FAQ's / Harley Related
check order
Frequently Asked Questions
This page is for quick reference to answers of possible questions you may have. Use the contact link above if you need more help. This page is edited occasionally for updates and corrections.
Q. What book fits my motorcycle?
A. 1.Determine the year and model from the vehicle identification
number ( VIN # ) See Charts Below.
2.Determine the engine model from the engine number.
3.Determine what "series" your motorcycle belongs in.
Q. What is a "supplement" ?
A. A supplement only includes systems that are specific to the version
you are working on. Example : FXRP , the series is FXR but the
version is Police "P". The main body of knowledge is in the FXR book,
but the Police specific equipment is covered only in the supplement.
Basically you will need both the manual (FXR) and the supplement
(FXRP).
VIN Number Location and General Information
Disclaimer:
The bulk of knowledge contained below is very accurate, however some variations may occur. This information is gathered from a variety of sources and compiled by the editor of this website.
Section One: Big Twins
Mid 1930's - 1969Engine number is the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) and is located on left case.
No frame number.
First two numbers are the year. 48EL5719
Letters are the model. 48EL5719
G , GE - Servi Car Side valve 45 cubic inch three wheeler, 1932 to 1972
E , EL- Overhead valve 61 cubic inch
F , FL- Overhead valve 74 cubic inch
K - Side valve 45 and 55 cubic inch
U , UL- Side valve 74 or 80 cubic inch
V , VL- Side valve 74 cubic inch made prior to 1936
W , WL,- Side valve 45 cubic inch made 1934 to 1952
Last numbers are the production number. 48EL5719
1970 - 1980
Numbers on both frame and engine. The legal vin number is on the frame.
First two digits are model code. (See Below) 1A77690H4
UPDATE (3F) reported as found in 1979 Shovelhead
| 1A | FL or FLP 1200 |
| 1H | FXB - 80Sturgis (Belt) |
| 1K | FLH - 80 Shrine |
| 2A | FLH 1200 |
| 2C | FX 1200Superglide Kick start |
| 2F | FXS 1200 |
| 2H | CLE - 80 |
| 3G | FLH - 80 |
| 3H | FLH - 80 Classic |
| 5E | FXEF 1200 |
| 5H | FLHS - 80 |
| 5G | FLT |
| 6E | FXEF - 80 |
| 6G | FXE - 80 Superglide Electric Start |
| 6H | FL - 80 |
| 7G | FXS - 80 |
| 7H | FLH 1200 Police |
| 8H | FLH 1200 Shrine |
| 9D | FXE 1200 |
| 9G | FXWG - 80Wide Glide |
| 9H | FLH - 80 Police |
Third through seventh numbers are the production numbers. 1A77690H4
Last two digits are the year code as described below. 1A77690H4
| 1970 | H0 |
| 1971 | H1 |
| 1972 | H2 |
| 1973 | H3 |
| 1974 | H4 |
| 1975 | H5 |
| 1976 | H6 |
| 1977 | H7 |
| 1978 | H8 |
| 1979 | H9 |
| 1980 | J0 |
1981 and later
17 digit vin# number on frame. Abbreviated vin# on engine.
Example ,frame # =1HD1BFK11BY127956. Engine # would be BFKB117956.
1st digit >1< Made in USA 1HD1BFK11BY127956
2nd/3rd >HD< Harley Davidson 1HD1BFK11BY127956
4th digit >1< Heavy Weight (4=Light Weight,8=Side Car) 1HD1BFK11BY127956
5th/6th Model Designation (See Below) 1HD1BFK11BY127956
| AA | FLH - 80 |
| AB | FLHP 80 Police Chain |
| AC | FLH - 80 Shrine Chain |
| AE | 1981 FLT |
| AD | FLH Classic |
| AF | 1981 FLTC |
| AG | FLH Classic w/ Side Car |
| AH | FLHP - 80 Police Belt Deluxe |
| AJ | FLH 80 Heritage |
| AK | FLHS - 80 |
| AL | FLH - 80 Shrine Belt |
| BA | FXE - 80 Superglide Electric Start |
| BB | FXEF - 80 Fatbob |
| BC | FXS - 80Low Rider |
| BD | FXB - 80 Sturgis (Belt) |
| BE | FXWG - 80 |
| BF | FXSB - 80 |
| BH | FXST Softail Standard |
| BG | FXDG - 80 |
| BJ | FLSTC Heritage Classic |
| BK | FXSTC Softail Custom |
| BL | FXSTS Springer Softail |
| BM | FLSTF Fat Boy |
| BN | FLSTN Nostalgia |
| BP | FXSTSB BadBoy |
| BR | FLSTS Heritage Springer Softail |
| BS | FXSTD Softail Deuce |
| BT | FXSTB Night Train |
| DA | FLT 82 - 83 Rubber Mount Dresser |
| DB | FLTC Rubber Mount Dresser Classic |
| DC | FLHT Electra Glide Standard |
| DD | FLHTC |
| DE | FLHTC W/sidecar |
| DF | FLHTP Police Fairing |
| DG | FLHTC Shrine |
| DH | FLTC W/sidecar |
| DJ | FLHTC 1986 up |
| DK | FLTC Shrine |
| DM | FLTCU Ultra |
| DN | FLTCU Ultra w/ Side Car |
| DP | FLHTCU Ultra Classic |
| DR | FLHTCU Ultra Classic w/ Side Car |
| DS | FLTCU Ultra Shrine |
| DT | FLHTCU Ultra Shrine |
| EA | FXR Rubber Mount Super Glide |
| EB | FXRS FXR Sport |
| EC | FXRT FXR Touring |
| ED | FXRP Police windshield |
| EE | FXRDG |
| EF | FXRP Police Fairing |
| EG | FXRS-SP Low Rider Sport Edition |
| EH | FXRD Disc Glide |
| EJ | FXRC |
| EK | FXRP Police C.H.P. California Highway Patrol |
| EL | FXLR Low Rider |
| EM | FXR Conv |
| FA | FLHS Electra Glide Sport |
| FB | FLHR-I Road King Injected |
| FC | FLHTCU-I Ultra Classic Injected |
| FD | FLHR Road King |
| FE | FLTCU-I |
| FF | FLHTC-I Injected |
| FG | FLHTCU-I with/SideCar Ultra Classic Electra Glide |
| FH | FLHP-I Police |
| FJ | FLHP Police |
| FL | FLHTCU-I Shrine Ultra Classic Electra Glide |
| FM | FLHTP-I Police |
| FN | FLHPE (Japan) |
| FP | FLTR Road Glide |
| FR | FLHRC-I Road King Classic |
| FS | FLTR-I Road Glide EFI |
| FT | FLHPE-I (California) |
| GA | FXDB-D Daytona |
| GB | FXDB-S Sturgis |
| GC | FXDC |
| GD | FXDL Dyna Low Rider |
| GE | FXDWG Dyna Wide Glide |
| GG | FXDS Con Dyna Convertible |
| GH | FXD Dyna Super Glide |
| GX | TLE |
| HX | RLE |
| KX | TLE Ultra |
| SA | CLE w/FLH |
| SD | CLE w/FLH? |
| SE | CLE |
| SF | TLEw/FLTC/FLHTC |
| SG | TLE Separate (Police?) |
| SH | CLE Purchased w/FLHX |
7th digit >K< Engine Type K=1340 Shovelhead 1HD1BFK11BY127956
( H=1000 Ironhead XL, L=1340 Evolution, M=883 Evo XL, N=1100 Evo XL, P=1200 Evo XL ,V = TwinCam 88 Carbureted ,W - Twin Cam 88 EFI)
8th digit >1< Introduction Date 1HD1BFK11BY127956
(1=regular, 2= mid-year January, 3=California Special,4=Daytona March)
9th digit >1< called "check digit" 1HD1BFK11BY127956
10th digit is year code (See Below) 1HD1BFK11BY127956
| 1981 | B |
| 1982 | C |
| 1983 | D |
| 1984 | E |
| 1985 | F |
| 1986 | G |
| 1987 | H |
| 1988 | J |
| 1989 | K |
| 1990 | L |
| 1991 | M |
| 1992 | N |
| 1993 | P |
| 1994 | R |
| 1995 | S |
| 1996 | T |
| 1997 | V |
| 1998 | W |
| 1999 | X |
| 2000 | Y |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 5 |
11th digit is the place of manufacture 1HD1BFK12BY127956
| Y | York, Pa. |
| T | Tomahawk, Wi. |
| K | Kansas City, Mo. |
| J | Milwaukee, Wi. |
Last 6 digits are production numbers
Capital Drive Numbers
|
Crankcase Identification Numbers stamped at Capitol Drive facility (Milwaukee), used to identify engine and track production changes. The numbers are located on both left and right crankcase halves. |
Section Two: Sportster
Year ,Engine, Location Codes same as above Big Twin
Model Codes
1970 - 1980 1st/2nd digit 4E12345H1
| 2G | XLT |
| 3A | XL / XLH |
| 4A | XLCH |
| 4D | XLA |
| 4E | XLS |
| 7F | XLCR |
1981 - 1985 5th/6th digit 1HD1CDHY15B186492
| CA | XLH |
| CB | XLS |
| CC | XLX |
| CD | XR1000 |
1986 - 1996 5th/6th/7th digit 1HD1CAN15GY185636
| CAM | XLH 883 / Deluxe |
| CAN | XLH1100 |
| CEM | XLH Hugger |
| CFM | XLH 883 / Deluxe |
| CAP | XLH 1200 |
| CGP | 1200 Custom |
| CHP | 1200 Sport |
