Finally found some time to mess with my springer project. A few weeks back I won a set of Todd’s Cycles 13” apes on EBay, so I loosely bolted them up. Then I removed the shocks and dropped the rear to the swingarm stops. Ideally I can keep this height as low as possible. Placed a short sissy bar on back to see how that looks. All temporary mods for now, but this is the style direction that I plan to take her.

 

looks great! Love them springers,in fact, that's my next project!

 

Oh God if this doesn't make me want to buy a springer front end. Gotta find a wrecked one locally...

 

I scored a perfect set of black tins locally ... tanks and rear fender pictured here. Removed from a ’96 Springer when new and sitting in a closet since. I’d been looking for a purple right side tank to replace the damaged one on my bike. Then found this set for sale and couldn’t pass it up.

 

hell yea!

 

Having gotten the Springer running well, I’ve since determined my cylinder bases are leaking worse than first thought. So it appears I will be pulling the top end apart. The engine has 36K miles, and I’m hoping to get away with just replacing gaskets. A compression and leak down test should confirm that's all that is needed … correct?

 

Very cool project.
Look forward to watching your progress.

 

http://www.dansmc.com/compression_test.htm
I like this site for moto help. Good compression test help, for me anyway.

 

Man, those are leaking VERY bad. I wouldn't think you could even get an accurate reading on the ct. But like you said, that's all you need to do...and sell it to me befor you get in 2 deep in it!

 

I am updating this old post regarding my ’96 Springer.

I decided to have the top end rebuilt by a well-respected shop. Trailered the bike up last weekend, and it should be ready sometime this week. Cylinders looked good, so just a hone and rings. Heads received new valves, guides and seals. The old cam is being replaced with an Andrews EV27 and new lifters.

I'm looking forward to getting her back so that I can continue with planned improvements, and will post pics as I proceed.