Pre 1970 shovel rego

  • jorgo
    jorgo
    1 year ago
    Hi all,

    Anyone registered a pre 70 harley in VIC?  Interested to hear your experience with the process.  
    As i understand it, Harley didnt use frame ID # or VIN pre 70, the numbers were just on the engine case.  Obvious question then, what do you register it as if it is not the original engine?  

    For example, I buy a 68 shovel frame, build it up using a motor from around that time.  Does the Bike get registered as what ever motor i find?  

    If the frame has been registered in Australia before should it have some sort of id stamped or a plate added at that time?

    Thanks for your help,

    Aaron

  • liberator
    liberator
    1 year ago
    '81 was the first year for VIN numbers,
  • flstc08
    flstc08
    1 year ago
    G'day,
    you might need to find your local veteran / vintage club to see hiw they handle it. 
  • Speeding Big Twin
    Speeding Big Twin
    1 year ago
    Aaron, H-D began numbering some (all?) frames for either 1916 or 17 and this continued thru at least 1927 but apparently the frame number wasn’t meant to match the engine number. And even though these bikes had a frame number (not VIN) they were registered by the engine number.

    Some (all?) Aermacchi H-Ds had frame numbers in the 1960s and some examples I’ve recorded did match the engine number.

    H-D Shovelhead frames first received a VIN boss as of late-1969 models although originally it was not stamped and the boss was only in the forging in readiness for 1970. But not all 1970 model Shovel frames were the same. Most had the boss and the VIN was stamped on it but some late-70 model Shovel frames did not have that boss and their VIN was stamped further forward. Also with no boss were some early-71 model Shovel frames and their VIN too was stamped further forward. But apparently the 1971 frames with no boss were all used up while VINs were still in the low-12000 range and H-D went back to the 1971 style we normally find, meaning frames with a VIN boss and the VIN stamped on it.

    Something you could ask the authorities about is if a different type of frame ID would be acceptable for registering certain Harleys in Victoria. Shovel frames for 1966–69 had an additional original component identifying number, aka security code, aka anti-theft number, aka supplemental number, stamped on the left side of the steering head. And so did some, but not all, 1970 models even though they had a VIN.

    On Panhead frames the additional ID is on 1962–65 models and it’s also possible that some, not all, 1961 models had it as well. The extra ID consists of one letter followed by either three or four numeric characters but they are only about 1/8” tall and may be hard to see especially if the frame has been powdercoated.

    A 1968 model Shovel frame could have the letter G, H or J. (The letter I was skipped in this type of frame ID.) But J could also apply to 1969 model frames. Photo below shows H4+++ on a 68 model frame. Let me know if you need more info.
    Eric



  • Speeding Big Twin
    Speeding Big Twin
    1 year ago
    Quoting liberator on 25 Apr 2023 06:40 AM

    '81 was the first year for VIN numbers,

    No it was not, as you can now see by my above post. Also please read this part of H-D Service Bulletin 596 which mentions VINs starting with the 1970 season.
    Eric