Harley Davidson Engine Identification

The year of a Harley engine can be determined by looking at the VIN printed on the engine case.
Harley davidson engine identification. Harley-Davidson used as many as four Big-Twin engines between 1929 and 1968 ranging from the Flathead Knucklehead Panhead and Shovelhead engines. The production date range was from 191979 to 271979. For 883cc Sportsters.
A Harley-Davidsons engine number gives a great deal of information about the bike. HD Harley Davidson 1 Weight Class 1 Heavyweight 4 Lightweight 8 Sidecar AA Model Designation K Engine Displacement K 1340 Shovelhead. There was no separate VIN engraved on the frame.
CN XL-883 Standard like my 2007 Harley-Davidson Sportster CP XL-883C Custom typically has a solid rear rim and wire spokes on the front rim CJ XL-883C Custom CR XL-883L Low typically has spoked rims front and rear CK XL-883R CS XL-883R which would have 2-into-1 exhaust mag rims and dual front disk brakes CMM. As always the legal title must match the VIN number on the frame. 2017 sees the launch of Harley-Davidsons new Milwaukee-Eight engine so called due to its single-cam-actuated eight valves.
Harley-Davidson engines are easy to identify and help categorize the motorcycle. 1HD1AAK11BYO13478 The frame number is broken down like this. 1 Made in USA 2nd and 3rd digits.
This should only be used as a guide only. If the title and frame VIN reads 1HD1ELK12BZ123456 the engine case number should read something like ELKB123456. This list is unofficial and is not gospel only what I have been able to cross in various manuals web sites and dealerships.
The check number is used to detect invalid VINs. Because engines were sometimes swapped out in these older bikes its not unusual to find Harley-Davidson motorcycles with engine. Every Harley Davidson car has a unique identifier code called a VIN.