Vin number location
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: Upstate NY
Not sure if I am looking in the right spot.
Should the VIN be in the actual tubular fork neck? (The cylinder that the trees attach/bolt down into.
Or is the VIN supposed to be on the flat steel that is welded to the frame and fork neck?
I cannot actually get a good look at the fork neck on my bike.
Would it require a dentist mirror to peak in there?
Or should the VIN be clear as day right on the right side without having to look around much?
Here is what I am looking at.
Is it possible it was covered over when the bike was sanded and repainted years ago? Should I try to use a paint remover or sand it down to find it, clean it up, and lightly repaint it, so that in the event I get pulled over the bike does not get confiscated? Or is that just being silly? Thanks for any help or ideas with this.
Should the VIN be in the actual tubular fork neck? (The cylinder that the trees attach/bolt down into.
Or is the VIN supposed to be on the flat steel that is welded to the frame and fork neck?
I cannot actually get a good look at the fork neck on my bike.
Would it require a dentist mirror to peak in there?
Or should the VIN be clear as day right on the right side without having to look around much?
Here is what I am looking at.
Is it possible it was covered over when the bike was sanded and repainted years ago? Should I try to use a paint remover or sand it down to find it, clean it up, and lightly repaint it, so that in the event I get pulled over the bike does not get confiscated? Or is that just being silly? Thanks for any help or ideas with this.
Last edited by Adirondacker; Aug 30, 2010 at 09:37 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 7,499
Likes: 3,716
From: Santa Klaus County, Cali
What we need is someone wit an FLT skeleton frame to take a look. Wondering if maybe the frame has been repaired at some point and in doing so vin was eliminated. Where you took pics is where it should be...
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: Upstate NY
Yeah, I am hoping someone with a FLT from the 1980's can chime in.
I even went to Ebay and asked a couple people who were selling theirs.
No replies yet.
I am toying with unbolting the gas tank to see if it could be written behind/under it.
After that, the next step might be to get some sort of solvent and remove the paint from the frame neck and steering post to see if it under the thick paint or if it was ground off or whatever.
Not sure why I am so obsessed over it. I just dont want to have problems and dont think I will be able to fight the previous owner over this now if it was removed.
I even went to Ebay and asked a couple people who were selling theirs.
No replies yet.
I am toying with unbolting the gas tank to see if it could be written behind/under it.
After that, the next step might be to get some sort of solvent and remove the paint from the frame neck and steering post to see if it under the thick paint or if it was ground off or whatever.
Not sure why I am so obsessed over it. I just dont want to have problems and dont think I will be able to fight the previous owner over this now if it was removed.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 7,499
Likes: 3,716
From: Santa Klaus County, Cali
One last thought...how about removing the cowl and checking further around the front of the neck. Kinda long shot since the frame number was supposed to be visible for LEO inspection. Maybe with the old front end set up it would be?
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: Upstate NY
Panz4e,
I'm going to try that.
I also called a few dealership service depts and got one to help me. Unfortunately he said it should be where I already looked.
So I bought a qt. of paint stripper. If all else fails I will test a few spots with it to see if a number turns up. If not, then I will touch up the paint.
I'm really hoping someone with an 80's FLT sees this and eventually chimes in.
I'm going to try that.
I also called a few dealership service depts and got one to help me. Unfortunately he said it should be where I already looked.
So I bought a qt. of paint stripper. If all else fails I will test a few spots with it to see if a number turns up. If not, then I will touch up the paint.
I'm really hoping someone with an 80's FLT sees this and eventually chimes in.
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: Upstate NY
Latest update...
I took off the headlight and surrounding chrome housing and fog lights.
I had a very clear view of the frame neck/steering post. No signs of any numbers there. Nothing. Nada.
So I took off the seat and unbolted the gas tank. I peeked under it without disconnecting the hoses. Nothing. Nada. No signs of any numbers, letters, or anything.
I compared weld markings and they looked the same on both sides of the frame in identical spots. So I do not think the marks were old numbers that were welded over. Instead they were structural.
Meanwhile I threw out a few figurative fishing lines to see if anything came up. I saw two FLT's for sale on Ebay. Asked them if they could help me out with finding the VIN.
I got a bite.
One person sent me a reply saying they could not find anything stamped up by the neck but they had a sticker on the right frame tube down low even with the front wheel fender.
Before I go doing something stupid like taking the paint stripper to the frame I am going to wait it out and see if any other FLT owners come up with an answer.
I took off the headlight and surrounding chrome housing and fog lights.
I had a very clear view of the frame neck/steering post. No signs of any numbers there. Nothing. Nada.
So I took off the seat and unbolted the gas tank. I peeked under it without disconnecting the hoses. Nothing. Nada. No signs of any numbers, letters, or anything.
I compared weld markings and they looked the same on both sides of the frame in identical spots. So I do not think the marks were old numbers that were welded over. Instead they were structural.
Meanwhile I threw out a few figurative fishing lines to see if anything came up. I saw two FLT's for sale on Ebay. Asked them if they could help me out with finding the VIN.
I got a bite.
One person sent me a reply saying they could not find anything stamped up by the neck but they had a sticker on the right frame tube down low even with the front wheel fender.
Before I go doing something stupid like taking the paint stripper to the frame I am going to wait it out and see if any other FLT owners come up with an answer.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 7,499
Likes: 3,716
From: Santa Klaus County, Cali
Sample vin as it appears on the steering head...
1HD1AAK11 EY010000
AA-FLH80
AB-FLHP80 Police (chain)
AC-FLH 80 Shrine
AH-FLHP 80 Police (belt)
AK-FLHS 80
anything starting with 'B' means it started life as an FX model
K or L designate engine type
E designates model year (B-81; C-82; D-83; E-84)
010000 designates sequential production number
1HD1AAK11 EY010000
AA-FLH80
AB-FLHP80 Police (chain)
AC-FLH 80 Shrine
AH-FLHP 80 Police (belt)
AK-FLHS 80
anything starting with 'B' means it started life as an FX model
K or L designate engine type
E designates model year (B-81; C-82; D-83; E-84)
010000 designates sequential production number
Last edited by panz4ever; Aug 31, 2010 at 03:59 PM.
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Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: Upstate NY
I FOUND IT!!!
I finally found that frickin' VIN number.
I was able to get a guy who parting out his '83 FLT to send me pics of his frame. After blowing up the pics as big as I could without losing all definition I saw on his frame that the number was on the left side of the flat neck that reaches out towards the trees.
Not on the cylinder shaped section as I thought.
Not on the right side as it was mentioned on the service manual or on other frames.
So I ran down to my FLT and looked on the left side of the flat section of neck in the same spot at the picture. Scrutinizing it harder than ever before. First I thought I was still chit out of luck. There's nothing there. But then I caught the slightest shadow of a number. I got my flashlight and shined it from almost a flat angle and more digits started showing. The powdercoat was thick enough to almost fill in each digit but just enough of an indent to make out most of each number or letter.
That more than made my day.
I tell ya, I was really sweating this out. At times I was starting to think I got hosed. Total con job. Felt like a real d!ck coming on these message boards even admitting I did such a stupid thing as buying a bike just with the motor vin and not finding the frame's VIN.
I put a lot of trust into the seller and was really starting to question myself. Usually a good judge of people but thought maybe this time they got me.
It is a big relief. Can't even explain how happy I am now.
All I have to do is figure out how to remove the paint there in a neat way so the number is clearly visible. Perhaps I can strip the paint with gasket remover or some other chemical in the shape of a rectangle and then lighting spray paint over the same spot with Rustoleum.
I finally found that frickin' VIN number.
I was able to get a guy who parting out his '83 FLT to send me pics of his frame. After blowing up the pics as big as I could without losing all definition I saw on his frame that the number was on the left side of the flat neck that reaches out towards the trees.
Not on the cylinder shaped section as I thought.
Not on the right side as it was mentioned on the service manual or on other frames.
So I ran down to my FLT and looked on the left side of the flat section of neck in the same spot at the picture. Scrutinizing it harder than ever before. First I thought I was still chit out of luck. There's nothing there. But then I caught the slightest shadow of a number. I got my flashlight and shined it from almost a flat angle and more digits started showing. The powdercoat was thick enough to almost fill in each digit but just enough of an indent to make out most of each number or letter.
That more than made my day.
I tell ya, I was really sweating this out. At times I was starting to think I got hosed. Total con job. Felt like a real d!ck coming on these message boards even admitting I did such a stupid thing as buying a bike just with the motor vin and not finding the frame's VIN.
I put a lot of trust into the seller and was really starting to question myself. Usually a good judge of people but thought maybe this time they got me.
It is a big relief. Can't even explain how happy I am now.
All I have to do is figure out how to remove the paint there in a neat way so the number is clearly visible. Perhaps I can strip the paint with gasket remover or some other chemical in the shape of a rectangle and then lighting spray paint over the same spot with Rustoleum.
Stage I
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: valley
Help with VIN #
my guy got a 1989 shovelhead. we can't seem to figure out where the vin is. We found one on the neck of the bike, after sanding some paint off. but it is only 9 digits long with a star at the end and begining. Can anyone tell me if I have figured this out and where to find info on this bike using this number???? thank you very much!!!!