Yesterday I picked up a 1996 Sportster 883 with 28k miles at my local dealer … I know, maybe I should have posted in the Sportster Forum, but it is a 1996 Evo Sportster … anyway, got it out the door for $1850 and some Harley Die Cast Coin Banks I traded
Front fork tubes and seals are shot and spray oil all over the place, even while trailering it home … thinking of putting on a Moto Iron Springer when the time comes … did a quick ride down the street and everything runs and shifts good … this bike will be a long time project for me … being retired it will keep me out of the house and out of my wife's hair
I was able to speak with previous owner (not original owner) and was told they were not sure is it had a 1200 kit installed …
Question … is there an easy way to tell if it has been changed to a 1200?
I thought about putting a cylinder at bottom, measure out the correct amount of fuel for a 1200, and see if the cylinder will hold that amount through the spark plug hole … if not it would have to be an 883 …
Question … assuming the rings are good … would fuel seep into the bottom end?
Looking forward to your comments and suggestions …
Question … is there an easy way to tell if it has been changed to a 1200?
Nice bike! Excellent!
The rear (factory) 1200 jug on mine has a small "1200" cast into it at the base. It's on the right side, at the bottom, near where the two jugs meet. Don't know if MoCo kit jugs have the same marks, but it would seem odd if they didn't. Of course, there's a chance that the 883 jugs were bored out, so there's no telling on that.
I've read (but never tried) that you can use a thin wooden dowel to check. Motor at BDC, dowel down through the sparkplug hole with the end at the edge of the piston (up against the cylinder wall) will measure 5 7/8" to the top of the spark plug hole on a 1200 and 5 1/2" on an 883.
They all had the same stroke.. the difference is in the bore. 3.0" to 3.498".
filling the cylinder with fuel will leak down and fill the cases...
You can always pull a head. I'm pretty sure though you would feel a major performance difference between the 2 motors..
They all had the same stroke.. the difference is in the bore. 3.0" to 3.498".
filling the cylinder with fuel will leak down and fill the cases...
You can always pull a head. I'm pretty sure though you would feel a major performance difference between the 2 motors..
If it has any giddy up and go then it ain't a 883.
The rear (factory) 1200 jug on mine has a small "1200" cast into it at the base. It's on the right side, at the bottom, near where the two jugs meet. Don't know if MoCo kit jugs have the same marks, but it would seem odd if they didn't. Of course, there's a chance that the 883 jugs were bored out, so there's no telling on that.
I've read (but never tried) that you can use a thin wooden dowel to check. Motor at BDC, dowel down through the sparkplug hole with the end at the edge of the piston (up against the cylinder wall) will measure 5 7/8" to the top of the spark plug hole on a 1200 and 5 1/2" on an 883.
I looked at the base of the rear cylinder, mine has 883, so I'm guessing it has not been changed to a 1200 … I will try the dowel measurement to see what I get … I will need to get the bike on my lift to use the rear wheel to get to BDC … Thanks for the information
They all had the same stroke.. the difference is in the bore. 3.0" to 3.498". filling the cylinder with fuel will leak down and fill the cases...
You can always pull a head. I'm pretty sure though you would feel a major performance difference between the 2 motors..
THC … I've only taken it a couple blocks in my small town just to make sure it shifts good and no other problems jump out … reason for the short ride, the oil squirting out of the sliders has covered the front rotor and brake pads … so no front brakes!!!!
10-13-2018, 06:06 AM
Another 1996 in the garage
