engine tags

[Tommie]

how do you tell dates by reading the engine serial tag

 

[capguncowboy]

First digit of the serial is the last digit if the year. Then look at the shroud design to designate the rest

 

[Tommie]

Ok can you tell me what this engine date is

 

[Tommie]

On my 71 speedway scarab

 

[gammatg]

March 17th 1971

 

[Tommie]

 

[gammatg]

176th day of 1970 so June 25th 1970

 

[Tommie]

How do you figure out the 176 days

176th day of 1970 so June 25th 1970

 

[Tommie]

How do you figure it is what I mean yo say or make more sense

 

[Tommie]

How do you figure it out is what I mean to say or make more sense

 

[Tommie]

How do you figure it out is what I mean to say or make more sense

 

[Tommie]

?

 

[Tommie]

Sorry about that it posted a couple times more than I wanted it too

 

[capguncowboy]

The first digit is the last digit of the year, the next 3 digits indicate the day of the year.

10760 would be the 76th day of 1971.

0176 would be the 176th day of 1970.

Of course, if it's a square shroud, the generation of design would tell you it's an 80 or 81 model (but it would be stamped on the shroud, not a serial plate).

There are a few other subtle details that help indicate what era an engine was made (hump on the top of the shroud, raised area where the recoil connects, plastic recoil etc).