Is It A 76 Or 77 360 Wr?

I recently picked up a Husqvarna 360 WR. The frame number is ML 15443.

I have seen some vin decoder webpages that indicate this could be a 76 frame number, and others that indicate it is a 77. I would like to paint the tank the correct color, and maybe someone here has the skinny on vin numbers.

My question it: Does anyone know whether this is a 76 or a 77 WR?

I plan to give it a light cosmetic maintenance. I will use it as a regular woods rider in south Jersey.

Husky Club numbers say its a '76

1976

Husky Club and others have a conflict in that 1977 starts with 15000 and 1976 is shown going to 15999.

My guess? 1977. I have had three very late 1976 250CR's with the factory installed and rare Ohlin's designed "snake" pipe... The earlier 1976 had the classic Husky side pipe with heat shield. All three of those late 76 bikes had serial numbers in the high ML 11000 range and all three were bought from Malcolm Smith's in 1977 as leftover 1976-1/2 models. (My first I had new... recently found the two I have now and bought them from the original owners... business partners that also bought them new in mid-1977) So I seriously doubt 1976 frames went to 15999.

The only other clue is that the 1976 CR and WR ML-frame had a "bolt on" kick stand that attaches to the engine mount. In 1977, they attached the kick stand to the swingarm on all models. I distinctly remember that as a way to tell a 76 from a 77. Could a late production 1976 have had the kickstand on the swingarm? Or someone swapped swingarms? Maybe. Makes me lean towards yours being a 1977 as I remember the kickstand change was one of the "new for 1977" features?

You really can't go too wrong... not sure what color difference there was between 76 and 77 but you could pick the one you like best and it's doubtful anyone could prove you wrong! (Another thought... some original paint might remain underneath in the tunnel of the tank... if it's still the original tank)

And in any case, you got yourself a nice bike there!!

Just noticed that yours also has the "1977" black air filter cover... but that's something that can be swapped easily. I might have an old magazine test on the 1977... I'll look.

MArk
Thanks for your reply. Your info is very helpful. Tom

The frame number list is a misprint, 76 goes up to 15999 and 77 starts with 16000. I do agree that bike looks like a 77 for all the reasons mentioned, and the 77 WR did not get the new frame the CRs did so Husky could have used left over 76 frames. The main differences in the 77 WR was longer swing arm with side stand on the arm, longer travel straight leg forks, round magneto cover and the black plastic airbox cover. All of those things are easily swapped though. Another detail is that bike does not have the original triple clamps, it has the aluminum Betor clamps that came on the 125s and 175s, they are better clamps than the stamped steel clamps the bigger bikes came with. This could be a 76 with a bunch of other year parts swapped onto it.