Difference between late & early 79 Shovelhead?
Thread Starter
|
Stage II
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Difference between late & early 79 Shovelhead?
Hi, I'm new here. I'm hoping someone will be able to helpanswer a question. We have a 1979 FLH Shovelhead we're in the process of restoring. When searching for parts I often run across descriptions which state the part is either for a late 79 SH or an early 79 SH. Can anyone tell me how I might be able to determine if our SH is a late or early 79 model?
Thanks for any help.
Thanks for any help.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 7,499
Likes: 3,717
From: Santa Klaus County, Cali
RE: Difference between late & early 79 Shovelhead?
redzone..herez production numbers for the FLH 74 and FLH 80. Might help a little.
FLH 74 ... 2A 20154 H9 (starting) 2A 76951 H9 (ending)
FLH 80 ... 3G 20161 H9 (starting) 3G 80437 H9 (ending)
FLH 74 ... 2A 20154 H9 (starting) 2A 76951 H9 (ending)
FLH 80 ... 3G 20161 H9 (starting) 3G 80437 H9 (ending)
Thread Starter
|
Stage II
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
RE: Difference between late & early 79 Shovelhead?
Thanks for the reply, but honestly I'm lost as to what those numbers indicate. This is my husbands bike, he's PC timid...won't post. Basically what he's wanting to know is how to determine which chrome hwy bars he needs. Found two differentbars stating they're for a 79 SH...one states it fits the early 79 SH, other says late 79 SH.He's not sure whichset will fit his frame...early or late model 79.
I've searched the net, read tons of Harley specs...can't find anything relating to the differences between late & early 79 SH, or how to determine which we have.
I do know ours is the FLH 80, haha.
I've searched the net, read tons of Harley specs...can't find anything relating to the differences between late & early 79 SH, or how to determine which we have.
I do know ours is the FLH 80, haha.
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 130
Likes: 1
From: Whitley Bay, North-East England
RE: Difference between late & early 79 Shovelhead?
there is one significant difference that year.
In mid-79 came the arrival of the rotary-top four-speed gearbox.
Also known as the turtle top, the cow pie, the turret top.
It replaced the ratchet-top mid-year.
I can't think of ANY frame changes that year.....but if those bars are what we over here call crash bars,front and rear to protect the engine/primary, I can just about see how the rear ones might take on a different fitting to allow for the new tranny. But I am guessing at that, don't ride an FLH..
regards from the UK
In mid-79 came the arrival of the rotary-top four-speed gearbox.
Also known as the turtle top, the cow pie, the turret top.
It replaced the ratchet-top mid-year.
I can't think of ANY frame changes that year.....but if those bars are what we over here call crash bars,front and rear to protect the engine/primary, I can just about see how the rear ones might take on a different fitting to allow for the new tranny. But I am guessing at that, don't ride an FLH..
regards from the UK
RE: Difference between late & early 79 Shovelhead?
redzone,
I recently went through this myself. I have an early '78. Like you, I didn't know there was a mid production year change until I had bought it. I learned there was a difference when I started looking for service manuals. The service manuals are for 1970 through Early 1978 and then Late 1978 through 1980. That makes me wonder if there was an error in the listing of hwy bars you are looking at. That not withstanding, here is a link to a post that tells how to read your VIN -- https://www.hdforums.com/m_327424/tm.htm. The VIN can be found on the front of your frame and on your engine crank case. There is a third location where it can be found, but I am not sure where that is. Those numbers will tell you what year and model yours started as. Mine started life as a '78 FXE and a previous owner converted it to look like an FLH. To find out whether I have an early '78 or late '78, I had to look for the crank case number. It is found on either side on the underside of the crank case on the front. Look at the very last post on the thread (https://www.hdforums.com/m_1852591/tm.htm) for how to read the crank case number. I hope this will help you.
I recently went through this myself. I have an early '78. Like you, I didn't know there was a mid production year change until I had bought it. I learned there was a difference when I started looking for service manuals. The service manuals are for 1970 through Early 1978 and then Late 1978 through 1980. That makes me wonder if there was an error in the listing of hwy bars you are looking at. That not withstanding, here is a link to a post that tells how to read your VIN -- https://www.hdforums.com/m_327424/tm.htm. The VIN can be found on the front of your frame and on your engine crank case. There is a third location where it can be found, but I am not sure where that is. Those numbers will tell you what year and model yours started as. Mine started life as a '78 FXE and a previous owner converted it to look like an FLH. To find out whether I have an early '78 or late '78, I had to look for the crank case number. It is found on either side on the underside of the crank case on the front. Look at the very last post on the thread (https://www.hdforums.com/m_1852591/tm.htm) for how to read the crank case number. I hope this will help you.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 7,499
Likes: 3,717
From: Santa Klaus County, Cali
RE: Difference between late & early 79 Shovelhead?
redzone..the numbering above applies to your vin system. Here is an even more exact way to determine when your bike came off the line...
Starting in 1975 HD changed their numbering process on the lower crankcase numbers, The new procedure utilizes the Julian date. (The Julian date uses all 365 days of the year. Jan 1 = 001; December 31 = 365)
Your FLH crankcase numbers should read something like this 1 79 - 001 001. 1 = FLH; 79 = year model; 001 = Julian date; 001 = sequential unit produced that day.
So, while you may not be able to determine how many units of your particular model were produced that day, the Julian date will give you exactly what day (and month from the Juliane date) your bike was made.
Starting in 1975 HD changed their numbering process on the lower crankcase numbers, The new procedure utilizes the Julian date. (The Julian date uses all 365 days of the year. Jan 1 = 001; December 31 = 365)
Your FLH crankcase numbers should read something like this 1 79 - 001 001. 1 = FLH; 79 = year model; 001 = Julian date; 001 = sequential unit produced that day.
So, while you may not be able to determine how many units of your particular model were produced that day, the Julian date will give you exactly what day (and month from the Juliane date) your bike was made.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 755
Likes: 43
From:
RE: Difference between late & early 79 Shovelhead?
I have been there, early or late production runs, The only true thing from the factory back then was, "Use what ever parts are still on the shelf." Vin #'s help, but the OG parts are the best reference, take'm with ya if ya gott'm!
Trending Topics
Banned
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Difference between late & early 79 Shovelhead?
fast and simple. From what I was told, early `78 still had points, 78 1/2 up went to electronic ignition....
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Curated Content Editor
General Harley Davidson Chat
40
Mar 2, 2021 01:32 PM
