early or late '77 FLH?

Been trying to find if my shovel motor is an EARLY or LATE '77? Need to know to select the correct replacement cam. Thanks for any help, boys.

I know about the numbers but not able to find exactly when the motor was manufactured and whether it's an early or late model FLH 1200. I've had my cam looked at and it appears I may have to get another one. Looking at Andrews cams, but there are a dozen to choose from.

I sold the Shovel ...Manual and Parts book went with it...
Here's a link that may help you find build date...

http://www.harleys.de/engine.html

Thanks, Lucifer. All those bikes are '81 and newer. Still searching . . . and sorry to hear to you sold your shovel. There's nothing in my service manual that tells how to identify early from late '77s.
Trying the shovelhead forum today.

the only difference is the gear,if your stock gear has a groove cut in the face of it(and the breather will also have a groove cut in it too),its late model (you can get any year & press your gear on the new cam,i recommend doing this anyway to keep the cam/pinion/breather gears matched

This is all I could find...77 flh engine mfg dates...

http://www.caimag.com/forum/showthread.php?13990-Late-70-s-FLH-Belly-Numbers

Here is a bonus...

http://shovelhead.us/pics/history/

The #1=1200 shovel head... I think they were all 1340's in '81...

eg. crankcase number 0177306055 would be a 1200cc shovel made in 1977 on Nov2 and it was the 55th engine that day.... The way I read it anyway...Are there crank case numbers on the left case-outside,lower front?? Post 'em if you got 'em. lol

I'm not sure though if a 1200cc shovel would start with 10 or 01 though...

There ya go Josh...You can save a few bucks too,if there are cams for sale without the gear...

The bottom picture clearly shows I have an early '77 motor . . . closeup pic shows the uneven wear on the cam shaft.

if your motor is stock compression,get a Andrews 1 or 2 grind.i can get you a good deal on a cam.pm me

OK.

I will not attempt to do that . . . but will try to get someone else to do it with the proper machinery. I will see if I can interest Kirby to do it, since I'm getting the cam from him.

The other day I installed the button kill switch. I ran the wires inside the bars & backbone. It works very well. Started the scooter up, pushed the button & the motor quit. Just like downtown. Here's how it looks on the handlebars.

that's the best thing to do,send your old cam & ill switch the gears when the new one comes in

OK. I replied to your PM and thanks.