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I picked up what looks like a sportster engine. Debating on rebuilding or offering it up for parts. Trouble is, the serial number doesn't really match what I've read online and I'm not sure if it's original or aftermarket or something else.
The person who gave it to me thought it was from the 70's.
Any help would be appreciated. Let me know if I can give you more info.
My guess is that the crankcases are not original Harley. Look at the way the stamp marks are not in a straight line, also there are double-stamps of some, eg the O, H and 5. Also the casting finish doesn't look factory, so they are quite probably aftermarket cases. On the other hand the number is very long for it to be one added by the maker, so a bit of a mystery how it came about.
Checking pictures on the internet suggests that number location dates the engine to pre-1969, aided by those fins. The prefix OH doesn't give us any help, if we are to believe the on-line H-D number websites.
Now this is a guess on my part, but is it possible that number has been issued by, say, an Ohio vehicle license department, to indicate a new engine? Perhaps issued in 1981? We need an expert on these things!
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Identifying Engine and Serial Number
