When you have your first Harley Davidson, you want to keep the motorcycle in the best condition possible. Thus, the maintenance of the motorcycle becomes important.
Maintaining the engine, wheelbase, tire, brakes, and seat will maximize its performance. However, one of the important parts of maintaining Harley Davidson is identifying its engine number and knowing its meaning.
Usually, the engine number of your Harley motorcycle will be on the left block of the engine and slightly below the cylinder. It is usually ten characters long and inscribed using a dot-matrix system.
The engine number location and its identification will be useful to maintain its engine better. It is also helpful for yearly services. Nonetheless, the engine number identification is linked with the VIN of your Harley motorbike. So, we will also discuss where do I find the Harley Davidson engine number.
Where Do I Find The Harley Davidson Engine Number – Explained
If you want to find the engine number on your Harley Davidson motorcycle, you’re in the right place. The engine number is a unique identifier that can help you with maintenance, registration, and other important paperwork. On most Harley Davidson motorcycles, the engine number can be found on the left side of the engine case, near the base of the cylinder.
It is typically engraved or stamped onto the metal surface. If you’re having trouble locating it, refer to your owner’s manual or consult a Harley Davidson dealership for assistance. Remember always to double-check the accuracy of the engine number when recording it for any official purposes. You may follow these tips to find the location.
- Keep your Harley in idle mode. Ensure it is on a firm base to avoid falling off or tumble.
- Now, you need to bend to go close to the engine. You can sit comfortably if bending and finding the engine housing is hard.
- After that, look closely at the engine housing. If dirt and residue have made the engine housing too dirty to look at the engine number, you need to wipe it off properly.
- Find a piece of clean cloth and use it to wipe off the dirt and residues from the engine housing. Now, you can easily look at the engine number.
- The engine number should be stamped on the left side of your Harley’s engine block and at its lower cylinder section. So, observe the suggested location to find the engine number.
- The dot-matrix system will usually stamp the Harley Davidson engine number. It helps you locate and find the engine number with ease. Scroll down to get details on where do I find the Harley Davidson engine number.
The location Of The Engine Number On Different Harley Davidson Models
If you’re wondering where to find the engine number on your Harley Davidson, the location can vary depending on the Harley VIN Model. Consult your owner’s manual or contact a Harley Davidson dealer if you’re having trouble locating the engine number of your specific model. They will be able to provide you with accurate information and assistance. Here are some common locations to check:
- Softail And Dyna Models: You can typically find the engine number on the right side of the engine, near the front or middle of the cylinder.
- Sportster Models: Look for the engine number on the left side of the engine, near the rear cylinder.
- Touring Models: On Touring bikes, you can usually find the engine number on the left side of the engine, towards the front or middle of the cylinder.
Where To Find The Engine Number On A Harley Davidson Sportster
If you’re wondering where to find the engine number on a Harley Davidson Sportster, you’re in the right place. The engine number can typically be found on the left side of the engine case, just below the cylinder barrel. It is usually stamped or engraved onto the metal surface and combines letters and numbers.
If you’re having trouble locating it, refer to your owner’s manual or consult with a Harley Davidson dealership for assistance. Remember, the engine number is an important identifier for your motorcycle and may be required for registration and insurance purposes.
Locating The Engine Number On A Harley Davidson Touring Bike
Locating the engine number on a Harley Davidson Touring bike is relatively straightforward. On most models, you can find the engine number stamped on the top of the engine case near the rear cylinder. You may need to remove any accessories or covers obstructing your view to access it.
The engine number is typically a combination of letters and numbers and is unique to each motorcycle. If you are having trouble locating the engine number, consult your owner’s manual or contact a Harley Davidson dealership for assistance.
Finding The Engine Number On A Harley Davidson Dyna Model
Finding the engine number on a Harley Davidson Dyna model can be tricky, but you can locate it quickly with a little know-how. On most Dyna model designations, the engine number can be found on the left side of the engine case, just below the cylinder fins.
It is usually engraved or stamped into the metal and maybe a combination of letters and numbers. If you’re having trouble locating it, refer to your owner’s manual or consult a Harley Davidson dealership for assistance. It’s important to have your engine number handy for registration purposes and to ensure proper motorcycle identification.
Why Is The Harley Davidson Engine Number Important?
The Harley Davidson engine number is an important piece of information for several reasons. First and foremost, it serves as a unique identifier for your motorcycle’s engine. This can be crucial regarding registering or insuring your bike models and any repairs or maintenance that may be needed.
Additionally, the engine number can provide valuable information about the origin and specifications of your Harley Davidson. It can help determine the year of manufacture, the model code, and any specific features or modifications that may have been made. Knowing the engine number can provide important details about your Harley Davidson’s history and characteristics, whether you’re a proud owner or a potential buyer.
The Engine Number Of Your Harley Davidson Is Ten Characters Long
You may also identify the engine number from the VIN of your Harley Davidson. The VIN is another 17-character-long unique identification number for your Harley. The “VIN” stands for Vehicle Identification Number and is unique to every Harley motorcycle.
It lets you know the engine model, motorcycle model, manufacturing year, and finally, where the motorcycle was made. At first glance, breaking down the VIN can be a great challenge. So, we will discuss it in the following steps with easy explanations.
- The 5th and 6th characters of the VIN refer to the model of your Harley-Davidson. It includes DJ, AA, BA, BB, etc., numbers. Also, these two characters are unique to the specific odd model, referring to their manufacturing method.
- Next is the 7th character of the VIN of your Harley. It indicates the engine type of your motorcycle. Some of the characters may include L, K, etc.
- The 10th character refers to the model year of your Harley motorcycle. Yes, you can know the production year of your motorcycle with the 10th character.
- From the 12th to 17thcharacter of the VIN refers to the serial number of your motorcycle.
Is The Vin And Engine Number The Same For Harley Davidson?
No, the engine number and VIN aren’t the same for Harley Davidson. The same is true for any motorcycle brand and type. A few key differences exist between your motorcycle’s engine number and VIN.
- The engine number will be on the engine. You may find it at the engine’s left, right, bottom, or top. On the contrary, you will find the VIN on multiple locations of your motorcycle. It may even be on the engine.
- The engine number is usually 9 to 10 characters long. On the other hand, the VIN is almost always 17 characters long. The characters include numbers and letters, with the letters having specific meanings. It includes model number, manufacturing year, and manufacturing location mainly.
You may see the following YouTube video to quickly locate and read the VIN and engine number. Use the engine and VIN to find the manufacturing year of Harley Davidson.
When you have found the VIN and engine number of your Harley Davidson, you can quickly find its year of manufacturing. It will be useful if you plan to get a used and comparatively older model of the motorcycle company. The engine pad, Engine Codes Chart, and correct engine provide valuable information about the Harley Davidson, including the engine code, displacement, and engine VIN.
1960s Engine Models
For engines and motorcycles built before the 1970s, the first two numbers of the VIN will be the actual production year of the motorcycle. These two VINs will be even numbers for the even-numbered year, and the numbers will be odd for odd years. For engines made after 1969, the first two VIN letters won’t correspond.
1970 To 1980 Engine Models
The Haley bikes built from 1970 to 1980 have a different way of showing their production year. In these bikes, the last two characters of the VIN refer to the manufacturing year. However, unlike the models built before 1970, these models have a different VIN reference.
The second last letter will be “H” or “J” before the last check digit. The letter “H” refers to the motorcycles from 1970 to 1979. The bike was made in 1980. Also, the last letter after “H” refers to the actual manufacturing year. For instance, “H6” refers to 1976, the production year.
The 1980s To 1990s Engine Models
If you’re looking to find the engine number on a Harley Davidson from the 1980s to 1990s, you’re in luck. You can typically find the engine number on the right side of the engine case, just below the cylinder base. Usually, people engrave or stamp it into the metal and identify it by combining letters and numbers.
Some previous models may also have a separate VIN (Vehicle identification label Number) plate located on the digit frame, which can provide additional information about the motorcycle. It usually starts with the letter “B,” which refers to 1981 as the production year.
Letter in the VIN (Last character) | Harley Davidson’s Manufacturing Year |
B | 1981 |
C | 1982 |
D | 1983 |
E | 1984 |
F | 1985 |
G | 1986 |
H | 1987 |
I | 1988 |
J | 1989 |
K | 1990 |
Engines Built After The 2000s
Since 2001, Harley Davidson has established a more unified system of their VIN for motorcycles. It would be best to look at the 10th digit of your 17-character-long VIN. For instance, if the 10th digit of the VIN is “7”, it means the bike was manufactured in 2007.
Also, the corresponding letter will determine the manufacturing plant of your motorcycle. These letters are “J,” “T,” “Y,” and “K.” These letters refer to the following manufacturing assembly plant.
- J refers to the Milwaukee manufacturing plant.
- K indicates the Kansas City plant for production.
- Y means the plant is in New York.
- Finally, T will refer to the Tomahawk plant.
Tips For Maintaining And Protecting Your Harley Davidson Engine Number
Maintaining and protecting your Harley Davidson engine number is important for several reasons. It can help with identification in case of theft or if you need to provide information for insurance purposes. Here are some tips for finding and preserving your Harley Davidson engine number:
- Locate The Engine Number: The engine number on a Harley Davidson motorcycle is typically on the left side of the engine, near the bottom. It may be engraved or stamped into the metal.
- Take A Clear Photo: Once you have found the engine number, take a clear and legible photo. People can easily access this as a visual record.
- Store The Photo Securely: Keep a digital copy of the photo in a secure location, such as on a password-protected computer or cloud storage service. You can also print out a physical copy and store it in a safe place.
- Protect Against Tampering: Consider using a clear protective coating, such as clear nail polish or an anti-tamper label, to prevent the engine number from being altered or removed.
- Regularly Check For Damage: Periodically inspect the engine number of your Harley Davidson to ensure that you have not scratched, damaged, or tampered with it. If you notice any issues, take immediate action to address them.
By following these tips, you can help maintain the integrity of your Harley Davidson engine number and protect it from potential harm or loss.
Conclusion
Finding the engine number on a Harley Davidson motorcycle is essential for various purposes, including maintenance, registration, and documentation. While it may initially seem daunting, locating the engine number is quite simple. You can easily locate the engine number on your Harley Davidson motorcycle by referring to the information and following the provided instructions on where do I find the Harley Davidson engine number.
Remember that having accurate information about your engine number is crucial for ensuring proper identification and compliance with legal requirements. By finding and documenting your engine number, you can ensure accurate identification and maintain the authenticity of your Harley Davidson motorcycle.
FAQ’s
Where Is The Engine Number On Harley?
You can typically find the engine number on a Harley on the left side of the engine, near the base of the cylinder. Manufacturers often engrave or stamp it onto the engine casing.
Where Is Engine Number On Motorcycle?
A motorcycle’s engine number can typically be engraved or stamped on the engine block or the side of the engine casing. It is usually located near the base of the cylinder or on the engine’s crankcase.
Where Is The Engine Id Number?
The engine ID number is typically located on the engine block, usually on the side or front of the engine Displacement. However, the specific location can vary depending on the make and model of the vehicle.
What Is An Engine Number?
We assign a unique identification code to a specific engine, known as an engine number. It serves as a way to track and differentiate individual engines, especially in the automotive industry.
How Many Numbers Is An Engine Serial Number?
The number of digits in an engine serial number can vary depending on the manufacturer and model of the engine. It can range from a few digits to several digits.
I have a Harley Davidson motor trying to find more info on it the number on the motor is cem3409180
*BELF011050* also 1585159043 is on the engine. I am sure that it is an EVO. What year, what CC, what CI. I have no clue. I need to know what I have before starting to purchase parts. Can someone please help me to learn what I have? It would be greatly appreciated.
*BELF011050* and 1585159043 are stamped on the engine. I know that it is an EVO Harley Davidson. Other than that I know nothing. I need to know what I have before I start to order parts and continue my build. Can anyone please let me know what I have? Thank you.