Kenneth,
I should have you look at my Dad's tractor. I have ran the details past numerous collectors, and none of them yet, have figured out what is going on. He bought this tractor from the original owner, who bought it new in 1969, and always took very well care of it. It sat in his garage all of it life while he owned it. I typed in the type code and serial number of this tractor over on Weekend Freedom Machines numerous times, and each time it came back as no such code found. Through my knowledge and understanding of the serial number breaks, the tractor to me is a 1969 140H1, with a serial number of 12,xxx, and it has the original motor in it which is the K301AS. I was told over the years, that 1969 model 140's were the only year that didn't have the frame notch for the points. This tractor however, does have the frame notch, and after further investigation, it appears by many, that it indeed is a factory notch and not done by your average homeowner. The K301AS is painted green and has the oil fill tube that comes straight up through the engine heat shield, and not out the side like on your later year tractors. I'm thinking that Deere continued the 12hp K301AS motor into the beginning of the 1969 model years. I would be very curious to see if this is indeed the case, and to see if there are others out there like this.
Getting back to the frame notch not being on the 1969 models, I have in my collection, a 140H3 that also has some collectors confused as well. I used to post this tractor as a 1969 model year, but from getting so much flack about it not being correct, I just starting listing it as a 1970. According to the type code and serial number though, 14,xxx, this tractor comes back as a 1969 140H3. However, the frame is notched, from the factory, for the points access, and the engine and gas tank are both painted black.
This tractor was also purchased from the original owner who bought the tractor new in October of 1969. Nothing on the tractor has ever been replaced, other than oil, tranny fluid, or your normal service pieces. Again, I'd be curious to see how many 1969 140's were produced that might have the frame notch, factory painted black motors and gas tanks, or may have just been ID'd wrong.