ptk46 wrote:During the 1970’s, and maybe earlier, the factory would stamp a slash across an erroneous VIN and stamp the correct VIN below it.
While this wasn’t a common practice it did happen and was ok to ship the bike as such.
At that time engine stamping was done by hand on the assembly line.
Maybe it still is.
Basically a punch and hammer operation.
The employee doing the stamping would read the silver VIN sticker mounted on the LH ( while sitting on the bike) frame tube and stamp away.
The silver VIN sticker was printed and installed at the first operation on the assembly line.
Errors were almost always due to training a new employee, stamping an inverted number, or a slip of the punch during the hammer blow.
It didn’t happen often but it did happen.
How do I know this you may wonder?
I worked at HD York from 1973 to 1986 (the best years of my life).
From 73-77 I worked on the line immediately adjacent to the stamping operation.
During that time I witnessed, maybe a dozen corrected VIN’s.
I saw at least two where the number had been slashed cancelled twice.
I was told that a few bikes had three VIN’s cancelled, but I never witnessed that.
Also every VIN cancellation I saw was on a Sportster.
I don’t recall seeing one on a Shovel.
If the judge is truly a good judge he/she will recognize this as a rare but original factory event.
It should not disqualify your bike.
Unfortunately not all judges are that knowledgeable of what went on in the factory.
Yes Mr./Mrs. Judge, HD did use blue Scotch Locks on bikes in the 1970’s.
I remember a lot of changes and substitution made to keep the line running.
Each of these changes were validated by a short term ECN or Engineering Change Notice.
The ECN was filed for future reference.
If ECN’s still exist my guess is that you won’t get near one unless your last name is Davidson.
ptk,
I read your message with great enthusiasm! - and a bit of nostalgia. I worked in factory settings in my early youth and remember ECN's quite well. I also remember the need to keep production going and how things were done quite quickly and temporarily to ensure that. Your explanation and very interesting rendition make perfect sense and (to me) prove to be very logical and accurate.
I bought this bike from the original Owner when I worked for (now) Eastern Motorcycle Parts (then, Gil's Cycle) on Long Island. I know that he bought the bike from Gene Baron's dealership; Suffolk County Harley Davidson which wasn't far from Gil's. We worked with Gene occasionally on different projects and I eventually worked for him. He was a good guy. Also, as I stated before, I worked at the other Long Island dealership (Nassau County Harley Davidson/Benny Mettana) when I un-crated and set up a new 1971 Sportster with the re-strike. Having seen this at the dealership, I didn't hesitate in buying my 1970 a couple of years later - I KNEW it was an occasional Factory-practice..
The 1970 that I bought had burned up in a kick-start fire and I bough it immediately thereafter. Aside from this bike, I know of at least two others with factory re-stamps and they were all done the same way.
I understand that the judges have an obligation to ensure that the bikes are legal, especially the VIN's and I respect that (I assist in judging knuckleheads myself). However, it's so frustrating when you've
lived this, remember it so well, and
KNOW its correct, only to be informed on this forum that the Club might not recognize the machine as legitimate!
On the brighter side, there
are Sportster judges out there that are mature, experienced, and open-minded enough to withhold these types of decisions until all information is gathered. I'm working with one such judge now on my '64 Sportster and have developed respect for him and how he goes about his process.
In the end, I'll contact the Factory and hopefully receive the verification of what I
know (and you've personally experienced) is true and correct.