interesting this chart says 1970 but thought these were made from 1965-1969?
my frame says S65YA03347 but the motor has S65E-115451
The chart has other mistakes in it. Going from year 3 to year 4, the serial number jumps 60,000 to start, but goes back to normal to finish year 4. We all know that the S65 were produced from 1965 to 1969, and the chart shows 5 years of serial numbers. I would make the mental leap to say that those “years” go from 1965 to 1969, in spite of being labeled 1970. Given that, my S65 #S65AA024021 is a ‘65. With a #S65YA033247, yours also appears to be made the same year. Likewise, my engine is S65E-111585, your engine number appears to be about 4000 motors later.
Your serial number prefix of “YA…” is curious, I have only seen AA and AB numbers in person. Maybe the “Y” means something else, maybe country code? But that is a wild guess…
I bought my S65 used in 1976 and lost track of it moving around after high school. When my mom recently passed, I found my old ride gathering dust and rust in a shed at the back of her property. With the normal resurrection work, the bike started and I found out why it was parked. Second gear is shot, it acts like a ratchet, catches slowing down, slips (noisily) when trying to accelerate. I hear that this is a common failure for this model.
Right now, after moving north from California a year ago, much of my stuff, like the bike, boats, and a couple of Model Ts (with all associated spare parts and equipment) are packed up in storage while I get a car barn built on my property. So the transmission overhaul will have to wait until I’ve got the shop space to do it right. Hopefully, the shop is done before x-mas.
Eric
