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Case numbers...Always wondered why MoCo decided to use the "star" symbols on Shovel frames and motors
Belly number - left case. The finish on the cases is rough to say the least. The 75 FXE cases just as rough. There was however less slag on the 78 frame than there was on the 75 frame.
Belly number - right case (Located inside cam chest)
Anti-theft numbers
Last edited by panz4ever; Jan 5, 2019 at 03:09 PM.
So once I got the bike apart, the next step was getting rid of the crud. Took the bare frame to San Jose Steam Cleaning. Best $80 I ever spent. They are a family owned business. Shop began in 1947 when the original owner came home from his war. The sons own and run it now. I have used their services since 1970. (On a side note...Google came to them offering them about 3 times the value of the land under them. Fortunately they refused and vow to keep running the business in the same location. For those not aware of what is happening in Silicone Valley. Google is going to set up a gi-normous campus that borders the downtown. Lots of mom and pops establishments are falling by the wayside because of it. Just lost my welder, Puccio Welding, to them. His dad owned the business before him and always the same location. been using that shop since 1972...damn)
Starting Clean
There is a forum member that goes by the name of SpeedingBigTwin. He posts here, in the Pan section as well as on a couple other forums devoted to old iron. If you ever read/follow along with his posts, he is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to things like frames, engine, tranny stuff where MoCo has put cast or stamped marikings on their bikes. So with that in mind I decided to look for every marking on my frame that I could find (did it with my 49 EL frame as well) and post up the info for general information.
Frame Markings
Hopefully that makes some sense. Wasn't sure how to depict it otherwise.
One way (excluding the VIN#) to determine the frame year for your Shovel...stamped E8 (May 1978)
Example of casting/forging marks
Stamped letter on the neck (no clue what it means)
Another letter stamped on the neck (again, no clue what it means)
Example of the casting marks on the tranny mount (never saw it until the frame was cleaned up)
Example of casting marks on rear of frame
And one more
Last edited by panz4ever; Jan 11, 2019 at 12:08 PM.
Bet those single letter hand stamps are a indicator of an inspector who did a passing all good visual inspection (NDT VT) for defects.
Visual is probably all they got. Where I worked in my past Shipbuilding trade, I had two apprentice in the casting shop. Parts always carried a trace inspection. Most of ours had a VT and a MT. The inspection had a one letter unique to each inspector added to the casting number.
Dave, thanks for the kind words. I was going to post earlier but I wanted to check/update my files. Also over recent days Ive been trying to resolve connection problems with forums such as CAI and H-G which Im still unable to view today. The trouble is at my end and Im told it should be resolved on Monday.
I cant see anything wrong with your engine number and all characters appear normal factory types for a 78 Shovel. For 7080 Shovels Im always particularly interested in the 9 (and 6). Your 9 is the type Id expect for probably most, but perhaps not all, 78 model Shovel engine numbers. Also notice the same type of 9 on your frame and thats what Id expect for most, but maybe not all, 78 frames.
I see the star at the end of your frame VIN but I cant see a star at the beginning? Although stars may have been meant to be used as a security measure they werent always applied properly. On Shovel frames sometimes the first star is off the boss, sometimes its half on and half off, sometimes theres a space between the star and the first number and on some occasions it seems the first star was omitted.
A Service Bulletin dated Sept 16, 1969, announced the new vehicle numbering system that started with the 1970 season but it didnt mention stars. And engine numbers for early-70 model Shovels had no stars. It seems they made their first appearance somewhere in the 13000s. Did the same thing happen with 1970 Shovel frames? I dont know yet.
Even on Shovel engines that do have stars there is sometimes a space between a star and its nearest number but yours appear to have been done properly.
BTW, youll find stars at both ends of serial numbers on engines and frames for a lot of 1960s Aermacchi Harleys.
I cant see anything wrong with your crankcase production numbers. Code number 1 is consistent with 9D (FXE).
The extra crankcase ID is where Id expect it for a 78 Shovel. P is one of at least thirteen letters used that model year. (I wont be surprised if the other thirteen show up.)
Getting back to the frame, steering head forging number 47591-35A is normal for 1978, having been introduced about ten years earlier. Some 78s have it upside down and some have it on the left side. Die number 70 is a good addition for my records. Before it the highest Id seen was 67 and it was on the left side of a Shovel frame made in Jan 78. Interesting to see the hallmark above the die number instead of alongside it.
On the steering head lock boss, apart from single letter A youll sometimes find AA, J, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 7J, and probably a few others. All stamped and maybe by inspectors? Above the boss (for 69-later), apart from B youll sometimes find A, D, J, Y, Y4 and 8. All stamped and again perhaps by inspectors? Also in that area Ive seen E but it wasnt stamped; instead it was raised and appeared incorporated in the forging.
Date code E 8 is located as Id expect for May 78. Earliest DC Ive seen on the left side of a Shovel frame is from Oct 74 (J 4) but it was higher up. No examples yet for 1975 but as early as Feb 76 (B 6) the date code was applied just above the opening as yours is.
Left lower rear forging 47654-73 was introduced for mid-73. I think around late-79 or early-80 it changed to 47654-73A. Left upper rear forging number for 1965 to about 1972 was 47645-65. Around 1973 it changed to 47645-65-Y but I dont know what Y indicates.
R-H lower rear forging 47652-73 was introduced for mid-73. R-H upper rear forging number for 1965 to about 1972 was 47645-65. Around 1973 it changed to 47645-65-Y.
Near the trans mount, 47671-58-Y is a number I have only a few examples of. Palmer says it was introduced for 1973. He could be right, given the letter Y, because that letter appears at the end of the upper rear forging numbers around 1973 as I mentioned above. Eric
I just went downstairs to check the VIN on my 1970 FLH. The motor starts and ends with a star, too close to add an additional number. Frame started with a star, hard to tell if it ended with a star. Bit of surface rust on the VIN. Could post pics if anyone cares.Vin number is in the 14000's.
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