harleyKmodel

Hi all, curious about this date code and was hoping for the opinion of the group. Frame appears to be an early XLCH stamped "Eo" - most of the date codes I have seen have the number for the year as the same size as the letter. Could this be a mis-stamped "8"? a "0"?

It has a sleeved rear tank mount hole, but I can't tell if it has the hole for the speedo clamp. Definietely not a '66.

Your thoughts would be appreciated!

Hi Simon,
I agree with you. If the neck casting lacks the small threaded hole for the speedo clamp and the backbone has the sleeved rear tank mount hole, it must be a 58XLCH frame. Your theory that the 8 was mis-stamped makes sense. You can see in the D9 frame date code I have posted below that the 9 stamp is not evenly stamped. The bottom of the 9 is light to the point where it almost looks like a small 0. It is hard to see the date code in the picture you posted.

A "68" would have lunchbox top mount as well as large hole top motor mount.

If it has the small home top motor mount it will be pre 66.

Check for regulator mount holes.

Thanks guys, I'm asking about the speedo clamp hole at the moment and will keep the group posted if I hear back.

Hi Simon,
I guess I'm not clear on what you're asking about. The speedo clamp threaded hole started in 59 on the frames. My previous post of the right side of a neck casting shows it. What is it you are looking for information on? If your frame lacks that hole than the only thing I can believe it is, is a 58XLCH frame. What am I missing here?
JerryR

Don’t’59-60 frames also have the big date tag thing on the right side of the neck? I think i have a few bikes in them.

JerrryR wrote:Hi Simon,
I guess I'm not clear on what you're asking about. The speedo clamp threaded hole started in 59 on the frames. My previous post of the right side of a neck casting shows it. What is it you are looking for information on? If your frame lacks that hole than the only thing I can believe it is, is a 58XLCH frame. What am I missing here?
JerryR

Hi Jerry, I should have been clearer - I'm asking the owner of the frame about the speedo clamp hole, not questioning your hypothesis, which aligns with mine!

Hi Grant,
I call the code on the right side of the neck casting of some 59-60 XLHs & XLCHs a "Birthmark". They all don't have it. I have a nice 59H frame without the birthmark and have seen several others without it. Have you ever made any sense of the code?

I don’t know much about it, except it looks like a huge version of harley’s date tag on cast items. The original paint ‘59 CH i just got has it, my ‘60 CH, and the ugly XLR i bought at Wauseon, and coincidentally my ‘61 XLR project came with one so i have at least 4 with the birthmark. Unfortunately everything is in storage with ky long overdue move…

All Sportster XLRTTs from 1958 through 1969 had -52R frames with -57R steering head castings.
One of the 1970 Sportster XLRTTs had a -52R frame while a second one had a -70R frame.