HarleyTechTalk

My 1965 big twin=
Notice the 6 and the 5

[attachment removed after 60 days by system]

1970 -1980 had different style (Posident) stamps than pre '70.

Quote from: tomcat64 on July 18, 2012, 04:05:14 PM

Quote from: Speeding Big Twin on July 19, 2012, 04:34:20 AM

Interestingly if you look at the 6's an 9's you will see they are reversed in the different pictures.  I am guessing the training on what a 6 is and what a 9 is was lacking back in the day.

Quote from: Speeding Big Twin on July 19, 2012, 09:52:25 AM

Quote from: Jaycee1964 on July 19, 2012, 05:14:06 AM
I have a 49 WL and the only suspisious charictor to me is the "9".  My 9 is a dupe of the 6.  His are totally diff. stamps.  Other than that the rest look cool.  Compare to the frame #.  They prolly woulda stamped it @ the same time.  If the 9 on the frame is hooked your prolly ok.

Jaycee1964, are you comparing your 49 WL serial number with the 1973 VIN? If so, can you please explain why. If your 49 WL serial number is authentic then its 4 and 9 will not be the same types as the 4 and 9 in that 73 VIN. Also, if the sequence portion of your WL serial number contains a 1, 3, 5 and/or 6 then the same thing applies, meaning that none of those numbers will be the same style as the 1, 3, 5 and/or 6 in that 73 VIN. So why are you comparing your 49 WL characters with the characters in that 73 VIN?
Eric

out of my book what fits 36 through 83

out of my book what fits 36 through 83,,, a G an a GL are the same 45 trike

Maddog, thanks for replying. It sounds like you're referring to What Fits What. I bought one ages ago but I'm not sure what edition it is because the covers are long gone and a few pages are missing so I haven't found mention in it of a GL. And the book has some problems regarding accuracy so even though yours may mention a GL I'm not convinced it was made.

In my 2007 catalogue from Yesteryear Motorcycles here in Australia I found mention of a G, GA, GD, GDT, GE, GL and a GT. But I don't know if a GT was made either. 

I checked books I have from H-D: 1930 thru 1949 Models Operation, Maintenance, Specifications; Parts Listings for Harley-Davidson Motorcycles 1930-1949; Operation, Maintenance, Parts Listings & Specifications For 1950 thru 1957; and The Legend Begins. I also checked two of my other books: Inside Harley-Davidson 1903-1945 by Jerry Hatfield; and How to Restore Your Harley-Davidson by Bruce Palmer.

In the books by H-D, Hatfield and Palmer the only mention I found of G-series that were Servi-Cars were the G, GA, GD, GDT and GE. I found no mention of a GL (or GT). The Legend Begins even contains season order blanks for several relevant years but I didn't find anything on them about a GL (or GT). In the abovementioned 1930 thru 1949 specs book I found a Model GC but that was a single-cylinder engine built for the Worthington Mower Co.

The H-D, Hatfield and Palmer books aren't error-free but I would have thought that at least one of them would mention a GL if such a machine had been made so at this stage I am not convinced that a GL (and a GT) were manufactured.

And I noticed you quoted me quoting Jaycee1964. Why did you quote me quoting him?
Eric

Quote from: HOGMIKE on July 20, 2012, 11:30:00 AM
My 1965 big twin=
Notice the 6 and the 5

HOGMIKE, I don't see why you posted the 65 photo. Are you trying to suggest that the 6 and 5 in the 73 VIN should be the same as your 6 and 5? Your 6 and 5 are not like the styles used by H-D for a 73 Servi-Car VIN. In fact, your 6 isn't even the same type as the usual straight-back 6/9 used in the year portion of a 1969 Big Twin serial number.
Eric

Quote from: springer- on July 20, 2012, 12:31:14 PM
Interestingly if you look at the 6's an 9's you will see they are reversed in the different pictures.  I am guessing the training on what a 6 is and what a 9 is was lacking back in the day.

springer-, are you saying H-D did not follow a pattern? 
Eric