I have scraped the paint off the engine mount because I could not see the VIN number on my 66 Spit and can't find anything. The first part is clearly stamped A65S but underneath this on the frame doesn't seem to have any numbers at all.
Is it likely to be a replacement frame as there seems to be no sign of numbers being removed at all? I know that even now it is still possible to buy new factory NOS matchless frames with no numbers on them but were these available for BSA's
BSA supplied unstamped frames to dealers to replace damaged unrepairable ones. The dealer was supposed to stampe the new with the old number.
Providing them unstamped meant that the dealer could keep just one in stock to service the 6 different model prefixes in the 1966 range.
The 1966 frame with the as cast frame engine mounting lug (not with a flat machined surface as with the later models) presents and awkward surface to stamp on and sometime the numbers are quite faint.
I too have a bike with a new unstamped frame. The engine matches the V5 from new, so I am confident nothing is amiss. In theory can we stamp the new frame with the number of the damaged frame, some people state that we can't and the bike has to be re-registered. ?? I would be quite happy to have mine stamped with the old number. I borrowed a set of stamps from an old school rocker and tested them on a scrap of metal. Hardly marked it with a club hammer, so I am not confident to go near my frame with the stamps. What is the answer please. Stay safe.
when the online mot s started i took a suzuki for an mot with a windjammer fairing covering the frame number. they wouldnt mot the bike without seeing the frame number stamping but they were convinced some bikes had two frame stampings with frame numbers. i had to remove the fairing in the end for the mot . however next year i showed the mot lads where i found the second stamping just under the seat. they were very happy and proved correct. ;) ;)
the thing with "modern" Japanese bikes is that they have the frames stamped and normally a aluminium plate or ally effect sticker on them, normally under the seat or on the rear mudguard.
Ive known Bikes that have been involved in accidents where new frames have been issued for rebuilds , and DVLA have allowed the new frame to be stamped up with the original frame number as long as the headstock carrying the old number is cut off and sent to them for disposal, to prevent duplication. maybe this was done but no one got around to stamping the new frame up.
I also know my tester checks the last 6 digits, but if I cant see them before taking in , I take either the owners V5c or the previous MOT certificate as proof and he takes that. saves time and scraping off paint. My recent chop rebuild has sparkle effect paint recently done , the frame number has partially dissapeared, to counter this and prevent the tester scraping (yes , it will go through a test even though exempt as 1966), the new paint. I have a dymo label printed just above the partial number. Oh, and will take a V5 or mot test as proof, but he does know the previous owner aswell, although not exactly as he last saw it.
:) :) :)
Stamp it. But you have to seriously hit the stamp to get an impression first time-----or so I'm told
Mike 8) 8) 8) 8)
I have an MOT on one of my bikes stating " No frame number found ". It still passed ?
I purchased a brand new Gas Gas 250 Pampera in 2004 and there was no frame number registered in the log book. I kept this bike for about 12 years and it never had a problem when liable for MOT! Eventually I discovered the number when I had to partially strip the engine following a complete immersion (Whilst competing in an enduro) The silencer was obstructing the view. Strange as I purchased it from an official distributor (in Stroud).
I think I can just make out something but its really faint when I use a good torch on it. I'll need to try and decode it to see if anything that I might be able to make out matches the V5 and the engine. Not particularly worried as the V5 engine number matches the frame and the engine number is correct.
I eventually found it, a bit further round the frame than I had expected but the correct number is there. If I overpaint it there is no way it can be fund but at least I know it is there and the original frame, I think I will leave it as is rather than restamp.
The only thing I did find is that the V5 is wrong in that the A65S is marked as a A655 for both the engine and frame due to a transcription error sometime in the past.
This is far more common that I would have hoped as it is the third of my vehicles that has an incorrect V5, all obvious transcription errors and always a letter stated as a number.