Sportster Tech Talk

Crankcase Stator Wires Leak

badsporty — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:06:02 GMT

I have a Sporty with a leak around the wires thru the case and am wondering if theres a easy fix for this other than replacing the stator?

1976 sportster with Zenith carb

fingerofgo — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:03:12 GMT

I recently bought a 76 sportster with a Zenith carb and cant seem to get it adjusted right. I start 2 turns out on both screws to start and go from there, is there somthing Iam not doing? Once a day it also will smoke real bad from the front cyl. then be ok, The smoke is a grey color and the plug for font cyl gets oil fouled about every 3 to 4 days ridding about 10 to 15 mi a day. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you

02 Sportster 1200c - Oil leak from rear rocker cover

shenquinet — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:44:23 GMT

13 months, about 2500 miles ago we replaced front and rear rocker cover gaskets with the "James" gasket kit. Job went well,sealed the little seepage problem we had. Now Lowest rocker cover gasket at rear cylinder is leaking and bubbling out the new gasket. Anybody been having trouble with these gaskets?

ignition timing.

framer1994 — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:32:41 GMT

Can anyone tell me how to set the static timing on a 1981 Sportster?I put the dynas in it and just cant get it set right.Sounds great idling but just dont have any power.Also will you actually loose compression when seatin rings or do I have a problem there also,I put new rings in and only put on about 25 miles but checked compression and is lower than when I first put them in....

My 2003 XLH 883 won't start

wv74vw — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 16:25:52 GMT

My new to me 2003 Sportster will not start. The bike had been in storage for a couple of years. Battery and sparkplugs are new and starter is good. Air and exhaust still factory. Bike will start and run fine after a small shot of ether and will restart while still warm but will not fire at room temp. I have already replaced the slow jet with the stock size (carb adj. still sealed), all 3 seals on the intake manifold and tested the petcock with vacuum - ok. Any ideas out there?

Which cover for H-D Sportster XL1200 Custom?

NomadGator — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:58:32 GMT

I'm trying to decide which cover (and size) to buy: (1) the Nelson-Rigg Defender 2000 - M or L, (2) the Improved Guardian Weatherall Plus - M or L, or (3) the Guardian EZ - XL or XXL. Suggestions for covers other than these would be welcome too. My 2004 Sportster XL1200 Custom is equipped with a low upright medallion-style sissy bar with tapered luggage rack, a Memphis Shades "El Paso" windshield and Ace Leather saddlebags. I live in northern Virginia and don't have a garage.

Thanks! --Joe

Led from incandescent

nightrider_8 — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:34:32 GMT

I switched from incandescent turn and brake lights to LED. My old HD552 flasher doesn't work. The turn signal lights (Right and Left) but doesn't flash.It's been on the shelve for 10 years. I installed a FL552/536LL electronic flasher. Now it flashes but real slow and very dim. Should I go back to the old HD552 and try again or do I have the wrong flasher for the led lights? Or does it make any difference. My old HD552 might have ben bad in the first place. What do you think?

wiring

kaczenski — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 14:32:51 GMT

i have converted a 74 sporty iornhead to a bpbber and need some info on how to rewire it. i am just running a headlight, runninglight and a brake light. i have some ideas but not really sure. anyone got some ideas

Gas tank capacity

gabrieltv7 — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 02:53:12 GMT

Which is the gas tank for sportser capacity?, part number: 721-159

RevTech Oil vs ?

hjc950 — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:20:29 GMT

I have a 2007 883 Sportster with 14,000 mi on it. I have been running the HD Syn 20w50 oil in it since about 3000 mi. Reciently it has started to seep out in several places, but the front rocker Assy is the worst (probably no more than a drop or two per ride, but requires constant clean up). I switched back to the regular oil a few weeks back and the seeping stopped after a couple hundred miles.

My question is is RevTech Pure really as good as they advertise, or is Belray, or another petrolem based oil better?? I have a good mechanical background and can change the Rocker Assy gaskets, but I have been told that all the synthetic oils will seep. I'd rather change oil more often and not being tearing down the bike replacing gaskets.

Even using the synthetic oil have have changed the oil every 2500 mi

Please advise

Thanks

Herb

Got a little free time these days.......

Xea — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 03:32:21 GMT

Hey fella's, I'm looking for some suggestions for some tech artices to add to our website. It's been a couple years since some of my articles where written, and I'm looking for some things you guys (and girls) want some more information on. Answer this post with any ideas you may have and I'll see what I can come up with.

OIL LIGHT STAYS ON

DRAGIT — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:20:55 GMT

89 xl 1200,,oil light will not go out..oil & filter have been changed,,runs and sounds good....is there,,a sender unit,,where is it.????..is it ok to run bike if it still sounds ok...if there is a sender,,any test to fix........

'57 - What's it worth?

pbabadoo — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:24:09 GMT

I have a lead on a '57 Sporty (in boxes) that was running just a couple years ago. And there's a title with it, too. Haven't seen the parts yet, but let's assume that they are in decent shape. What would be a reasonable offering price for soemthing like that? I always liked the simple look of the early ones and I need a project! Bored.

06 Sportster 883 xl

rwreyna — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:05:24 GMT

I am looking for a set of saddlebags for my 06 sportster. I would like the to be hard mounted and removeable. Does anyone have any suggestions on a nice set of bags at a good price? Thanks Richard

I'm getting bac fire when I get out of the throttle

Reelitin@wowway.com — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:12:49 GMT

I have a 2004 Sporster 1200 Roadster. I recently installed Vance and Hines slip on mufflers and a K&N air cleaner. Sounds awesome and has improved acceleration. I am getting some back fire when I get off the throttle (decellerate). I took the ham can off the air intake to see if more air would help, it did not seem to make a differance. I am sure this is probably a common thing. Anybody dealing with have the answer?? Thanks

Part number 5600009 ?

reg2u — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 19:37:09 GMT

Is this an electric tachometer-( hooks up to coil)-that would work on my 83XLX?

Thanks, Reg

95 xlh speedo / buell

PIG — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:40:08 GMT

Will a buell electronic speedo work in place of the original electronic speedo on a 95 sportster

Lubricant Usage Question

leftwing98 — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 14:59:26 GMT

Bike = 2006 Sportster XL 1200L

From reading some of the posts in this forum I have gathered that unless you use oil designed for both the engine and the primary/tranny you need to use seperate types of oil. Is my assumption correct?

I have been using the synthetic Screaming Eagle oil in the link below in both the engine, and primary/tranny. I am looking to see if I can use something else that may be cheaper, but I dont want to use one type of oil for everything If that could possibly cause problems.

http://www.harley-davidson.com/gma/gma_product.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524448648531&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374309346839&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374309346839&bmUID=1254581598015&bmLocale=en_US

98 tach on a 05 sportster

Nagovitch — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 01:46:10 GMT

Can I install a 98 tach on a 05 carburated sportster?

2005 sporty extended gas tank installation

Old Skool Iron — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 02:46:52 GMT

I recently purchased a used gas tank that came from J&P under part# 720-968. I don't have any instructions. I need to know what to do with the small hose barb on the bottom right side. There is not one on the left to be used for a cross over.Thanks in advance for any responses.

75 sportster points conversion to electronic

peggysue1 — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 08:43:49 GMT

I need to convert my points to electronic timing. I'm not sure what all I need to buy? Just the ignition conversion? I'm looking at getting the breakerless e-spark.

sportster gas tank

Dallasx — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 12:34:24 GMT

Are the lower side parts rounded on the King, left side pet ***, 149.00, tank like the 03 stock tanks??? thanks

'06 1200 custom ignition prob.?

mk7cobra — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 20:24:24 GMT

My girls '06 1200 custom started recently misfiring badly after the bike gets good and hot- to the point that it wont stay running at idle, but runs great at speed. Its a sudden problem; no mods recently (like 2 yrs). It only does it when it gets HOT- like after 10-15 miles on hot day or a good 30 minutes idling only ( or when oil temp gets to about 150). Doesnt seem like idle circuit or other fuel related issue - plus - its more of a complete misfire with backfire up through carb- almost like ignition gets stuck in advance at some point when bike gets hot. But runs great at 1500 rpm and above. I wouldnt imagine if it were an intake leak or clogged slow speed jet or something, that it would take so long for it to start acting up. I was going to start with ignition system to find problem but im not familiar with troubleshooting on these bikes. Any help with diagnosing ignition culprit (like map sensor, crank pos. sensor, coil, icm) would be great so i dont waste money replacing something thats fine. Thanks!!!

PS: only mods are Sampson exhaust and hypercharger air cleaner.

sporty seat height

nobodyjeff — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:00:19 GMT

hi. my wife is short 5' 1/2". she can almost foot the new fatboy lo. that seat height is 24.25" what is the lowest height i can go on a sporty? what years are the best for this conversion? she rides a 250 rebel now and i want to bring her up to a harley. just not ready to dump 20,000 on a new one for her yet.

thanks in advance for any help given

Forward Controls

billmary — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:46:08 GMT

I have a '07 xl883 sportster w/mid controls. I am considering installing forward contols. I have never rode anything with forward controls. What are the pros & cons on this conversion?