The sequence number can be used more than once, depending on the amount of engine families, production figures, what the VINs started at and what VIN ranges were used.

In each engine family the VINs for the different models are mixed in together. For example, for 1973 model Shovelheads the VINs started at 10000 but that sequence number could have been assigned to a bike stamped 1A, 2A or 2C.

For 1973 model Sportsters, Service Bulletin 656 (frame reinforcement and tail lamp wiring) seems to indicate VINs started at 40000 but that sequence number could have been assigned to a bike stamped 3A or 4A. (There were also some 1973 models built for the US Army but their VINs were 710++ according to the SB.)

SB 656 also contains mention of sequence number 60000 for a 73 Sportster but it’s only in relation to the bikes affected and it doesn’t specify whether that sequence number was assigned to a bike stamped 3A or 4A. Also there seems to be a gap in 1973 Sportster VINs because the SB states that all XLs and XLCHs will require corrective modification and that the affected vehicles have VINs from 40000 to (thru?) 50772 and from 60000 to (thru?) 71568.

For 1973 model Shovels there were at least two frames. For early-73s the lower left rear forging had 47654 65 while the lower R-H rear forging had 47651-58. Later-73s had 47654-73 (left) and 47652-73 (R-H).

In your frame VIN I can’t see anything wrong with the characters and because the sequence number is 22675 I imagine your frame may be the later type?

Early-73 Shovels had the same tail lamp and rear mudguard as 72 and no indicators. Later-73 Shovels had a new, larger tail lamp and a mudguard to suit. And indicators.

For 1973 Shovelheads there are sometimes differences between engine VIN characters and frame VIN characters. For example if your engine VIN is the same as your frame VIN, and if it’s authentic, you may find the A and H may be wider than your frame A and H?

Also for 1973 Shovel engine VINs it seems the factory swapped the characters used as the 6 and 9 around several times during that model year. If your engine is 22675 I suspect its 6 may not be rounded even though your frame 6 is.

In your chart I notice 2C69069H3 and I have a photo of it as an alleged engine VIN. Can you post photos you have please. Engine VIN? Frame VIN? Both?
Also can you post photos you have of 2A72931H3. Thanks.
Eric

 

Speeding Big Twin,
Thank you for such in depth information. This is what I am looking for...I desire such understanding.
I will try and answer each question the best that I can.

I will attempt to find these numbers if I can get to them on the 73.

Unfortunately my uncle had Harley-Davidson replace the case sometime around 1995-2000. I can not remember why. Harley-Davidson stamped the new case with the modern markings. The good news is that there is no mistaking the numbers and letters!!




Unfortunately most of the VIIN's I got off the internet are from Harley's being sold, and offering the VIN. I do not have details of the VIN...or even if they are correct.
This is the reported 2A72931H3 https://www.mecum.com/lots/435768/19...olice-special/

I just want to be clear that I have only been doing this since December 2025....so all of the information/data I have...has only been acquired since then, and may be filled with inaccuracies or misunderstandings :-)

 

So this means I need to modify the chart to reflect this information. Thus, for example
10001 could be assigned to a 1AH3 frame, while 10002 could be assigned to a 2AH3 frame?

1A10001H3
2A10002H3
1A10003H3
2C10004H3

So is this sequence just limited to the 1200 engine frames? Does this include others like the 4AH3 FLCH-1000 engine frames?

 

I somewhat understand your desire to decipher all the details on this bike, but don't you have some mechanical "freshening" to get done before spring ?

 

AGREED! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUnqS7FsI5o

 

good lord, wrong video link and I can not correct it. Here is the correct one. My latest engine run on Jan 23rd, 2026. Second run after carburetor overhaul. Video was the last 30 seconds of the 15 minute run, after I set the idle speed.

 

There’s no point recording VINs for your chart unless they appear authentic.

As I mentioned earlier I have a photo of 2C69069H3 as an alleged engine VIN. The C and H are what I refer to as wide and that’s what I would expect. Also the 6s are the type I’d expect, at that stage of numbering. But only one of the 9s is the type I’d expect at that stage of numbering which of course suggests that something unusual was going on with the other 9.

Regarding 2A72931H3, at Mecum I see nine photos but I can’t read either VIN. BTW, notice the lower R-H rear forging number may be 47652-73. If so it indicates the frame is later-73 or later.

From your list of E-Glides the only one I have photos of is 2A14556H3. I can’t see anything wrong with the frame VIN characters and they appear consistent with factory stamping. These include what I refer to as a narrow or slim A, 4 and H. And a rounded 6. I can’t see anything wrong with the engine VIN characters and they appear authentic. These include a wide A, 4 and H. And a rounded 6 which appears consistent with factory stamping of engines at that stage of numbering.

I have photos of 2C21433H3. Engine VIN may be okay but stamped above it is another ID number although I don’t know what it indicates. I’m not convinced about the frame VIN, partly because of the moulding.

Regarding the bike said to be 2C21775H3, notice its battery appears big enough to handle electric start. Originally the 2C (FX-1200) had a smaller battery because that model was kick-only. For Super Glides the electric starter is generally thought to have been introduced for 1974 models and the model designator was 9D (FXE-1200). But a lot of pieces relating to an electric starter have part numbers ending with -73, including electric start conversion kit #33217-73, and I have wondered at times if the FXE first appeared as a very late 73 model. But I have no VIN evidence yet. In other words I have no evidence yet of VINs 9D+++++H3.

From your list of Sportsters I have a photo of engine VIN 4A44984H3. I can’t see anything wrong with the characters and they appear consistent with factory stamping. These include wide 4s, wide A and wide H.
As I mentioned earlier, for 1973 Shovel engine VINs it seems the factory swapped the characters used as the 6 and 9 around several times during that model year. And it appears the same thing happened with the characters used as the 6 and 9 for 1973 Sportster engine VINs. That is apparently why 4A44984H3 has a 9 which is not rounded.

I have a photo of engine VIN 4A61720H3 but it’s blurry so I can’t tell if it’s authentic or not.

Another post to follow.
Eric

 

For 1973 Shovelheads there was 1A, 2A and 2C. All three models are in the same family and therefore their VINs were mixed in together. First/lowest VIN for 1973 general production Shovels was 10000 and it could have been assigned to any of those three models. Second VIN was 10001 and it too could have been assigned to any of those three models. Etc.

Same thing applied to 1973 Sportsters because the 3A and 4A are in the same family as each other.

But while we’re on 1973 models there is an alleged guide called Motorcycle Identification copyrighted 1986 by one Lee S Cole. It indicates VINs 10000, 10001 and 10002 for 73 Shovels were assigned to FXs while VINs for 73 FLHs began at 10003 and VINs for 73 FLs started at 11791.

It also suggests VINs for 73 Sportsters began at 40001 and 40002 depending on model. But what about VIN 40000 for 73 Sportsters? The guide doesn’t say, even though VIN 40000 is mentioned in Service Bulletin 656.

And was 11791 really the lowest VIN for a 73 FL? I do not know. One of the problems with the guide by Mr Cole is that we know for certain that it contains a lot of errors regarding 1970/71 and earlier, including some that are exactly the same as those in a certain booklet used by the CHP back in the day. And therefore I am reluctant to believe anything else the alleged guide from 1986 says.
Eric

 

Thank you for sharing your abundance of knowledge, this is how us new guys learn!!!

What I have entered on the docs is what I call "working data". It fills in the blanks so we can see all of the possible links. Then we start correcting, editing, and replacing as more reliable concrete data is obtained in order to actually "connect the links".

Late last night I added quite a bit of VIN's as well as the date stamp data on the foil decals from 71's to 73's. Those all were from private owners/collections of which no further details can be shared and the last two digits of the VIN x'ed out at the owner/owners request.

What I have noticed so far in my endeavor is that 99% of what I find has been restored or repainted. And as everyone here already knows....there are tons of parts out there that are mixed matched. The same is said for the old warbirds and antique airplanes "flying today". One flying B-17 may have one wing from a second airplane, horizontals from a third airplane, rudder and vertical from a fourth airplane and landing gear from a fifth airplane.....but yet it only carries one of the serial numbers. The data plates are simply removed from one airplane and applied to another as long as previous major work does not prevent such a transfer. If a welded steel tube fuselage has a unique repair, that is a scare that is well documented and follows the aircraft for life. Then on top of that, the entire fuselages and components of said B- 17 examples had been rebuilt, as in all new materials used. Basically making a whole brand new fuselage, pieced together with parts from other airplanes. Same situation with many antique airplanes as well. Thus I am dually familiar with accurate data. On top of that, aviation has a big brother watching over us...the FAA...thus the paper work can be an adventure!

I have been researching data for the famous Winchester 73' 44 caliber cartridge for nearly 20 years....20 years later than I should have waited...there is much data that "collectors" will not share, and will take such information to their graves. Then there are those of us that like to share what we know, correct the incorrect, and learn as we go...not give the appearance we "know it all"...because we don't! Books are great, but are written buy guys that only know what they know.

Chasing The 44-40

 

Only for those folks that are interested...

VIN's
So far what I have found out is that Harley used sequence numbers (commonly referred to as production numbers in aviation) across their line of fifteen different models for each year...and starting at about 10,000 for their VIN's. Although the model code (prefix) and year code (suffix) was different for each frame/engine model, production numbers were not reissued (duplicated) for each model. Thus 2A10000H3 could be for an FLH while 4A10001H3 could have been used on the XLCH, and 3D10002H3 could have been used on a Z-90. When a number was used on the first model, it was not used on another model. If "10023" was used on an FLH, then it was not used on anything else for the duration of the year.

Year Code
There year code data has been harder to acquire since many tags were removed or damaged over the years. A few I have been able to see record the following. The most I have seen so far is for the 1971 models. So for 1971, if you can not find your date code, your VIN sequence number should fall in line with the following months....could be before or after of the following known examples. March thru May could give you a ball park idea of how many may have been produced per month across all of the manufacturing plants since these numbers are for all models...even those made in Italy.

Anyhow, at least as of right now, I have not seen any numbers duplicated!! Has anyone else?

Month Year - Production Number Groups
Aug 1970 - 115xx
Dec 1970 - 207xx
Feb 1971 - 252xx
Mar 1971 - 259xx
Mar 1971 - 275xx
Apr 1971 - 279xx
Apr 1971 - 284xx
Apr 1971 - 294xx
May 1971- 311xx
May 1971 - 312xx
May 1971 - 318xx
May 1971 - 324xx
Jun 1971 - 329xx
Jun 1971 - 338xx

If you know your year code, it would help better group such information if you are willing to share your information...anonymously of course....and/or you can just use, (2A185xxxH3), the first three or four digits!

Although information can be hard to obtain, some people are a heck of a lot faster at correcting incorrect information...rather than sharing any productive information. Lets see where this goes...

Thanks to those, you know who you are, that have been guiding me in the right direction and helping me with data.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...#gid=409706053