Need some guidance on a 42 HD Motorcycle

[Zedder]

http://www.theliberator.be/liberator6.htm

http://www.theliberator.be/indexmenu.html

[Too Many Projects]

If it was a military bike, the restamp may be an inventory number, not enough digits to be a vin.

Interesting that the delivery date was 1944 with a build date in '42.

The lower stamp might be a better clue as it ends in 7 and the engine case clearly has a 7 visible at the end, but the pic is too blurry to read.
Cool bike just the same and I would believe the price is reasonable enough to not lose money.

Mark is right about the tank sticker, waaaaay out of date for the bike, but may be easy enough to remove.

[Zedder]

From the WLA website:

WLAs did not receive a frame tag or frame number and were identified by the engine number, embossed on the left side of the crankcase in the following fashion '42WLAXXXXX'. This was the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
Furthermore all Harley-Davidson engine crankcases were numbered during their production on the lower front side of both halves by the year of manufacture followed by the sequence in which the crankcases were mated together (ie 42-12345 = the 12345th engine assembled in 1942).
This being said, there's no proof that all 42WLA motors were actually made in succession. So when Motor 42WLA26890 has Crankcase Numbers 42-28352 ; this does not necessarily mean that Engine 42WLA26891 will have Crankcase Numbers 42-28353.......

45 ci Flathead Engines were also used in Canadian WLCs and Servicars and motors for other models were made during the same timeframe...... Although of course, you shouldn't find a 1944 Crankcase Number on a Type II WLA........

So to accurately date a 42WLA, you need to look at the 42WLAXXXXX engine number and start from there. Only the Types VI and VII had the later style data plate which lists the engine serial number.

[Zedder]

After a quick read, that frame tag may have been a US Army issued tag. Please don't take my word for it...I just did a quick search. That website that I posted has lots of info.