thank you so much for the info that answered alot of my questions. No electric start for me. I actually kind of enjoy the kick start. atleast now i have a better grasp on what exactly i own.

 

Are you sure that motor is a '70 ?

There is so much on that motor that appears to be '71 or newer (including the Texas notch rocker boxes), I'd suggest another check of the motor s/n is in order.

What are the last 2 characters of your motor s/n ? It should look something like --> 3AxxxxxH_

The "H_" will confirm the year, one way or the other.

 

I gotta slightly disagree with you there Doc.

The serial number starts with 3A (which is either an XL or XLH) or it starts with 4A (which is an XLCH)

Next, the number has 5 digits. These 5 digits are 10,000 or higher for an XL or XLH (not an XLCH)

In the case of an XLCH you may find the 5 digit number may contain a 'delta mark' as one of the digits.

Following the 5 digits you will have the letter 'H'. This designates the manufacturer which is of course Harley Davidson.
Redundent? Yes, but that is what the letter 'H' stands for.

This last digit will be a zero or a 9. or something in between.
A 'zero' denotes the year 1970.
'1; = 1971, '2'= 1972, '3'= 1973 etc.
A '9' denotes the year 1979.

This is the coding breakdown for a Sportster engine serial number for the years 1970 through 1979.
Before 1970 and after 1980 different numbering systems were used.
pg

 

no problem PG. We are on the same page. Your explanation is much more accurate than mine.

 

And I gotta apologize Doc.
I reread your post and what you said is correct.
I just misread it. Sorry.
pg

 

I have a 1970 that I bought new, that is not a 1970 front end either, 1970 still had the "boots" just like earlier sportsters. The seat is an after market one or a different year one. there were two seats available in 1970, neither one looked like that one. 1970 was the firs year that year that the XLCH and XLH used the same primary cover, the tin cover went away in 1969. 1970 had the ugliest chainguard that I have ever seen on a sportster (changed mine) that is not it. I think that you have a mixture of parts and someone used the 1970 frame to license it, that would have worked here in Virginia a few years ago. I will have to go look, but I think that my gas shut off is on the other side of the gas tank on a 1970. There was one for sale on CL here very much like yours, I sent the person an email telling them that it was not a 1970, only part of one.

 

Forgot one thing, an interesting thing, in 1970 an XLCH came with a 19 tooth countershaft sprocket and an XLH came with a 20 tooth.

 

again no prob PG. Apology not needed, but thank you for stating you just mis-read my post. We are on the same page.
Regards, Doc71

 

the last digit on the engine is a 0. So that confirms that the engine and frame are from 1970 and the rest of the parts mixed and matched from later years.

 

1970 was first year when VIN was stamped also to frame, same number should be in frame than in engine. Rest of the parts are not numbered.