The FXD
#41
11-11-2014, 06:44 PM
Never been under a rock yet, and neither one of us wants to put our feet where we are thinking right now..................By the way I do not disagree with the way you put it this time. Have a great day.
#42
11-11-2014, 07:16 PM
Outstanding HDF Member
#43
11-11-2014, 07:20 PM
Extreme HDF Member
FL came to mean big twin (74") in 1941 in addition to the existing EL (61") models. FX came along in 1971 signifying the mating of the big twin engine and frame with the narrower (and thinner) forks of an XL Sportster. Through the 70s FL meant wide forks and FX narrow ones on a Big Twin. FX also meant mid-controls and some variation of Sportster type fenders front and rear. In the early 70s it was not uncommon to hear an FX called a "1200 Sportster."
From 1980 forward, some anomalies. 1980 FXWG had forks as wide and as thick as the same vintage FLH's. Forward controls in a similar location but entirely different from the FLH were used. This trend continued with the first Softail the FXST.
In general, hydraulic fork Softails are FX if they don't have fork shrouds or nacelles, and FL if they do. Softail Springers don't follow these rules. FL and FX Springers use the same forks and neither have shrouds. With these bikes I'm thinking it's tire size (21" = FX, 16" = FL) that differentiates them.
I don't think the presence of pegs or floor boards has any bearing, but I'm having a hard time thinking of an FX with stock floor boards, or a FL with stock pegs. Except I think there was a Shovelhead FL Sport around 1981 that may have had pegs.
Heritage Softail/Fat Boy 86-99 41mm
FXWG,FXST,FXSTC, and Dyna Wide Glide 84-99 41mm
FLT,FLHT,FLHS and Road King 85-99 41mm
FXWG and FWDG 80-83 41mm
FL, FLH, FLHS 77-84 41mm
FLT, FLHT 80-83 41mm
FL, FLH 49- early 77 41mm
Sportster and FXR 87-05 39mm
Sportster and FXR 86-87 35mm
Sportster 79-82 35mm
Sportster 75--83 35mm
Sportster 73-74 35mm
From 1980 forward, some anomalies. 1980 FXWG had forks as wide and as thick as the same vintage FLH's. Forward controls in a similar location but entirely different from the FLH were used. This trend continued with the first Softail the FXST.
In general, hydraulic fork Softails are FX if they don't have fork shrouds or nacelles, and FL if they do. Softail Springers don't follow these rules. FL and FX Springers use the same forks and neither have shrouds. With these bikes I'm thinking it's tire size (21" = FX, 16" = FL) that differentiates them.
I don't think the presence of pegs or floor boards has any bearing, but I'm having a hard time thinking of an FX with stock floor boards, or a FL with stock pegs. Except I think there was a Shovelhead FL Sport around 1981 that may have had pegs.
Heritage Softail/Fat Boy 86-99 41mm
FXWG,FXST,FXSTC, and Dyna Wide Glide 84-99 41mm
FLT,FLHT,FLHS and Road King 85-99 41mm
FXWG and FWDG 80-83 41mm
FL, FLH, FLHS 77-84 41mm
FLT, FLHT 80-83 41mm
FL, FLH 49- early 77 41mm
Sportster and FXR 87-05 39mm
Sportster and FXR 86-87 35mm
Sportster 79-82 35mm
Sportster 75--83 35mm
Sportster 73-74 35mm
#44
11-11-2014, 08:05 PM
#47
11-12-2014, 09:47 PM
Thanks for all the great info ... I gotta say i now understand the prefixes in depth and one of these days hope to see the fddwg tmanbuckhunter and perki48 brought to vivid life in the great knowledge they have given me. You 2 guys are my heroes you're absolutley great man i love ya both and thank you kindly for the great time i've had in my ling room my guts hurt now from laughing. You guys are great hope to hear from yall again in my quest of knowledge and once again thanks alot i've learned a bunch.
#49
11-12-2014, 10:25 PM
It has the 88 cubic inch (1449cc) engine. I think it also has a forged crank and the timkin lefty bearing (2002 does) You didn't say if it is fuel injected or carburated. I will assume it does not have the factory football (air cleaner cover) as it will have "88ci" on it.
You will want to do a stage one upgrade to the engine ASAP. as HD choked their engines to death back then. This includes a mass flow air clearner of some sort. Upgraded exhaust (Vance and Hines Big Radius for me= veryloud). Mine is carburated so I had to rejet my carburator to keep it from running to lean. Lean is speed but it will also shorten the life of the engine.
I hope this helps.
You will want to do a stage one upgrade to the engine ASAP. as HD choked their engines to death back then. This includes a mass flow air clearner of some sort. Upgraded exhaust (Vance and Hines Big Radius for me= veryloud). Mine is carburated so I had to rejet my carburator to keep it from running to lean. Lean is speed but it will also shorten the life of the engine.
I hope this helps.
It is a carberated version and it has a round shaped breather cover thats marked 88 cubic inch. Not oval shaped. On further inspection it is football shaped.
Last edited by DayzedAndKunfoozed; 11-13-2014 at 10:42 PM.
#50
11-12-2014, 10:30 PM
One more thing that I'm not sure of about my new ride is the fuel petcock. is it necessary to shut it off when i'm not riding or will it hurt leaving it on all the time? Thinking back if i remember right I had a problem long ago with the fuel valve flooding my crankcase with gas if i forgot to turn it off is that the same anymore or what ?