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As for frame. At that time we lived in a different world. You did what ever you wanted. Now yes replacement from requires the neck be cut out and same with engine cases they need to be returned to be destroyed
If you were interested in buying any of it you need to see paper work first.
I live in the rural mountains, super small town. Everybody knows everybody and everything. My friend has a bar with this sign: This is a small town with not much to see, but what you hear makes up for it! LOL. Last year I was having terrible trouble with auto parts store AGM batteries for my Shovlehead. One breakdown after 100 miles, 27 miles from home. AMA got me home free and hassle free. One stranded me after 55 miles but 7 miles from home and a friend passed me with a pickup and there was a bank to load the bike with. The last was after 5 miles and 5 miles from home along US Route 6. I called home and arranged help. I was pushing it towards home as I didn't know if anyone with a truck or trailer was available. My friend picked me up in a truck and had to scrounge a ball for his receiver hitch. He told me that he knew I would be pushing it. I took the key with me and we left. I told my friend: "In the 1970's that bike would be gone when we got back with a trailer. I know that's how it used to be. Here I don't even have a padlock for the forks. Lotsa armed people here; large county on the ground, with low population, but, and this is true, we lead the nation in per capita Concealed Carry Permits! People know who owns which bike, car, truck, etc, and aren't shy about butting in. God's Country!
I have a small update. I contacted the guy. He was on break at work so we didn't talk long. I mainly asked about the FXE as that is the one I am interested in. He is willing to sell. I offered $1,000.00 and he said that wouldn't buy it. He is going to figure a price and get back with me when we have time to talk. He said he has the clean title to the bike and that it ran when he parked it two years ago. We will see. I don't know anything about the FLH, other than I saw it half covered with a tarp for a couple of years at his old place in another town. I never saw either bike out anywhere. He said the frame shifter on the FXE is aftermarket and that he put it on.
That is a very neat observation about the FLH probably having a replacement frame. That makes sense as that frame and serial number look much newer with less wear and tear than the bulk of the bike. Besides the differences pointed out, there is also the lack of the locking boss. The 1977 has the boss and the 1975, being older has none.
Now I have a question. What is the protocol if Harley replaces the frame? What happens to the old frame? Does the dealer have to destroy the neck and certify that in their books? Do they have to surrender the neck to Harley? Do they not have to do anything? Who knows what the protocol is?
If a frame originally had an additional original component identifying number or VIN I think at least that section would be returned to H-D and the replacement frame would be stamped with that additional ID number or VIN. It would be similar to what they did with cases and engines as per this 1969 letter. It was posted on another site a while ago along with a copy of order form 99514-69 which I also saved.
But it seems there were also some engines sold with numbers way outside the normal range. For example I have a copy of an AMF order form for crankcase, engine or frame and the engine number is in the 197080 format but it is 98+++. And I have photos of several others between 90000 and 99000 and they too are in the 197080 format. Apparently certain blocks of very high numbers were set aside for these engines.
And the same thing may have applied to some frames. For example this VIN ends with H8 but the VIN boss is the long type introduced for 1981 and the number is 95+++. Also notice no boss for a steering head lock. Other photos of this frame reveal both lower rear forgings look the types that have an -83 suffix although the forgings themselves may not have appeared until 1984?
Eric
Re the FXE, in the engine number the D and H appear to be wide which was normal for a 77 FXE engine at that stage of numbering. Later in the 77 model year, for FXE engines, both those characters changed to narrow versions. NB: these two characters did not change at the same time for all 1977 model Shovel engines, only some of them.
Ill correct my last sentence above regarding one of the characters concerned. I indicated the letter D was used as part of a model designator for more than one type of 77 Shovel but I think thats wrong because D seems to have only been used for the FXE. Apologies to all.
My opinion on the H for 77 remains the same as before in that it did not change at the same time for all 77 model Shovel engines, only some of them.
Eric
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