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MiscRes: HD Casting Numbers Explained

On some parts you'll find numbers / letters / symbols or a combination of these that have been cast into it.
And other parts have no casting numbers / symbols / markings at all.
HOWEVER, IF A PART HAS A NUMBER CAST INTO IT, THAT NUMBER IS NOT A PART NUMBER.
Some of them will look like a part number since they have the same -xx year code on the end as part#s in the catalogs do.

HD uses outside vendors (suppliers or manufacturers) to build many parts found on HD models.
The vendor may have been the one to originally cast or stamp those numbers in the part.
And HD may add their own stampings also before the part is fitted to a motorcycle.
So the casting or stamped numbers / letters / symbols etc. found in a part will denote many things other than part numbers.

Some parts will be identical when they are originally made by the vendor or whoever.
Then, one step toward the part's final production state may be adding a mounting hole for one model.
But another model may not require one or may require the hole drilled in a different location.
Some parts are different in either having a chamfer or not. Some are only different in color or texture.
These will have the same casting numbers but due to other changes made before final production, each may have different part numbers.
Likewise, different part numbers (intended for different makes or models) may actually have the same casting number.

Other than Ebay or other online sellers without access to the actual part number, you will not find the casting number in a parts catalog or listing for sale.

Casting number -vs- Part number examples

AGAIN, CASTING NUMBERS ARE NOT PART NUMBERS.

  • 1952-1980 K, XL cam covers used casting number (25202) with a dash number on the end but part the numbers changed app. 20 times.
    The dash number on the end changed only 8 times.
    57-62 had a (-52A) casting number and were part number (25200-57). 63-67 also had a (-52A), made from different material and were the part number (25200-63).
    So they had the same casting number but separate part numbers. Reference Gearcase / Cam Cover
  • Heads have casting numbers that will confuse you especially if you have a 2006 motor with (-02) head castings.
  • 1986-Present rocker boxes have casting numbers that remain the same although the part number changes many times.
    The casting numbers changed very little but the part numbers were numerous. Reference Rocker Box Part Numbers

How you can use casting numbers

Casting can SOMETIMES be used to identify years / models used on. The numbers generally have to be deduced however.
Many castings numbers have been cyphered out in the Sportsterpedia in the respective part sections.
Links to that information in the Sportsterpedia are provided on the bottom of the examples below.

  • Casting numbers can be used to identify SOME parts or year models used on if you can decode the numbers and this fits your criteria.
    There are many parts in the Sportsterpedia where casting numbers are known and listed in their respective sections.
    However, building a data base of casting numbers is not the only one way to decode them depending on what you are needing to know.
    Some numbers, letters, symbols are cast in a part in several different places around the part.
    A circle sometimes has 2 numbers in the middle representing the year the part was made.
    And some circles also include month and day notations to further identify the point of manufacture.
  • 1957-1969 models use casting numbers to identify certain parts of the frame for year / model ID.
    57-69 models did not have a VIN number stamped in the frame. A serial number was stamped into the motor.
    The only way to ID what year and model frame you have is to find and decode the casting numbers and known frame features.
    Reference Ironhead Frame Identification
  • Numbers were cast or stamped into early carburetors to identify type, body, motorcycle used for and modifications done to them.
    Reference Links from the main IH Carburetor Page




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