A Little XL-12 Archeology

[sawnami]

I had been looking for an early XL-12 like my Dad bought in early 1964 for a little while. I recently found a very original one that looked pretty close according to what I remembered that his looked like. I don't know how accurate it may be, but I decided to use Homelite Branch Service Memos to see how close I could come to the production date. This is what I found.

03/03/64--added bushing to throttle lock buton--mine has this
03/25/64--added washer and clip to points breaker arm post--mine has this
05/08/64--added 1/4" to the length of the spark plug boot for the TJ-8J spark plug--mine has this
05/15/64--changed fan housing to one with a cast-in naval brass pulley post--mine does not have this
08/24/64--added dust shields to the recoil starter--mine does not have this

Looks like it lands between memos for 05/08/64 and 05/15/64. Probably have to give or take a few weeks. Looks pretty close to what I was looking for.

[sweepleader]

Nice work, very interesting method. It might be possible that the 3/25 and 5/08 items could have been changed to the later styles at some point in the saws tune-up history which would open the possible production window a few weeks earlier. I wish I knew the date of my XL-500 that closely, oh well.
Again, NICE work.
Dan

[cblackky]

what year did they go from blue to red 1973??

[dynodave]

I saw one place say 08/74 they went red. No more proof or credibility beyond that. Mine is red - 1977.

[brians2n]

I am impressed. I have often wondered when my XL-12 was made too. It is blue and it has the manual oiler. I was looking for a place where you might be able to plug in your serial number to find out, but given what you are doing, I guess that does not exist. Not that easy I guess.

[bill3]

Mine is blue and white; it was my grandpa's. My dad said he bought it in '68 or '69.

B3

[tribulation138]

These homelites can be confusing to id years. I generally go by what esthetics were used. Even the placement of the serial number plate changed locations over the years