Wierd thing

[cywelchjr]

I was just looking at my spare engine that I'm getting ready to install and decided that I would compare the engine serial number to mine, as I've got to contact DMV about modifying the registration to include the new engine number, and found that the serial number area is blank. There is no number stamped there, and being as it has the original textured area that I guess is to prevent removing the serial number. What would be a reason for this? Could this be something caused by replacing the upper case for some reason? I'm a bit curious and I'm guessing that if the case were replace with a part from yamaha back in the day that it would have come with no serial number based on that you were supposed to stamp your serial number on the case during the replacement process. Does this make sense to anyone else or am I following around behind the little animals on this?

[crazy steve]

I was just looking at my spare engine that I'm getting ready to install and decided that I would compare the engine serial number to mine, as I've got to contact DMV about modifying the registration to include the new engine number, and found that the serial number area is blank. There is no number stamped there, and being as it has the original textured area that I guess is to prevent removing the serial number. What would be a reason for this? Could this be something caused by replacing the upper case for some reason? I'm a bit curious and I'm guessing that if the case were replace with a part from yamaha back in the day that it would have come with no serial number based on that you were supposed to stamp your serial number on the case during the replacement process. Does this make sense to anyone else or am I following around behind the little animals on this?

Yeah, it's very likely that is a replacement case. Different manufacturers have or had different 'policies' on serial-numbered replacement parts and getting 'blank' parts wasn't uncommon in years past. I think there's some sort of federal law now that requires them to number the new part to match the old, having to do with tracking stolen parts.

I've got a set of Sportster cases that were used in the Buell racing program and are marked 'race use only', no number. But if you have a clear title here where I live, nobody looks....

'78E original owner

[cywelchjr]

I'm thinking about getting a set of stamps and stamping the original VIN onto the replacement engine. It will sure preclude probmes with the po po down the road, since if they inspect the bike the numbers will match, without me having to go to a lot of trouble to update the title with DMV.

[trbig]

The title goes to the numbers on the frame, not the engine. Changing an engine.. as far as I know.. doesn't mean you have to change anything with the DMV.. but maybe that's just in the states I've been in. I SERIOUSLY doubt any problems with the po po. How many of them would even know where to look for the engine number.. even if it was there?


It is weird and I've never heard of this (Engine with no serial number).. but I think you're worrying about nothing.

Tod

[BigDick]

I will say here in Kansas, they're crazy. With every vehicle I took to get licensed they looked in every spot there could be a vin. On my bike they did check the neck stamp, the neck decal, and the engine stamp to see if all 3 matched the title.

[DGXSER]

I will say here in Kansas, they're crazy. With every vehicle I took to get licensed they looked in every spot there could be a vin. On my bike they did check the neck stamp, the neck decal, and the engine stamp to see if all 3 matched the title.

Were you transferring them in from out of state? Here in O-hi-O if you bring one in from out of state, it has to be inspected and all the vins matched etc. If it is in state transfer, just bring the signed and notroized titled and your good to go!

[CatatonicBug]

Here in MO, there is no notorizing of anything. However, the SELLER has to report to the Dept of Revenue (DMV) that the vehicle was sold within 30 days of the sale. The buyer then also has 30 days to title it in their name. That requires payment of sales tax (based on the amount written on the title by the seller) and the title fee. The title just has to have both the seller's and the buyer's signatures on it. The state then takes it's sweet time and mails the new title to the new owner once it's complete.

There is no physical inspection of the vehicle at all.

[Trainzz]

When I bought Thunderpig this spring all I did was take the title into the courthouse (one of my most favorite places in the world). All they did was check the sigs on the title and on the check I gave them.

[fredintoon]

I'm thinking about getting a set of stamps and stamping the original VIN onto the replacement engine. It will sure preclude probmes with the po po down the road, since if they inspect the bike the numbers will match, without me having to go to a lot of trouble to update the title with DMV.

Hi Cy,
do your State's Stormtroopers give a sh1t about the engine number?
If so, best you go buy a set of number & letter stamps to keep them happy.
Here in Saskatchewan a new registrant of a bike bigger than 400cc has to haul the machine in to have the frame number checked against the paperwork.

[planedick]

Ca CA land

I had to have a bike inspected by the DMV as it was from out of state and they only wanted to look at the frame number. It was hard to read and I pointed out the engine number and they said they only wanted to look at the frame number. If there is any question you will have to go to the CHP office which requires an appointment. When you make the appointment they will ask for the VIN and when you get there you will find they already know the complete history of the bike and really don't look at anything except the frame number.

[cywelchjr]

I had to have a bike inspected by the DMV as it was from out of state and they only wanted to look at the frame number. It was hard to read and I pointed out the engine number and they said they only wanted to look at the frame number. If there is any question you will have to go to the CHP office which requires an appointment. When you make the appointment they will ask for the VIN and when you get there you will find they already know the complete history of the bike and really don't look at anything except the frame number.

Actually not true. When I started the process to register my 400 which had been stolen and recovered, they decided that I needed a CHP inspection because the doofus verifying the VIN couldn't find the VIN on the engine. They said because they couldn't find it (even with me point to it) that I had to have the CHP assign a frame and engine number. They DO check, and both numbers are on the title (at least they are on mine). California requires TWO VIN numbers, one on the frame and one on the engine, and if you don't have them the CHP assigns and affixes the numbers. There are also apparently hidden copies of your VIN in other places (I'm told that the ignition module has the VIN hidden in it somewhere if it's the original). When the CHP verified my VIN they stated "VIN verified by confidential method", which I'm told means they looked at the hidden VIN to verify that it matched the visible ones.

[cywelchjr]

Hi Cy,
do your State's Stormtroopers give a sh1t about the engine number?
If so, best you go buy a set of number & letter stamps to keep them happy.
Here in Saskatchewan a new registrant of a bike bigger than 400cc has to haul the machine in to have the frame number checked against the paperwork.

I worried about if it gets stolen or something similar (for some reason they always seem to come back when that happens, at least for me (has happened multiple times)) I don't want a hassle about the engine number not matching the title (yes my CA title has the engine number on it).

According to the DMV website, and every time I have had to have a DMV inspection (3 times now) they have checked both numbers against the paperwork.

[planedick]

OK, but

I was just stating what happened to me. I bought my bike from The Pathfinder's wife in Texas and he had powdercoated the frame leaving the numbers hard to read and the DMV didn't even want to see the engine numbers. The CHP guy didn't look at either. He never got any closer than 5 ft from the bike!!!!

[cywelchjr]

I was just stating what happened to me. I bought my bike from The Pathfinder's wife in Texas and he had powdercoated the frame leaving the numbers hard to read and the DMV didn't even want to see the engine numbers. The CHP guy didn't look at either. He never got any closer than 5 ft from the bike!!!!

I understand. My recent experience was quite different, as the guy was going over it with a fine tooth comb, and still couldn't find the in plain site engine number that he insisted had to be there and wasn't, even though it was.

[planedick]

You see it now

It's the idiots at the DMV, your tax dollars at work, or in this case not working....