Hello Shovelhead gurus.
I’m looking to purchase a 1972 FLH, the engine and frame numbers are good and match, but I would appreciate some assistance with any identifying numbers on tripple clamps, swingarm, gearbox and anything else of importance. Also is there anything’s that were a stand out issue for the 1972’s?
Thanks for you help.

 

Cigarette lighter in handlebar clamp cover.

 

The base of the cylinders on the right side will have Julian calendar dates so check them. The cutout in the fins to clear the pushrod tubes will have month / year dates on both heads, very hard to see them them sitting on the top of a fin but they're there if you look. The rocker boxes should have dates on them as well and casting numbers on the top unless they have been ground off like a lot that got polished.

 

Lets see some pics

 

Stamped on top of the padlock plate on the lower triple clamp you may find an additional original component identifying number, aka security code, aka anti-theft number. For example P123(4). Other letters used there for 72 models were R, S, T and U but some of these letters were also used for some other model years. Here’s a link to a thread started by me on the Panhead and Flathead forum in 2019.


https://www.hydra-glide.net/phpBB3/v...ic.php?t=18752


Via the above link you’ll also find info about additional ID that may be on the front of your gearbox. And it may be similar to what was found on the gearbox of your 73FX in 2022. For a 72 gearbox the letter may be H, J or K but again some of these letters were also used for some other years. Under the gearbox you may find casting number 34703 65 which was used for 65 models thru about early-77 models.

Is the swingarm a round-tube type? If so, below is a link to a thread started by me on the Panhead and Flathead forum in 2016. At post #7 there you’ll read about changes to the left axle clip as of 63 models. And at post #12 you’ll read about things that apparently occurred to the left clip sometime after 1967 models. Outside the left clip of a 72 model swingarm the run number may range from about H35 thru about H42 but regardless of what you find can you post a photo of it please. And a photo of all forging ID outside the R-H clip.


https://www.hydra-glide.net/phpBB3/v...ic.php?t=22498


Something else we discussed in 2022 were differences in the width of some VIN characters. In a 72FLH frame VIN the A and H may be what I refer to as narrow while the A and H in the engine VIN may be what I refer to as wide. And if there are any 4s you may find the same difference with them.

Stamped on top of the cases near the rear mounting bolts you may find a certain type of sans serif H. Photo?

Did you check the belly numbers? Photos?

Also here’s Service Bulletin 630 regarding a problem that may have already been addressed.
Eric

 

[QUOTE=Speeding Big Twin;21785189]Stamped on top of the padlock plate on the lower triple clamp you may find an additional original component identifying number, aka security code, aka anti-theft number. For example P123(4). Other letters used there for 72 models were R, S, T and U but some of these letters were also used for some other model years. Here’s a link to a thread started by me on the Panhead and Flathead forum in 2019.


https://www.hydra-glide.net/phpBB3/v...ic.php?t=18752


Via the above link you’ll also find info about additional ID that may be on the front of your gearbox. And it may be similar to what was found on the gearbox of your 73FX in 2022. For a 72 gearbox the letter may be H, J or K but again some of these letters were also used for some other years. Under the gearbox you may find casting number 34703 65 which was used for 65 models thru about early-77 models.

Is the swingarm a round-tube type? If so, below is a link to a thread started by me on the Panhead and Flathead forum in 2016. At post #7 there you’ll read about changes to the left axle clip as of 63 models. And at post #12 you’ll read about things that apparently occurred to the left clip sometime after 1967 models. Outside the left clip of a 72 model swingarm the run number may range from about H35 thru about H42 but regardless of what you find can you post a photo of it please. And a photo of all forging ID outside the R-H clip.


https://www.hydra-glide.net/phpBB3/v...ic.php?t=22498


Something else we discussed in 2022 were differences in the width of some VIN characters. In a 72FLH frame VIN the A and H may be what I refer to as narrow while the A and H in the engine VIN may be what I refer to as wide. And if there are any 4s you may find the same difference with them.

Stamped on top of the cases near the rear mounting bolts you may find a certain type of sans serif H. Photo?

Did you check the belly numbers? Photos?

Also here’s Service Bulletin 630 regarding a problem that may have already been addressed.
Eric




Thank you Eric, once again your information was invaluable. I have checked the numbers and to me they look good, see below.

 

I know it has quite a few aftermarket bolt ons but the important things are oem, got oem tanks and pet ****, head light narcel, spilt bar clamps etc as part of the transaction.

 

Thank you for the information, the heads dated correctly but as you suggested I think the rocker box’s have been polished and I cannot see the numbers. Cheers

 

Thanks for the photos. Additional ID on the padlock plate looks normal. P is one of five letters consistent with 72 models as I mentioned above. (And P was also used for some 71 models.) Notice the 7s appear sans serif. Notice the 1 has a serif across the base and I’ll guess its top serif is at about forty-five degrees as opposed to horizontal. Also in this instance I’ll guess the 0 is oblong-shaped as opposed to rounded although a rounded 0 seems to have been used on some other occasions.

Forging number on top of that triple clamp may be 45705 48 although the second 5 may be hidden by the bearing cup. On the other side of the bearing cup there may be a forging hallmark consisting of M over F inside a circle indicating Modern Drop Forge. Near the hallmark may be a forging die number which may be about 15 or 16?

Under the top triple clamp you may find forging number 56120-60.

I’m glad you got the split-handlebar clamp as part of the transaction. I still have one on my Panhead and I put one on my Evo as well.

Additional ID on the gearbox looks normal. H is one of three letters consistent with 72 as I mentioned above. (And H was also used for some 71 models.) Hard to be certain about the 7 but I imagine it is sans serif like the 7s on the padlock plate. The 0 looks oblong-shaped as I would expect. Notice the 4 is a certain closed-top style. I see no serif across its base and I wouldn’t expect to. The 5 looks okay.

In the engine VIN I can’t see anything wrong with the 2s, 8 and H. The H appears to be what I refer to as wide, which is what I’d expect on a 72 Shovel engine. Also notice its cross-bar looks a bit higher than centre which contradicts the H on Service Bulletin M-828 but it’s not a concern for me because I’ve seen many other Hs stamped like that. And that isn’t the only problem with the Service Bulletin either.

The A is another character that I refer to as wide. And by that I mean it’s wider across the top than the A in a 72 Shovel frame VIN. Here’s a photo for comparison of engine VIN characters.







I can’t see anything wrong with the BNs and all characters appear consistent with factory stamping for 72 BNs at that stage of numbering. Notice the 1 and 7 in the first portion are different to their counterparts in the sequence portion but they are the normal types used for 72, again at that stage. The sequence 1 seems to have changed later on but then changed back again at an even later stage. Notice the 4 is sans serif and it has an open back. Notice the 0 is slightly rounded as opposed to being oblong in shape.

Judging by the sequence portion being 4107 the left case may or may not have a boss for an engine number. Although the boss wasn’t required after 69 it was left in the casting for a while anyway and even some 72s have it although some other 72s don’t. For example it’s visible in photos I have of some cases including a pair stamped 172-32++ but I don’t see it in photos I have of cases stamped 172-52++ and higher.

On the frame I don’t see a tab for the brake line tee and it doesn’t look like it was removed? I’ve seen the tab on frames made as late as September 71 but not on frames made in October 71 and later.

On the R-H axle clip of a prototype BT swingarm the forging number was apparently EX2039 and it’s possible it was also used for some early-58 production models. But even if it was, the majority of 58s would have had R-H clips with forging number 47606-58 which then continued through 72 models. Forging hallmark consists of the letter Q with WF inside it but I still don’t know what company it represents. Highest die number I’ve seen so far on the R-H clip is 75 so I imagine 73 is consistent with a 72 model.

Is there something wrong with the oil line from the case to the rocker box? It doesn’t look normal, especially the upper half?
Eric

 

Thank you for the additional information, I will cross check tomorrow.
Not sure what is going on with the oil line to the rear head, it’s a bit of a mess.