigslist. My sled for what was supposed to be a '72 that looked restorable in the pic I saw of it.
Well ... as it goes sometimes looks like I ended up with an assembled basket case. I made the trade sight unseen (yeah I know) but it was because of the disance.
The title says 1972 Harley Davidson # 560020132 ... ok no H in the number. That's the number on the engine case. (after market?) The frame # 3A20582H5. That number is not on the title. Called MI Sec of State. They tell me to get the cops to check it out. Cops tell me the frame is a '75 and it and the motor numbers are clean and no problems. So now I've got a '75 with a ?? motor and XLS forks that I don't think were available till '78. I THINK the pic is attached and was wondering if anyone can tell me what motor I have so I can get proper parts for it.
I apologize for the long post but wanted to get as much info in there as I could.
Thanks for any help and from what I've read on here you guys know your stuff!
I agree with the others. The frame is a 1975. Since the brake pedal is on the right side, I would have to say maybe a late 1975, but that raises a question....... On the left side does the shift lever shaft come out of the primary case?
If it does, that makes me think this engine is 1977 or later. In 1975 the shift was on the right side, and swapped over to the left side to meet Federal mandates in the middle of the year. Harley did this with a collection of garbage hardware to make the swap. Your machine looks like 1976 or later in this regard. That said, it is hard to tell from the photo if you have the garbage hardware or not.

Your engine number is certaily not a Harley Davidson number. Perhaps the number was ground off and restamped? It certainly was not done by Harley.

So, your frame is certainly a 1975 that had an XLH engine.
Your engine is an XLH model because it has the kick and electric starter, side mount oil tank etc.
For engine parts...... just call it a 1975. Ditto for the frame for the most part. Front end I am not sure about
. You should have a disc brake on the front.
Hope this helps.
pg
 
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Old Jan 13, 2010 | 03:00 PM
  #5  
screw loose's Avatar
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Thanks for the help everyone. I am going to try to get Sec of state to put frame AND case numbers on the title to avoid any future problems especially since the frame number is the first thing they would check. Doesn't look like the cases have been ground on and they have a different color than the rest of the motor so I'm hoping they are just aftermarket.
Yes, left side shift! Has a long shift lever that looks like a rear brake lever that goes under the rear of the cases and up inside on the right. Doesn't look cobbled up so thinking it might be factory conversion to satisfy the fed. Will attach pic.
The carb on it says Harley Davidson - Japan not sure who makes it. It starts and runs but puking oil from rear of cases. Has an oil cooler and several rubber hoses under there so hope that's all it is.
Thanks again for the help or input would be appreciated.
Dale
 
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Old Jan 13, 2010 | 03:22 PM
  #6  
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That motor is 75 or earlier. The long shift lever with the linkage/shaft that goes under the cases is Harleys "fix" for the left shift mandate. Don't panic; I've got a 75 and that linkage works fine.

I doubt you have aftermarket cases. I don't think something like that is even available.

If you want to know anything else about that bike, snap the pics and send them over. Lots of guys here very knowledgable about ironheads.
 
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Old Jan 13, 2010 | 05:50 PM
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Originally Posted by screw loose
Thanks for the help everyone. I am going to try to get Sec of state to put frame AND case numbers on the title to avoid any future problems especially since the frame number is the first thing they would check. Doesn't look like the cases have been ground on and they have a different color than the rest of the motor so I'm hoping they are just aftermarket.
Yes, left side shift! Has a long shift lever that looks like a rear brake lever that goes under the rear of the cases and up inside on the right. Doesn't look cobbled up so thinking it might be factory conversion to satisfy the fed. Will attach pic.
The carb on it says Harley Davidson - Japan not sure who makes it. It starts and runs but puking oil from rear of cases. Has an oil cooler and several rubber hoses under there so hope that's all it is.
Thanks again for the help or input would be appreciated.
Dale

Yep, the linkage is 1975 and that goes with the frame. I would just consider that you have a 1975 XLH machine.

As for the carb......... If it is stamped Harley then it is of course a factory issue. Most likely it is a Keihen carb which is a Japanese made carb that Harley used in the mid seventies.
pg
 
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Old Jan 13, 2010 | 06:20 PM
  #8  
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Hello and welcome to HDF from Middle Ga.
 
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Old Jan 13, 2010 | 07:27 PM
  #9  
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There was aftermarket cases made,and the ones I have seen are numbered like Yours,8 to 10 #s long. So a good chance there..see any brand names stamped or cast anywhere?
 
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Old Jan 13, 2010 | 11:39 PM
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There is cast number in case Right Case - Outside, Near Oil Pump that gives you hint what year engine is... there should be 9 numbers starting with 7 next 2 numbers are year
someting alike 7xx xxx xxx As carlgrover wrote I don't know that there has been aftermarket cases.

Frame look 75 as title says, as PG wrote that rear brake with cable was only 75-76 models. Engine... hard to say if DMW and police says that numbers are ok there isn't problem by law. Title should go hand with hand by frame number. There is some -79 models that has different (than vin) 10 number stamping in engine, but...check that cast number.
 
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