by DaveC » Mon Dec 28, 2015 12:12 pm
Joe,
As I recall you have a very late 69XLH. In all likelihood the factory ran out of "early" 67 to 69 electric start right cases and substituted a 70 right case (which added the DoD compliant VIN pad) in the tool room. I have a very early all original 71 XLCH which has the 70 right case (VIN pad between the #3 and #4 cylinders) which leaves me to believe that they had more 70 right cases than motors and used them up as opposed to discarding them. Over the years (49 to be exact) I have seen lots examples of this, like the long front fender strut reinforcements (up to 58) on early 59XLCH's, a 69 front fender (reflector holes) on a very late 68 XLCH, and a Big Twin carb (Tillotsen HD2) on my unmolested 71 XLCH. I have two different shift levers on my 58XLCH's, one a -52A and one a -58. The -52A is on a bike that is about 200 VIN numbers earlier that the later. So lots of running changes based on available parts inventories are out there. Bolt markings are another excellent example. That's what gets us picking the fly poop out of the pepper.
Dave