Frame numbers

[Gerry Attric]

Bit more info required guys if you don't mind.

Been reading up on problems the Dyna has, and one that keeps rearing it's head is the failure of Inner Primary Bearing (IPB). General concensus seems to be that this is mainly a problem with '06 and early '07 made bikes.

I'm off to test ride a 07 Street Bob tomorrow which is in an HD dealership and I'm quite serious about buying it if all is ok. It's only done about 1500 miles so the IPB problem won't have manifested yet. What I need to know is that the '07 bike I'm looking at is actually an '07 made bike and not an '06 registered in '07.

For those not familiar with our registration system here in the UK, we have year specific number plates. Early '07 - March to Sept will show as "07" on the plate, later - Sept 07 to March 08 with show as "57"......odd system granted but it's what we have to put up with. The bottom lne is that the year shown on the plate doesn't necessarily denote the year of manufacture.

Does anyone here know how to read the VIN (vehicle identification number) or frame numbers on the Dynas in order ascertain the year the bike was made. Long shot I know - but I have to ask because I don't want to be saddled with an expensive repair bill after buying the bike........you just know the thing will blow the day after the warranty expires!

Thanks for any help you can give
Dave

[vlade]

1HD1FB4137Y0000000


Example; 1(market)HD(manuf)1(mc type)FB(model)4(engine size)
1 etall{=(introduction),reg,2=mid year, 3=california, 4= anniversary.}
3 (vin check #), 7 (model year), Y (assembly plant) 0000000(serial)

[DCLXVI]

Regarding the primary bearing, I too was concerned when I found a great deal on a very low mileage '06. I called the dealer to find out what the replacement cost would be since the owners manual states it needs replacement every 15k miles. The dealer quoted me a price of $348.00 for replacement including labor. He also told me he has been able to get HD to pay for the replacement on every '06 they have had. Taking that into consideration I still got the bike. My thoughts where that between my very good purchase price and the fact that I could probably replace it my self for the price of parts alone if HD wouldn't do it. I couldn't be happier with the bike. I've always liked the Dyna models but the changes that came from '06 on really brought the bike up to date. The '07 even has the 96 ci engine which the '06 doesn't have. If you like it, go for it. You will probably spend more on tires and accesories that the cost of a replacement every so often if you even need it. Good luck.

[Gerry Attric]

Vlade and DCLXVI, thanks for that - very much appreciated. I gather then that even if the bearing does go, that it's not too difficult to replace? I know nothing about Harleys having never owned one but I'm pretty handy with a spanner and do all my own servicing and repairs, so it would only cost me the price of the parts.

There was also an issue with engine pinion shaft and oil pump shaft runout according to one guy who has put a vid on you tube. Was that an isolated case or have there been more cases of the same? I've not been able to find any more info on that. Maybe I'm just being paranoid, I've had Hondas for the past few years and they are ultra reliable, never had any reliablity issues with them. But this will probably be the last bike I buy so i just want to make sure I get a good 'un

I'll have a chat with the dealer though as well and see what he has to say. This thing is up a t a very reasonable price already, but he's already said he can offer me a good deal (hasn't said what yet) because I have no part ex - I sold my previous bike privately . Makes me kinda suspicious why he;s so eager to sell it to me

Cheers
Dave

[SCHMIDTYS]

The vin numbers will give the model year of the bike not the build date . There is usually a tag someplace on the frame downtube that indicates the build date . You can actually buy an 07 that was built in 06 .
Haven't seen the IPB problem yet ! ? ! Are you sure that it's not the IPB SEAL they're talking about ? Seen that even in the 2010s .

[Gerry Attric]

No it's the bearing that goes on 06 built and early 07 bikes. Apparently the cases have no dowels and they shift causing bearing failure. Later 07s had dowels fitted. Not sure if any of this has any substance or not yet - just repeating what I've read in several places on the 'net.

Some mention is also made in several places of flywheel shaft runout by as much as .026". There's even a You Tube vid of one on a bench being checked with a DTI. The latter issue of the flywheel shaft bending has been met by pretty dire treatment of Dyna buyers by the dealerships. Not terribly confidence inducing stuff for a potential buyer. I'm actually considering going looking at some Jap cruisers or re-considering the 1200 Sportster again. I really don't want a bike that I have to potentially spend £££s on repairing after I've bought it!

The you tube vids in question:
YouTube - 2007 Harley Davidson 96" Twin-Cam Pinion Shaft Runout Part 2

And a quick run down of the IPB failure here:
2nd failure of my inner primary bearing - Harley Davidson Forums

Dave

[DCLXVI]

I don't know about parts prices and availability on the other side of the pond. Around here metric bike parts are usually pricy compared to the HD stuff. I'm not going to tell you that you will get a trouble free bike no matter what you choose. I do take into consideration the amount of negative posts I read about any problem with any product. People don't usually go on the Internet and gripe endlessly about how good something is. They do seem to go on and on about the bad stuff though. I've owned 3 HD's along with several metric bikes. The 2 honda's where the ones that I replaced more parts on and the prices where not cheap. My Suzuki was probably the easiest and cheapest to maintain. 17k miles in 2 years and no issues at all. The dyna has been the best HD yet. The other 2 where fat boys, '94 & '00. Both reliable but not refined compared to the new dyna. Good luck with your choice but I honestly think that if a cruiser is what you want, you won't be disappointed.