Side cover date codes

[markb]

I did a search on this but didn't find much.  Were all sandcast sidecovers date stamped? Does anyone know the coding system?  How about pictures of actual stamps?
Mark

[Wayne]

I couldn't find any evidence of stamp markings on 567's covers. There was a set on Ebay that had stamps but I see they are gone. I don't have the link.

[Steve Swan]

Some things, for some reason, aren't as easy for me to remember as others, i know KP or Chris remember better than I.  

Early covers had no date stampings.  

Stampings seen on later covers as well as other parts such as inside of cam covers have date stampings based on the Showan Calendar system.  Hiro Hito (family Showa) began his reign in 1925; 1969 was the 44th year of the emperor's reign.  So, if i remember accurately, the date stampings start with the year "44" then followed by month then by day; e.g., 44.9.26 -  44th year of emperor's reign, 9th month, 26th day or as we say it, September 26, 1969.

I think KP has archived in his personal pictures ink date stampings on CB750 parts.  Someday, i believe, he plans to get them posted on the website or the BB.

[markb]

There was a set on Ebay that had stamps but I see they are gone.

I saw that and that's the reason for my question.

Early covers had no date stampings. 

I assume #97 goes in the category of early.  So one less thing for me to be concerned about.  Any ideas on the earliiest VIN with stamped covers?

[chrisnoel]

Definitely had date codes on my original covers from frame 5640.  Have since sold them on but I remember they weren't too far away from the date codes on my engine.  Looked like they used a stamp with changeable dates for the month and year as I remember.  The kind of stamp that grocers use, or retailers used to use for receipts.